Classic Home Décor Trends

NEW YORK — If your home decorating tastes run more toward classic and timeless than the trendy, you may think you'll find nothing of interest in the following design trends we are highlighting after talking with interior decorators, contractors and architects.

But keep reading, because not only will you learn what these experts say are the hot colors, new products and other fun goodies to make your home more beautiful and comfortable, but we've also included several trends these same experts say are played out or have aged poorly.

Trends to embrace

Colors

Whatever color you like is the best color for your home, but if you're looking for what several experts say are the trendiest colors this year, look no further than the brown family. According to development sales agent Stephanie Rinn, browns blend well with other neutrals. She especially likes cocoa brown for its strong, rich hue with tones of gray. Other colors the experts said they are hyped about include green, copper and plum as well as mushroom, warm whites, cranberry, light blue and magenta.

Subway tiles

Traditionally, white glazed, 3-by-6-inch subway tiles are installed horizontally with a 50% offset. It's a classic look but something of a yawner. For homeowners who want something different but don't want to think too far out of the box, these same tiles offer almost endless variations, including different sizes, colors, finishes and edgings. They can also be stacked on top of one another or installed vertically or in another pattern, such as herringbone.

Wallpaper

Thanks to the internet and small print runs, there are now thousands of wallpaper options available to bold homeowners willing to make a statement, according to Tyler O'Brien, owner of Agave Custom Homes in Texas. These range from wild botanical and tropical patterns to demure yet sophisticated classics like damask. Online retailers like Spoonflower and Katie Kime make shopping easy by offering free samples and design-your-own pattern services. Relatively new peel-and-stick papers are removable so you can change the look of a room whenever the mood strikes.

Color drenching

Don't paint just one wall a dramatic color and leave the rest of the room a blah white or eggshell. Try what experts call "color drenching" the entire space, whether in one paint color or wallpaper pattern, so you're cocooned 360 degrees. And don't be afraid to be bold. Darker blues, greens, browns and plums will really pop when you color drench, according to the folks at Garner Homes, a Texas-based custom builder.

Quiet areas

Even as return-to-office edicts proliferate, homeowners continue to clamor for small, niche-like quiet spaces set off from the rest of the home. This new iteration is less a garnished Zoom room and more a simple respite where they can retreat to read, listen to music or just think, said Craftmaster Custom Homes owner Shane Harrell. And they can still be used as work-from-home spaces.

White oak flooring

After the installation of countless acres of "Pinterest gray" wood flooring — made by staining and finishing wood planks to achieve that unnatural color — appreciation for white oak's timeless, natural beauty is thankfully on the ascent.

Indoor air quality

As people become more aware of the outdoor environment, their concerns often turn to the cleanliness of the air inside their homes, too. While systems that automatically monitor and control air quality can be installed during new construction, they're also available for existing homes, according to Juan Fernández, owner of CVF Homes, which specializes in energy-efficient construction. He recommends Swidget smart devices from Panasonic, which can be retrofitted in a home and, among other tasks, utilize an air-quality monitor to automatically turn exhaust fans on and off.

Specialized cabinet drawers

These continue to multiply, keeping the things that used to live at the bottom of deep drawers or the back of dark cabinets close at hand. There are tiered drawers, one shallow for pot covers above a deeper one for pots and pans; hidden charging station drawers to keep unsightly cords and electronics out of sight; knife block drawers to safely hide two dozen or more sharps; and narrow vertical pull-out pantries to make the most of limited space for spices, canned goods and other small items that often get lost in traditional cabinets.

Smaller homes

Buh-bye McMansions? As housing costs continue to soar, homeowners are looking for ways to cut back. One strategy: Build smaller. In mid-2024, for example, the average single-family new home was 2,375 square feet, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That's down from 2,535 square feet in 2022. To accommodate this new reality, homes are being built with smaller living areas and bedrooms (especially the primary bedrooms), fewer freestanding tubs and kitchen islands in place of formal dining rooms.

Ductless air conditioning

Also called minisplits, these space-saving systems are especially popular in Europe and Hawaii. Individual units can heat and cool a single room or even a small apartment without the need to run ducts, which can waste energy and need periodic cleaning. Minisplits also allow you to control temperatures more precisely, keeping your bedroom comfortable at night, for example, without having to cool the entire house.

Maximum coziness

Finally, it's sometimes necessary to just burrow down for warmth. Sisters Tessa and Alyssa Hendrie, co-owners of design firm Bitchin' Digs, say their clients are moving away from stark modern in favor of comfort and beauty in their day-to-day living. So, they recommend cozy blankets from Barefoot Dreams, candles from Target or HomeGoods, pillows from Anthropologie, luxurious fabrics from Restoration Hardware and stunning but comfortable Safavieh rugs.

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