As 2023 wraps up (we know, we really can’t believe it either), all of the 2024 trend forecasts are starting to roll out—from paint colors to kitchen fixtures, and even foods. To cover what’s coming up on the home decorating horizon, Zillow, the leading real estate marketplace, recently released a data-driven list of home trends they predict will dominate TikTok’s #HomeTok and other social media platforms.
To determine what the trends will be, Zillow reviewed nearly 300 home features and design styles mentioned in for-sale listing descriptions, then identified the keywords showing up more frequently over the past year. Amanda Pendleton, Zillow’s home trends expert, says, “Real estate agents are uniquely attuned to subtle changes in what buyers want, and they often get a first look at the latest and greatest features going into newly built homes.” So basically, Zillow’s pretty good at this kind of thing and has their finger on the pulse.
Keep reading for a glimpse of interior design trends to come in 2024, as well as what you can expect to fade out of view.
Brutalism
Artjafara/Getty Images
Zillow has seen a whopping 452 percent increase in the share of for-sale listings mentioning this bleak architectural style. It has a pretty negative connotation, partly because it was popularized during a time of social unrest in the mid-20th century, but also because it relies heavily on not-super-pretty materials like concrete and other unfinished industrial materials. According to Zillow, brutalist-inspired features, such as blackened steel casement windows, raw concrete floors and jagged patinated bronze light fixtures are on the rise.
Sensory Gardens and Pathways
People love a good garden moment, but there’s one type you might not have heard of that’s taking root in people’s homes: sensory gardens. These are outdoor spaces designed to to engage all five senses for therapeutic benefits, and they incorporate a variety of plants, textures, colors, scents, sounds and edible elements, such as herbs or produce. Zillow reports that listings mentioning sensory gardens or pathways are up 314 percent compared to last year.
Cold Plunge Pools
We actually noticed a rise in demand for smaller pools over the summer, so it’s not a huge surprise that cold plunge pools are now taking off, with Zillow listings featuring an “at-home cold plunge pool” up 130 percent compared to last year. The wellness trend is touted by influencers as a way to improve circulation and reduce inflammation, though the science behind it is still up for debate. The luxe feature was once associated with spas and high-end listings, but DIY-friendly versions are making it much more accessible.
Murano Glass Chandelier
Zillow
Murano glass is prized for its craftsmanship and rich history—the bespoke pieces are handmade on the island of Murano in Venice, Italy, and date back to the Renaissance. The delicate crystal mostly fell out of favor in the latter half of the 20th century, but it’s poised for a comeback in the form of lighting, according to Zillow. The quirky, colorful fixtures are now being featured 58 percent more often in listings.
Pickleball Courts
Technically, the recreational sport that’s a cross between tennis and ping pong started picking up about two summers ago, but now people want whole courts in their homes—or at least they want one nearby. Pickleball mentions are up 64 percent nationwide on Zillow compared to last year. Joy Kim Metalios, a Zillow Premier Agent partner, vouches for this trend, saying, “I’ve seen homeowners converting their driveways into courts by using portable nets. An at-home court has become the latest entertaining feature, like an outdoor kitchen or a pizza oven.”
Murals
Chasing Paper
Wallpapers with a repeated pattern have been a thing for a while now in design, and now that they’ve proven they’re not the same ol’ wall covering you used to see at your grandparents’ house, people are starting to experiment with a new type of wall decor: Murals, which you can paint onto a surface or paper on. (We love these from Chasing Paper!) Murals are showing up 18 percent more often in for-sale homes on Zillow, and eclectic, maximalist trends are probably the source of this interest, as homeowners and home buyers are seeking more personality-packed homes.
What’s Out
Work-From-Home Spaces
The “cloffice” (a portmanteau of “closet” and “office”), which really skyrocketed to popularity during the pandemic as people tried to carve out their own little work-from-home spaces, is officially getting the boot from the zeitgeist. Most folks are now back in the office, and the demand for work-from-home zones is dwindling. The cloffice is now appearing in 54 percent fewer Zillow listings, Zoom rooms are also down by 41 percent, and office sheds are highlighted 31 percent less frequently in listing descriptions.
Tuscan Kitchens
You might think of Olive Garden when this style is mentioned, but really, the Netflix hit The White Lotus is somewhat responsible for this aesthetic’s spike on social media, as the most recent season was set in Italy. Plus, destination design was immensely popular while we were hunkered down at home the past few years. Now that travel has resumed, the need to bring the vacation vibes home has died down a bit. Mentions of Tuscan kitchens are down 45 percent from a year ago, while all things Parisian are down 26 percent.