Interior & Exterior Home Trends You Won’t Want to Miss in 2024

2. Minimalism done right

Minimalist home design isn’t a new concept. In fact, minimalism first made its way into interior design trends back in the 1980s. However, minimalist homes will look a bit different in 2024. It’s time to say goodbye to cold, lifeless spaces that lack personality and say hello to warm, inviting spaces that are functional and clutter-free. When considering a minimalist home, look to utilize natural materials and textures such as a wooden dresser or linen curtains. Additionally, avoid an abundance of straight lines by opting for furniture that features soft, rounded edges. Plants are also an easy way to bring nature and warmth into a minimalist space. Here are some other ways to add warmth to a minimalist space:

1. Paint a room the same color (including doors, frames, and maybe even the ceiling).
2. Choose solid-colored and patternless rugs, backsplashes and flooring for a minimalist look.
3. Have fun with texture layering while staying in the same tones for a soft and warm look.
4. Use warm and enveloping lighting.

3. Round edges

Studies show that humans are naturally inclined to prefer curves over straight lines and home design is no exception to that rule. From mirrors and side tables to couches and countertops, rounded edges are ready to roll in 2024. Luckily, there are countless ways to embrace this trend, no matter your style. When it comes to furniture, look for items such as a dining table with rounded edges or a round edge side table. In the kitchen, round edge countertops are an easy way to bring flow and movement into your space. Additional touches like rounded arch doorways and arched oven hoods are also excellent choices.

4. Energy-efficient homes

Whether you’re looking to save money on heating and air conditioning or are searching for the perfect energy-efficient siding, one trend that will never go out of style is sustainability. Practicing home energy efficiency helps keep your carbon footprint small and your monthly energy bills low. Additionally, energy efficient homes often have a better resale value for those looking to put their house on the market. There are several ways, both big and small, to embrace this eco-friendly trend. Here are some of our favourite ideas.

Energy efficient tips for your home:

1. Replace old windows and doors
2. Update your HVAC system
3. Purchase a smart thermostat
4. Switch to LED lighting
5. Install green roofing and siding
6. Upgrade outdated appliances with energy-efficient alternatives
7. Opt for a tankless water heater

Install skylights in order to reduce the use of artificial lighting and save money.

Of course, making all these changes and upgrades at once isn’t always realistic. If you’re unsure about problem areas in your home, inquire about getting an energy audit to help you determine which renovation/upgrade to tackle first.

5. Homes made for hybrid work

Whether you work at your house five days per week or just one, having a dedicated workspace is a crucial first step towards working productively at home. At the height of the work-from-home boom in 2020, many of us were doing what we could to get by, setting up laptops at the kitchen table or carving out a little corner of the living room for video calls. Now, with millions of Canadians working in a hybrid model, it’s time to adjust your home to meet your new needs. Expect to see the following home office design trends in 2024.

Smart offices on the rise

Technology and design are working together in 2024 to create home offices that focus on both wellness and productivity. Additions including smart lighting, voice-controlled speakers and automated blinds are just a few of the smart tech touches you can expect to see. 

Focus on work/life separation

Working from home, especially without a dedicated office space, often leaves us feeling like work never ends. In the coming year, home design will focus on separating work and home life to bring more balance to your life. An easy way to achieve this separation is with a backyard office addition. A backyard office is exactly what it sounds like, an office in the backyard. Going to a separate building that’s “at home” but not actually in your home offers just the right amount of separation needed to leave work at the door when you sign off for the night. These backyard offices could be a heated shed or shipping container, a sunroom add-on or just your apartment balcony in the warmer months. 

Emphasis on nature 

It’s no secret that being in nature helps boost your mood and leads to a more productive state of mind. And although working outdoors every day isn’t possible in Canada, there are plenty of ways to bring nature indoors. Here are a few of our favourite ideas for 2024:

1. Ditch the normal accent wall and install a living plant wall complete with lights and a self-watering system.
2. Let the light in. If your workspace has limited natural light, it may be time to consider installing new energy-efficient alternatives.
3. Incorporate natural materials (wood, bamboo, hemp) in your office furniture, walls, trim and shelving.

6. Zero waste homes

If you’ve never heard of the concept, a zero waste home is exactly what it sounds like: it’s an attempt to lower or eliminate the amount of waste you produce at home. This can include everything from food packaging to building materials. Aiming for zero waste may sound ambitious, but there are plenty of zero waste ideas for home that are easy to get into. For starters, when you’re planning a new home renovation, opt for eco-friendly, locally sourced and recycled materials whenever possible. Next, consider the adaptability of your design–can your house be easily expanded to meet your evolving needs? The easier spaces are to adapt, the less effort and materials you will need moving forward. Other, more subtle ways to embrace a low-waste home include:

1. Build custom food storage drawers in your kitchen or pantry to keep items like onions and potatoes fresh for longer.
2. Install under-the-counter waste bins to make recycling as easy and accessible as possible.
3. Add a greenhouse addition to your backyard and include a place for compost.

7. Empathetic design

Empathetic design is a term commonly used in technology and automotive industries. Essentially, it’s a design technique that encourages developers to design products (or in this case, houses and rooms) with the user’s needs and feelings as the driving motivation behind each choice. When it comes to interior design trends for 2024, empathetic design will play a major role. Everything from the way a space makes you feel to the way it sounds is considered in this design style to ensure the final product meets your needs. Empathetic design often includes elements from biophilic design as well.

8. Hidden lighting

From simple LED lights discretely positioned under cabinets to more detailed architectural lighting, the hidden light trend is a fun and easy way to subtly highlight the best areas of your home. Sometimes referred to as concealed or indirect light, hidden lighting adds warmth, light and ambiance while concealing the light source. This means you can achieve cozy lighting without wasting precious floor space on a lamp or other lighting fixture. Another benefit of hidden lighting is that it cuts down on harsh shadows and excess glare, which can be unpleasant to look at. Hidden wall lights can be placed behind headboards, couches and bookshelves to illuminate them. Other hidden lighting ideas include:

1. Add hidden lighting to your staircase to make late-night trips to the bathroom safer. This is a great idea for outdoor stairs as well.
2. Hide lighting behind the bathroom mirror to give yourself the glow you need to get ready each morning.
3. Add lights to the wall around your bathtub and shower area.
4. Tuck some lights away in your closet or dresser drawers so you can easily find what you’re looking for.
5. Build custom shelving with hidden lighting to highlight books, artwork and knickknacks.

9. Unique tiles that make a statement

Tired of seeing plain white subway tiles in every bathroom and kitchen? Have no fear… patterned tiles are here. From the walls to the floor, you can use unique tiles to create a statement in your home. Tiles that feature bold colours, interesting shapes or patterns add visual appeal and when used correctly can make any space look cool and sophisticated. Not to mention, the handmade glazed tiles zellige, which will be in high demand this year. If your house already has a neutral pallet, don’t be afraid to go outside of your comfort zone with unique tiles in 2024.

10. Embracing natural light

Natural light is as much a part of being alive as air, water and food. And when you increase natural light in your home, you also increase things like productivity, creativity and overall well- being. Additionally, embracing natural light helps with your internal clock and can improve your sleeping habits. Here are some of our favourite ways to maximize natural light in your home:

• All glass everything. From increasing the number of windows in your home to opting for glass doors and skylights, embracing glass is one of the most obvious ways to increase natural light.
• Reflective surfaces such as mirrors near windows, glossy countertops or wood floors with a natural sheen can help amplify the natural light your home already receives. 
• Painting rooms in light colours can also help reflect natural light and brighten your space.