Interior expert predicts trends for 2024 

• Interior experts at ScS predict home trends for 2024
• Soft Style, Colour Minimalism and Oversized Furniture set to be big in the new year

Searches for ‘interior design’ peak in the first quarter of the year¹ as many of us look to give our homes a fresh feel and look to the experts for inspiration on new trends for adapting our existing style.

Looking ahead to what interior aesthetics are set to take over Pinterest and Instagram feeds in 2024, Ashleigh Ellis, Director of Upholstery and Furniture and Victoria Foster, Interior Stylist, at ScS reveal the trends that are starting to filter into mainstream consumer purchasing habits and are forecast to really gain momentum and come to the forefront next year. 

‘Soft Style’ and Sofa Layering

Signature Winnie Fabric 2 Seater Sofa in Clay

RRP: £1,399

Ashleigh comments:

“We are continuing to see huge interest in fabrics and upholstery textures that are visibly soft, not just soft to the touch, but that allow consumers to create a cosy, comfy and inviting home aesthetic, with sofas, rugs and carpets in plush, soft fabrics that just invite you to curl up and sink into them.

“In fact ‘cosy living room interiors’ hit peak search popularity on Pinterest earlier in November which is a strong indicator that demand for this aesthetic is going to continue into next year.

“This is of course nothing new. This trend started life as ‘Cottagecore’ and ‘Cosycore’ back in 2022, graduating to ‘Comfortcore’ and ‘Cabincore’ in 2023 and we predict that this desire for creating comfy, cosy escapes from the outside world will continue into 2024, with boucle, teddy and velvet fabrics at the heart of this ‘Soft Style’ trend.

“In fact, boucle fabric has been so popular, that our Winnie and Pasadena sofa collections in boucle upholstery, includes a version for canine family members - because after all, everyone likes the feel of soft, cosy fabrics. .

“To amp up this trend, we forecast that people will heavily style their sofas with an abundance of scatter cushions and throws in plush fabrics to create the focal point of ‘Soft Style’ in their homes.”

Colour Minimalism

Botanicals Bloom Velvet 3 Seater Sofa Standard Back

RRP: £1,019

Ashleigh comments:

“The popularity of neutral colour palettes is nothing new with whites and creams, tans and natural wood tones being a staple of Pinterest mood boards and interior influencer’s Instagram feeds for some time now. #NeutralHome has a cool 1.1m mentions on Instagram and we’re forecasting a ‘don’t fix what isn’t broken’ approach to this subdued interior trend in 2024.

“What is new however is that we will see more muted versions of a broader spectrum of colours. Think sage greens, blush pinks, and Cotswold blues. These colours won’t disrupt the overall neutral aesthetic of a room, but will merely add more breadth of tones and shades to draw the eye and act as more subtle focal points without shouting for attention.

“This trend is perfect for indecisive decorators that don’t want to commit to a colour scheme in a bold way, or for those habitual renters who need furniture to work hard and adapt to new spaces as they take pieces with them from home to home.

“The resulting aesthetic is sanctuary-like, a calming and relaxing environment that promotes positive mental wellbeing through minimal design - extending to minimal use of colour that doesn’t overwhelm the senses.”

Curved Lines and Rounded Angles

Living Marshmallow Fabric 2 Seater Sofa

RRP: £1,099

Victoria comments:

“This trend is an extension of ‘Soft Style’ which involves the use of fabric textures that are visibly soft, and the layering of these fabrics to create comfy, cosy escapes. The rounded shapes we’re seeing come through in not only furniture, but interior design in general, lend themselves well to this soft aesthetic we’re seeing become popular. A rounded edge is much softer on the eye than a sharp, angular corner.

“Pebble shapes and wavy lines are rising in popularity and the rounding off of sharp corners is coming through particularly strongly in sofa and seating shapes. This softening of all visible lines does create a more inviting seating aesthetic, communicating comfort through the eye rather than through touch.

“A perfect example of this is our Living Margo Sofa which has a classic angular and boxy shape, but has been softened with the rounding off of the arm rests and the seat cushions, whilst the padded detail on the back rest creates multiple curved lines that define the top of the sofa.”

Regency-core

Botanicals Bloom Velvet Love Chair 

RRP: £779

Botanicals Ferndale Fabric 2 Seater Sofa

RRP: £749

Victoria comments:

“With TV programmes like Netflix’s The Crown and Bridgerton being watched by millions across the UK, it’s easy to understand how this pop culture trend of period drama TV escapism is bleeding into our home and interior style choices when we’re faced with such sumptuous and indulgent film sets.

