PHOTOS BY JESSE RIESMEYER/DESIGN BY INTERIORS BY SEASHAL

Raise your hand if you got out of the house more in 2023.

Yes? That’s what we thought.

After several years of hunkering down at home because of the pandemic, people are traveling again, meeting up with friends or family members they haven’t seen in awhile — or just heading back to the office.

The shift is also having an effect on home trends. If last year was the year of the home office, then 2024 is all about creating specialized niches that speak to you.

“We want the meditation room, we want the home gym, we want those intentional spaces and less of that flex space,” says interior designer Juliane Mazzarella, owner of Avenue Interiors in Sewickley. “Now that we’re moving beyond COVID, what has stuck in your life? If you turned your guest bedroom into an office and went back to work, what is it now?”

Other trends to look out for in the new year include an emphasis on sustainable products, a warm neutral color palette (brown, which hasn’t been popular since the 1970s, is huge for 2024) and a focus on luxe, textured materials such as velvet and bouclé.

If you’re looking to update your home, here’s what else local design experts have to say about the trends coming down the pike for 2024 — and how to implement them in your home.

PHOTOS BY NORA BEST PHOTOGRAPHY/DESIGN BY INTERIORS BY SEASHAL

The New Neutrals

Design experts have been heralding the end of gray (now called “Millennial Gray” because of its association with a certain generation) as the go-to neutral for years now, but 2024 might really be its death knell. Instead, beige has been dominating the market.

“You’re seeing virtually no grays — it’s truly out now,” Mazzarella says. “Everything is definitely beige. Stark white is also out.”

Taking its place are cozy, warmer neutrals such as creamy off-whites, taupes and rich browns. Mazzarella says cognac-toned leather also is becoming a popular material choice.

PHOTO BY JESSE RIESMEYER/DESIGN BY INTERIORS BY SEASHAL

“As we continue our shift to warmer palettes, we’re seeing a lot of organic hues, including terra cotta, mustard yellow and greens,” adds interior designer Jennifer Janeway, owner of Jennifer Janeway Designs in Cranberry. “These colors create soft, cozy and welcoming environments.”

Janeway says she recently created a serene primary bedroom by combining sage green and turmeric yellow with warm woods. For a living room project, she added an avocado-hued velvet sofa accented by playful patterned pillows in gold and green.

Seashal Belldina, owner of Pittsburgh-based Interiors by Seashal, says during her fall journey to High Point Market — the influential biannual furnishing industry trade show held in High Point, North Carolina — she noted muted tones and bolder colors mixed with warmer undertones, clean lines and organic shapes, as well as vintage accents and natural materials.

“Some showrooms combined that warm neutral backdrop with a pop of bold color in shades of blue, green and orange,” she says.

PHOTO BY DAVE BRYCE PHOTOGRAPHY/DESIGN BY JENNIFER JANEWAY

In the Kitchen

While a white kitchen will always be classic, Janeway says many of her clients are experimenting with color, including a project she completed with deep green cabinetry complemented by butcher block countertops and brass hardware.

“Taking a chance on a colorful kitchen lets homeowners express their personality and fill each day with joy,” she says.

According to home renovation and design platform Houzz, appliance garages are also having a moment. The pull-down kitchen door conceals countertop appliances such as blenders, coffee makers and toasters while keeping them easily accessible (and organized).

In its 2024 Kitchen Trends report, the National Kitchen & Bath Association also cited walk-in, butler and built-in pantries as must-haves, along with floor-to-ceiling cabinetry and deep lower cabinets to help maximize storage; there’s also a desire for built-in charging stations.

Mazzarella says an easy way to zhuzh up the kitchen is to add dramatic, substantial hardware to cabinets or to create a dedicated beverage station for coffees or teas.

“Islands have also gotten a bit smaller, and homeowners are starting to want workstation sinks instead of traditional sinks,” she adds of upcoming kitchen trends.

Blues, Natural Materials and Textures

Feeling blue doesn’t have to be a bummer. According to 2024 Color of the Year predictions, blue is the standout color for the home.

Keep in mind this isn’t a deep or primary blue; Mazzarella says the accessible hue is all about softness. Indeed, the Sherwin-Williams Color of the Year is Upward, a pale, dreamy blue with soothing gray undertones.

Mazzarella also sees blues with a hint of green growing in popularity; the pretty peacock shade is a versatile way to add color to your home.

“That teal color plays nicely against foundation and flooring,” she says.

Nubby bouclé and other nature-inspired textures have been trending for the last few years, and Janeway predicts they will continue to be in demand for 2024, including on window blinds.

PHOTO BY DAVE BRYCE PHOTOGRAPHY/DESIGN BY JENNIFER JANEWAY

“Our clients are loving the warmth and texture that natural shades bring to their homes,” she says. “Made of materials like bamboo, jute, sisal, these window treatments provide a gorgeous light-filtering glow that adds layers of texture to the sitting area.”

Belldina says case goods, such as dressers and shelves, are taking on warmer tones, textures and organic shapes; materials such as spalted maple, alabaster, metals and natural stone also can enhance a piece’s connection to nature.

In the bedroom, Belldina says “livable luxury,” including washable velvets and sustainable materials with boho accents such as unrefined fringe trim, are on trend.

Thanks to the 2023 blockbuster “Barbie,” the upbeat Barbiecore trend also is transitioning into 2024, albeit in a more toned-down way. Instead of bright pinks, Mazzarella says there’s a push toward dusty rose, mauves and aubergine hues.

Squishy, bubble-shaped “marshmallow” pieces that Barbie would love to sit on are another fun way to update your own dreamhouse, as are striking Murano glass chandeliers and curvier furniture.

“It’s not that in-your-face pink, but there’s definitely a feminineness that’s coming in,” Mazzarella says.

PHOTOS COURTESY SHERWIN WILLIAMS

Thanks, Gwyneth

The expensive-looking, label-free fashions that actress and Goop founder Gwyneth Paltrow wore during her heavily covered 2023 civil trial involving a ski collision (which she won) introduced everyone to the term “quiet luxury” — and the theme has carried over to the home realm.

Also called “stealth wealth,” this seemingly effortless style relies on simple design principles aided by high-quality materials, usually in muted tones. Mazzarella adds that “disposable” furniture trends (similar to fast fashion) typically bought online are coming to an end, with homeowners gravitating toward sustainable, custom-made pieces that can last a lifetime.

“I can give you exactly what you want and you’re going to have it for the next 20 years,” she says of ordering bespoke pieces. “Clients are starting to have sustainability first in mind, and then where and how [the pieces] are made and what the materials are.”

Janeway agrees there’s a movement toward more sustainable fabrics created from recycled materials in design.

FLAT LAY BY JENNIFER JANEWAY DESIGNS

“At Highpoint Market this fall, we discovered these Thibaut fabrics from their Ethos collection and had some fun putting together a colorful flat lay with them,” she says. “This fabric collection is made in large part from recycled polyester or recycled plastic bottles (depending on the specific fabric) and combines surprisingly tough performance with sustainability.”

If overhauling the entire house — which can be both expensive and time-consuming — is out of reach, Mazzarella suggests adding little luxuries to your everyday life such as scented candles, high-quality sheets, an upgraded mattress or a cashmere throw on the sofa.

Throw in a properly framed piece of art or a few handcrafted items you picked up on your recommenced vacations and you’ve got yourself a Gwyneth-approved, luxury look.

“Just in general with all the trends, the volume got turned down,” Mazzarella says. “Things are just getting more personal again; your home shouldn’t look like a staged home.”