They say nothing lasts forever and it seems the moment has come for these four interior design styles to exit the building.
Disclaimer: If any of these interior design styles truly speak to you, then by all means embrace them. Your home is your castle and should be a reflection of you.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for an update or starting fresh, these four design styles are better left on the pages of past magazines and Pinterest pages.
Interior Design Styles We’re Waving Goodbye To
Some are gone, some are on their way out, and others just turning a corner.
Colors Fading Fast
A tour of the paint chip aisle of any paint retailer is proof that color has always been with us. The heyday of these two is over.
White
White kitchens held sway for a long time. White cabinets with white tile backsplashes and white marble or granite countertops was the look of a modern kitchen. But unless done really, really well white kitchens are boring and sterile.
If white is out, what’s in? With an ongoing trend toward natural materials, wood cabinetry is once again warming up kitchens. Bold colors liven up or stone creates interest for today’s backsplash.
Gray
Gray has remained the popular neutral since around 2010. It became the poster color of minimalism and sophistication. Gray gained such popularity that it finally exhausted itself. Every flipped house has gray walls with white woodwork.
Color is the name of the game in 2024. Following the trend for natural materials and blending inside and outside space uses nature-inspired color palettes. Feeling more adventurous? Bold bright colors energize your space. Neutrals are warmer and work well in either color direction.
Modern Farmhouse
Modern Farmhouse is the next interior design style to exit in 2024. It has been creeping toward the door for a few years but has finally been put out to pasture.
Shiplap
Made popular by Joanna Gaines on the show Fixer Upper, shiplap became ubiquitous. It was the uber popular wall treatment. And now it’s not. However, it needn’t be written off entirely. If you like the look there are ways to modernize it, such as installing planks with a uniform gap between them. Already have shiplap? To update, paint it with high gloss paint for a more contemporary feel.
Barn Doors
Like shiplap, barn doors were a fixture of modern farmhouse interior design style, but now they just look dated. Barn-style sliding doors can be really convenient, though. Fortunately, there are many door and hardware styles that provide modern styling to this functionality.
Open Concept Floorplans
Open concept floorplans may seem to be relatively modern but actually were a phenomenon of the post-war baby and housing booms. The open floor plan embraced the casual lifestyle of optimistic young families of the 1950s. Ranch style homes of the 1960s continued the trend into the 1970s. While the ‘70s and ‘80s saw movement toward other arrangements, such as split level and split entry floorplans, the 90’s saw a resurgence of the open concept interior design style. Until recently, open floorplans were sought after in remodels and new builds.
The pandemic is considered the catalyst for many lifestyle changes. Disillusionment with open concept floorplans is just another casualty. All that togetherness wears on a person and a family.
To say this interior design style is leaving in 2024 isn’t the whole story. It hasn’t completely lost its appeal. Undergoing a metamorphosis is more accurate. Using walls as partitions and transitions to interrupt sight lines accomplishes many of the same goals for lifestyle and entertaining as completely open floorplans. Installing glass panel doors between spaces allows light through, giving the illusion of connectedness while providing some separation. Including a room specifically designed as a getaway is also popular.
If you already have an open floorplan that isn’t working for you, an experienced interior designer has the expertise to redesign the space, with or without adding walls, to achieve your lifestyle goals.
Open Shelving in the Kitchen
Let’s face it. Open shelving is a lot of work. It may seem handy to have everything in plain sight and within arm’s reach, but there it is … in plain sight. Kitchen get sticky with cooking byproducts and dust. All of that ends up on the shelves and their contents. Items used and washed every day aren’t so much a problem, but less routinely used things and decorative items require regular clean up.
Glass front cabinets allow for visibility of all the things you want to see and keep them clean. Lighting cabinets with decorative items adds a layer of interest and warmth.
Interior Design Styles and Trends
Trends come and go. Some stay longer than others. At the end of the day, your home should reflect you – your personality and your lifestyle. If modern farmhouse is where your heart is, go for it.
If you’re not sure what your style is, an interior designer knows just how to work through that with you to design a home that ticks all your boxes and puts a smile on your face every time you walk through the door.
Interior Design Trends on Their Way Out in 2024
Sorry, But it’s Time to Retire These 5 Interior Design Trends in 2024
