Floors, Gyms, and Everything in Between
What’s hot and what’s not? As we work our way into 2024, there’s no better time to explore the cresting trends of design in home interiors and exteriors. From kitchens to bathrooms to home gyms to backyards, here are the hottest trends that are hitting the market right now.
Just some of the design trends that are guiding 2024 include flooring — in bathrooms, kitchens, and general areas of the home. Ushered in by the move toward ceramic tile flooring a few years ago, this year, homeowners are tending toward bolder flooring choices. Checkerboard, a throwback to the Art Deco period, has become increasingly popular. Luxury homeowners are using marble tiles in conjunction with checkerboard patterns for an upmarket and visually interesting choice that adds texture and depth to areas like primary bathrooms and powder rooms.
The herringbone pattern, long a favorite of designers, remains popular for flooring (and it has even extended to areas like kitchen backsplashes). Herringbone is an imminently flexible pattern, useful for both wood and tile applications, and its sophistication and longevity add to its popularity in the 2024 design sphere.
This year’s design trends are not, however, limited to what lies beneath the feet. Luxury upgrades abound, making this a year where appreciable upgrades may make or break a design scheme. LED backlighting on kitchen cabinetry and beneath stair treads have been popular among home designers. In primary bathrooms, freestanding tubs have increased, once again, in popularity, along with another, more unusual upgrade: his and her commodes.
For those with the space for two separate powder rooms within a primary bathroom suite, of course, this choice is the ultimate upgrade. Many high-end primary bathrooms have also now expanded their footprint to include infrared saunas and steam showers, and have added elements like heated floors, heated towel racks, ambient lighting, and showers with customizable water pressure.
Installing a home gym became the de rigueur necessity during the first year of Covid, and it now feels like most homes in the upper price points include them. But even gyms have pushed the boundaries of what luxury can include. Advanced air purifiers, touchscreen mirror displays with bespoke virtual fitness instructors, smart thermostats with zones — included dedicated fitness zones to keep those rooms cooler — and sound-therapy meditation areas to promote well-being are all part of the 2024 design trends in personal fitness spaces.
And don’t forget those outdoor spaces. Although outdoor kitchens were always a luxurious add-on for upscale homeowners, this year, designers are digging into the outdoors, exploring how these spaces can truly be an extension of the home itself. Built-in pizza ovens, stone countertops and seating areas, full-sized refrigerators, and pergolas are just part of what homeowners can expect when it comes to trending outdoor design. Entertaining outside is now just as important as entertaining indoors, and the consideration of materials, appliances, and use of space is something that both homeowners and designers should consider when thinking about how they can best use their patios and yards.