“The Crown, season six of which recently aired, has scenes set in both Buckingham Palace and Paris with a colour palette that juxtaposes rich, deep tones with modern neutrals, all accented by gold features. There’s definitely an appetite for bringing a sense of this luxury, heritage design into the modern day, combining the styles of different eras to create a space that is both opulent and cutting-edge.

“The colour palette of this trend embodies rich reds, blues and greens combined with warming creams and golds. Luxurious fabrics are just as key to this trend as colour, with velvet and sumptuous textures being at the heart of Regency-core.

“More is more when it comes to this trend, with a layering of textures, prints and patterns in rich colours creating a feast for the eyes.”

Nature Fusion

Botanicals Ferndale Fabric Patterned Footstool

RRP: £309

Hoxton Velvet Maxi Left Hand Facing Chaise Sofa

RRP: £1,999

Ashleigh comments:

"As we enter into the new year, nature-inspired design is set to weave its way into the fabric of interior design, quite literally. This trend takes inspiration from natural landscapes, incorporating earthy tones, botanical motifs, and textured materials to create a harmonious and calming environment. Think of it as an ode to nature within the confines of your home.

“The colour palette revolves around mossy greens, warm browns, and soothing blues, evoking the essence of forests, mountains, and oceans. Furniture with organic patterns and textures, such as rattan and reclaimed wood, will be in high demand.

“In terms of decor, expect to see indoor plants, landscape inspired artwork, and natural fibres like jute and hemp. 'Nature Fusion' aims to create a sanctuary that connects people with the calming influence of the great outdoors, giving a sense of wellbeing and tranquillity."

Oversized Opulence

Botanicals Ferndale Fabric 1 Corner 2 Left Hand Facing Chaise Sofa

RRP: £1,499

Victoria comments:

"Maximalism is here to stay in 2024 with a focus on ‘bigger is better’. The interior design landscape is set to be dominated by what we’re calling the 'Oversized Opulence' trend, a celebration of larger-than-life furniture pieces. This trend boldly challenges the conventional norms of scale, encouraging homeowners to go big and make a statement with their furniture choices.

“The colour palette for 'Oversized Opulence' leans towards rich, jewel tones—think deep emerald greens, regal purples, and luxurious burgundies. These bold hues, combined with sumptuous textures, create an atmosphere of extravagance and sophistication. The oversized furniture pieces become focal points, commanding attention and exuding a sense of opulence.

“Furniture in this trend is characterised by generous proportions—plush, oversized sofas, grand dining tables, and statement-making light fittings. The aim is to create a sense of luxury and comfort on a grand scale. Beyond size, attention to detail is a key feature, with intricate embellishments, tufted upholstery, and metallic accents adding an extra layer of sophistication."

Warm Neutrals

Chicago 2 Corner 1 Right Hand Facing Chaise

RRP: £899

Chicago Fabric Footstool

RRP: £209

Ashleigh comments:

“Warm Neutrals really took hold in 2023 and is set to continue its popularity into 2024 thanks to its easy to adopt, minimalist aesthetic that holds mass appeal whilst also reflecting the current home decor love affair with cream and inviting neutral interiors.

“Beige, creams and warm whites are at the centre of this trend, complemented by warm natural wood accents extending from cool bamboo tones to rich tans and deep oak colours.

“In order to add depth when working with a neutral colour palette, we’ll see texture take centre stage with fabrics that you want to sink your hands into and stroke and instead of block colours, creams are likely to be flecked through with a warmer richer colour when it comes to textiles.

“When it comes to styling this trend in homes, we’ll see people lean into the fully neutral aesthetic and take it to its extremes, very much like a Kardashian home interior, or we’ll see the use of accent colours that will break up the neutrality without ruining the overall calming and minimal design that’s at the heart of the aesthetic.”

For more home interiors trends and expert styling advice, visit the ScS Inspiration Hub.

Notes to Editor:

For all media enquiries, please contact scs-PR@dentsu.com. Please find additional lifestyle images for each trend here.

About ScS

ScS is one of the UK's largest retailers of upholstered furniture and floorings, with 100 stores nationwide, nine distribution centres and more than 1,500 passionate employees.

ScS offers a wide range of fabric and leather sofas, including third-party brands such as La-Z-Boy and G Plan, plus exclusive ranges with Paloma Faith, Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen and Ideal Home.

The Group also has one of the largest selections of carpets and floorings, along with an extensive range of dining and living room furniture. ScS holds the BSI Kitemark for Domestic Furniture and has a vast range of sofas handmade in Britain.

@scssofas on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and Pinterest.