After analyzing several 2024 residential design predictions—from sources including the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA), the American Society of Interior Designers, Houzz, Taylor Morrison, and Ashton Woods—BUILDER compiled a list of nine trends expected to transform homes this year.
The overall takeaway reflects a growing interest to slow down in today’s fast-paced environment. Wellness and comfort are top of mind still, four years after a pandemic shook the globe. Plus, homeowners are also prioritizing outdoor connections and colors, minimalistic and clutter-free spaces, and personalization. Learn more about each of the trends and insights below.
1. Wellness Wins: A key theme from both of NKBA’s 2024 bath and kitchen trends reports was an increased homeowner focus on wellness. In bathrooms, designers are creating spa atmospheres that support relaxation, with 78% reporting a focus on health and wellness as a driving design attitude. In kitchens, designs are focused on nutrition and healthy eating, with appliances including more refrigeration space and integrated cooking functions.
2. Outdoor Illusion: Homeowners are looking for more ways to connect with the outdoors, whether that’s through window openings or natural materials. Houzz reports searches for bedroom window seats, living room bay windows, and four-season rooms have all recently increased. Lee Crowder, Taylor Morrison national director of design and model experience, also says “it's about choosing colors and materials that evoke the essence of nature in every room. Consider neutral stains that show the character of wood cabinets or flooring, tiles that emulate texture and depth of natural materials, and rich hues of green, blue, black, and brown that create a soothing and earthy atmosphere.”
3. Earthy Colors: Building off of the previous outdoor trend, the experts agree that blue and green hues are trending for 2024. Several paint manufacturers highlighted blue shades as their colors of the year, and Houzz’s winter trends report says green is in demand. "We love bold, knockout colors like dark olive greens and moody browns,” says the Ashton Woods team. “Earthy tones help create a comfortable, relaxed environment with a genuine 'easy living' vibe.”
4. Secret Storage: While savvy storage has been a top trend for the past few years, designers are seeing an increase in secret or hidden spaces. NKBA reports more than 50% of their kitchen survey respondents are looking for walk-in, butler, and built-in pantries for more space and function. Houzz says homeowners are also gravitating toward “home interiors that combine whimsy with functionality,” including the inclusion of trap doors, hidden pantries, and speakeasy spaces.
5. Quiet Luxury: Homeowners are embracing an emerging minimalistic décor style called “quiet luxury.” Taylor Morrison designers define it as “the art of subtlety, combining textures, limited prints, classic lighting, and natural materials to craft a cohesive yet understated aesthetic.” The American Society of Interior Designers also believes consumers are seeking the trend with “a more low-key and personalized approach to luxury, investing in items that have more longevity and relevance.”
6. Turn to Tech: More and more buyers have started to adopt smart-home technologies beyond the standard voice assistants. In the NKBA bathroom report, 32% identified integrated technology as the biggest change in bath trends over the next three years, with people enjoying heated flooring controls, smart mirrors, and smart toilets. Kitchens are also seeing increased technology use with connected appliances, smart lighting, and cleaning assistants.
7. Personalized Spaces: While today’s buyers definitely enjoy new spaces and finishes, they also want to personalize them to their liking, whether it be custom molding, upcycled accents, or personalized settings. “Consumers are leaning into self-expression when decorating their homes,” states Taylor Morrison. The builder is expecting to see home décor styles like dark academia, coastal grandma, and southwestern style take off this year based on the consumer’s individual preference.
8. Entertainment-Focused Gathering: Four years post-pandemic and people are really enjoying visiting and gathering with friends and family. They are looking for spaces for amusement and “eatertainment,” says the American Society of Interior Designers, including open kitchens and covered outdoor patios. Houzz data reveals search increases for “family room with TV over fireplace,” “living room with built-in entertainment,” and “small home theater.”
9. Lots of Lighting: Last, people want to live in the light. During the day, they want big windows and doors that provide as much natural light as possible and, at night, various layered artificial lighting for different tasks. According to the NKBA kitchen report, designers will use multiple layers of lighting to support different functions: ambient lighting to create different moods, decorative statement lighting, and nighttime lighting for safety and aesthetics. Ashton Woods adds “under-cabinet ambient lighting creates a soothing, spa-like environment in your home.”
