Embracing brown: the top interior design trends for 2024

Do you follow trends or tend to stick to your own instincts when it comes to interiors? Either way, it’s always fun to look ahead to trend predictions, and for 2024 it seems like brown is going to have its moment in the sun.

In this blog, we’re exploring the hottest interiors looks for 2024, from fabrics to paint colours to furniture. Prepare to be inspired!

What’s hot for 2024: the new colours for the new year

When it comes to colour choices for 2024, it’s all about earthy tones inspired by nature. Think warm neutrals such as taupe, mushroom and dusty pink, as well as bolder shades including aubergine, olive green and chocolate brown.

Now, we realise brown might not sound like the sexiest of colours, but – trust us - brown is going to be big for 2024. Making a nod to Seventies style, a retro mahogany brown is actually a lot more versatile than you might think. It brings a softness to a scheme that you can’t get with black or charcoal, and it ties in with the rise in popularity of dark woods.

So why brown? Well, brown is literally grounding (the colour of the ground) and has a wonderfully calming effect on a space. Expect to see shades of brown all over interiors in 2024, from earthy brown to taupe, and from deep chocolate to cappuccino.

“By far the biggest colour trend we’ve noticed in the last two years is all brown everything, and we see this continuing. It’s a little 1970s retro lounge, and far softer than harsh black. It can be dressed up or down and blends with so many colour palettes.” – Heather Goerzen, Lead Designer at interior design portal Havenly

Perfect combinations: which colours go well with brown?

Rich browns pair brilliantly with other saturated, moody tones such as plum, burgundy or navy, or you can create contrast by combining them with warm neutrals such as taupe, beige or mauve.

“Brown is a warm neutral that gives interiors an earthy richness. Deep chocolate brown walls will evoke a sense of luxe sophistication in your bedroom or dining room. You can also pair brown with pink or aqua in a child's room to create a lighter and brighter feel.” – Daleet Spector, founder of Californian design studio Daleet Spector Design

Using brown as a foundational colour, it can work well to introduce pops of bright colours such as yellow or turquoise for dramatic contrast. An acid yellow velvet sofa against a chocolate brown backdrop creates a stunning visual effect. And bright greens pair well with rich browns, reflecting colours commonly found next to one another in nature.

In terms of specific interior design styles, tan and navy lend themselves perfectly to a retro Seventies look. And warm neutrals combined with brown accents are spot on for the ‘Quiet Luxury’ trend – a restrained, pared back style we’ll be seeing everywhere in 2024.

EXAMPLE 1: WARSAW APARTMENT

Brown takes centre stage in this stylish apartment which celebrates wood in all its multi-toned, many-textured glory. Herringbone flooring and teak woodwork combine with richly-coloured fabrics to create a highly sensory, cocoon-like feel.

EXAMPLE 2: ITALIAN HOLIDAY HOME

In this stunning 14^th Century Tuscan farmhouse, dark wood doors and cabinetry combine with plaster pink walls and terracotta floors to create a calming colour palette of gentle contrasts. The punctuation of different tones of brown runs throughout the property, serving to anchor the interior style and reference the building’s historic past.

Related Read: Colour Trends: A spotlight on jewel-toned burgundy interiors

Setting the trends: interior design inspo for 2024

Our design teams have their fingers firmly on the pulse in terms of tracking down emerging new trends in the interior design world. One of the hottest looks to watch out for in the year ahead is ‘quiet luxury’, a design philosophy embracing warm neutrals, organic shapes and natural textures to create a calm and welcoming interior.

This timeless look, which embraces earthy shades such as browns, taupe and plaster pinks, feeds into our ‘Tradition’ trend – one of the key themes we’ve identified for our Trends Book 2023/2024.

This trend celebrates ‘traditional’ vintage and inherited pieces such as furniture and artwork that bring comfort, familiarity and reassurance. It also brings together rounded, organic shapes and earthy colours inspired by nature. It’s all about recognising and honouring age-old craftsmanship and the beauty of natural wood.

Rustic patterns such as ikats and batiks tie in well with this theme, as do chunky textures including rattan, wicker and raw plaster. In terms of fabric choices, go for texured bouclés and woven linens in neutral tones such as stone, almond and sandy brown.

To sum up, an earthy palette is definitely the direction of traffic for interiors heading into 2024 and beyond. ‘Warm minimalism’ will be the order of the day, a look that creates a soothing, nurturing feel with retro brown tones and natural materials.

Need some fresh inspo for 2024? Take a look at our Trends Book 2023/2024 to find out more about the hottest interiors looks for the year ahead.