Home trends for the year ahead??

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The major paint companies may have already named their colours of the year in the last quarter of 2024, but it was only a glimpse of what’s to come on the home trends front.??

First stop: maximalism, which isn’t going anywhere. When the more-is-more aesthetic first appeared on the design scene about seven years ago, it was in response to years of minimalist spaces that had come to feel devoid of personality. Excess arrived for the sake of excess. But the trend has evolved. Now “(it’s) much more about charm and personality, a mix of vintage and new,” used together to make a space feel personal, says Arren Williams, designer, interiors stylist and co-founder of Casa Cubista. One aspect that Williams is drawn to is the very British trend of colour-drenching a space, adding layers of colour, pattern and texture. “This style of decorating has really mashed up with Southern U.S. decorating style where it has always been layered, over the top, chockful of colour, pattern-on-pattern, skirts on things. Skirts are huge now. They are literally on everything.”?

One of the 20 trends forecasted in the annual Pinterest Predicts report is Mix & Maximalist. “We are seeing search terms like ‘eclectic apartment’ up by 630 per cent,” says Pinterest Global Trends and Insights lead Sydney Stanback. Another keyword the report picks up on is ‘hyper-personalization.’ Although Mix & Maximalist decorating was initially shaped by Gen X and Boomers, Stanback sees keen interest in the trend coming from Gen Z, a powerful demographic that craves authenticity and indulges a desire for daring self-expression.??

Take Castlecore, a cross-category trend that touches fashion, beauty and decor. It incorporates rich textures, dark colour palettes and ornate details that were prominent in medieval times.??

“Gothic, or ‘goth,’ trends have been evolving over the past few years,” says Stanback, fuelled by a fascination among Millennials and Gen Zs with ancient castles and all things medieval following the success of Hollywood shows like House of the Dragon and singer Chappell Roan’s sartorial take on medieval warrior-queen style during her performance at the VMAs last year.?

While the world of adventure-fantasy may not appeal to every home decorator, the appeal of escapism is relatable given that we’re living in an increasingly uncertain, conflict-ridden world. “Ask people how they are feeling, (and) they will mostly say ‘stressed,’” points out Williams. “A well-designed interior will always make you feel good. It is about creating that comfort of home where you can shut the door and enter a magical, dream-like space.”?

Designer Evelyn Eshun agrees. “People are understanding how much their environment affects their mood,” she says. That could explain why a nostalgic aesthetic continues to be strong, taking us back to a pre-digital world. “The ’70s and its earthy palettes are my guiding light as far as inspiration goes,” she says, adding that the ’80s comeback will continue, “but not a tacky way.”??

The decade is reimagined not copied, for instance, with the re-emergence of glass blocks in new patterns; this reflective feature adds visual depth and can mimic the gentle ripple of water, adding a layer of tranquility and connection to the outdoors while embracing? biophilic design (another trend that isn’t going anywhere), which emphasizes the importance of integrating natural elements into our living spaces to foster a deeper sense of calm.???

Also from the ’80s: “We are going to see more statement treatments on ceilings,” says Eshun. Not quite the stippled ceilings we remember, but more of a take on Craftsman style by creating a cocoon-like feeling with the use of mouldings and warm-wood tones in oak and walnut.??

As for wall-to-wall carpet, don’t balk at the idea quite yet, she advises. Eshun recently completed a music room for a client with plushy white carpet that absorbs the sound and feels incredible underfoot.?

Also from the big-hair-and-shoulder-pads decade, Williams sees the return of post-modernist pieces from the Italian Radical Memphis Design movement. “High-tech is a design trend with an ’80s industrial look,” he says. “We are seeing full stainless-steel kitchens again and, on the higher end, silver leaf is making a huge comeback.”?

On the eco front, sustainability is at the fore in all the projects being undertaken by the designers we spoke to. “Supporting young and emerging creators over mass-produced is one of the ways (to do that),” says Williams, explaining that he takes a layered approach to sustainability. “Keeping educated on the topic is the best way to navigate this world we live in,” adds Eshun.??

And finally, it’s worth mentioning the colour palette presiding over these warm, maximalist interiors chockful of personality and nostalgia. Benjamin Moore chose Cinnamon Slate 2113-40, a delicate mix of heathered plum and velvety brown among nine other paint shades that are described as “quietly colourful.” Pantone picked Mocha Mousse, a mellow brown hue that nurtures with its suggestion of everyday pleasures like cacao, chocolate and coffee.??

“As a broader design trend for 2025, Mocha Mousse tells us that we are looking for colour with longevity and versatility as well as colour that provides us with warmth and comfort,” says Laurie Pressman, VP of the Pantone Color Institute.?

The tofu of colours, “it is a very flattering colour to live with and it also picks up on pinks and terracotta tones. It is very changeable; depending on how you use it, it will end up pulling and reflecting different hues back to you,” says Williams.?

That mutability is key, as he sees it, especially in a year where bold trends prevail: “The beauty about design today is that you can cherry-pick. You don’t have to be (tied) to one look.”?