Personal expression on the rise

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Moen taps emerging design trends

Modular furniture and bold colours like burgundy, orange and purple are gaining traction as homeowners discover new ways to express their personal style this year. Geometrics, timeless stripes, playful polka dots and classic checkerboard patterns are also on trend.

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“Personal expression has been on the rise in interior design for several reasons,” Danielle DeBoe Harper, senior creative style manager with consumer faucet brand Moen, says of her annual trend report.

“One key factor is this shift towards individualism and the desire for spaces that reflect one’s personality and lifestyle. With the rise of social media and platforms like Instagram or TikTok, there is greater awareness and inspiration for diverse design styles and that encourages people to explore and express their own tastes.”

TREND ONE: PERSONAL EXPRESSION

Colour. With burgundy trending in fashion, it’s no surprise it’s also making its mark in home décor. “From a psychological impact, colour studies have shown that burgundy actually creates a sense of security and comfort and can make a space feel more intimate and inviting,” DeBoe Harper says.

Still, citrus tones like oranges, yellows and greens remain relevant again this year and especially “joy inducing, creativity promoting, bright saturated oranges.” Earthy tones and terra cotta versions of orange are also making their mark.

But purple “really speaks” to personalization, DeBoe Harper maintains. “The lighter shades of purples such as lavenders and lilacs are known more for that calming and soothing effect and the plums and royal purples can add dramatic flare and stimulate creativity.”

Patterns. Checkerboard has been enjoying a revival. In a traditional environment, checkerboard in classic and lighter tones or neutrals give a space a bit of movement and visual interest.

“Or you could take it into a totally different direction and make it really colourful and fun,” DeBoe Harper says, pointing to buffalo check and gingham as examples.

Though she has included geometrics on every trend report for the past six years, DeBoe Harper says designers continue to find ways to let basic geometrics inspire them, from three-dimensional furnishings to one-dimensional patterns on wallpapers and rugs. “It undoubtedly has a playfulness to it,” she says.

Era mixing. Designers are finding inspiration in the past as they look ahead. “We are seeing an increased interest in heirloom products as consumers view these purchases as key emotional and financial investments.

“For instance, by finding new virtues in antiques or vintage-inspired pieces from the 1950s and 60s, designers are reissuing and rethinking classics in furniture and architecture. Many are opting to embrace the 1970s through autumnal, vibrant hues and matching patterns, as well as conversation pits, shag carpets and overall retro vibes.”

TREND TWO: BIOPHILIC DESIGN

Biophilic design has also landed on DeBoe Harper’s annual report for several years and isn’t going anywhere. “Overall, the rise of biophilic design is attributed to the desire to create healthier, more sustainable and more harmonious living and working environments that reconnect us with nature,” she says.

Florals, colours. Florals – from bold botanicals to smaller ditsy prints – tie to this trend. The biophilic colour palette, meanwhile, includes earthy neutrals, playful and optimistic yellow, and tranquil greens.

DeBoe Harper predicts green will remain popular in kitchens and bathrooms but notes it’s branching out into the living and dining rooms in new ways. While muted shades of sage and hunter green as well as dark hunter green are on trend, “olive is the new green on the block this year,” she says.

Texture. Also, in keeping with the biophilic trend, designers are choosing textural elements like over-dramatized wood grain, glass that resembles water and cork sanded to look like lava stones.

TREND THREE: FUTURE FORWARD

Wellness and sustainability will remain key in design trends this year and beyond. “The concept of ‘joy’ was prominent in my research and travels this year,” DeBoe Harper says. “It embodies carefree playfulness using bold colours and forms resembling notable icons. This includes colours like yellows and blues, icons like hearts or clouds, emoji-style expressions like smiley faces or shapes like speech bubbles.”

Wellness. The future forward trend explores how the use of light, sound and tactile elements captivate and elevate the senses, she adds. Light regulates circadian rhythms and boosts mood; sounds like water or wind may reduce stress and improve focus; and materials like wood, stone and plants may evoke feelings of comfort.

Neuroaesthetics. A new field of research called ‘neuroaesthetics’ – which explores the brain’s positive reaction to aesthetics like art, architecture, colour or materials – is also beginning to make its way into design, DeBoe Harper reports.

When putting together a space, designers or homeowners can keep in mind how colours may evoke emotional responses, the way typography and fonts can influence readability and emotional impact, and how layout and balance – like symmetrical or asymmetrical designs – can affect perception and mood, she explains.

Sustainability. Finally, innovations often blend technology with the circular economy, which is the idea of reusing or regenerating waste materials and applying them in production.

Emerging design trends

Moen’s senior creative style manager Danielle DeBoe Harper identifies three key emerging design trends for 2024, all of which fall under the overarching theme of ‘home holistic wellness’ – the concept of how cultural and environmental shifts impact life and wellness at home.

While that larger trend has remained constant over recent years, the three major themes within it – ‘personal expression,’ ‘biophilic design’ and ‘future forward’ – are being brought to life in new and innovative ways this year, she reports.