2024 Furniture Trends: Colors, Materials, & Styles

Trends in furniture design are starting to take shape for 2024, with some falling out of favor to make room for new ideas sliding in to take their spot. Organic shapes, curved furniture, and light colors with an earthen twist are just a few trends we'll be covering in this comprehensive guide.

Starting with the different types of trends, let's dive into the future of furniture.

What different types of furniture trends exist?

When it comes to furniture trends, there are a few basic design aspects to consider. Not only can the overall shape or size of furniture trends change, but simple alterations like a different fabric pattern, a slight variation of hue or color, or even the feel of individual textiles can dictate a change in trendiness over time. Here’s a simple list of different trendy categories you may come across:

  • Materials, including certain kinds of textiles, fabrics, wood, metal, and more

  • Colors, ranging from earthy tones and pastels to white, grays, and more vibrant choices

  • Styles and aesthetics, which change the overall form and features of a piece

Why does furniture go in or out of style?

As design trends evolve over time, we’re left with the best of the best – timeless pieces that seem to remain relevant forever. But these timeless designs weren’t always viewed as essential. At one point in time, most modern trends began as statement pieces which sparked the curiosity of design critics and enthusiasts alike.

While your favorite silhouette or accent color may change, filling your living room with time-proof pieces is an easy way to both avoid buyers remorse and allow yourself a bit of wiggle room if you ever want to shake things up.

How long do furniture trends last?

Trends come and go, and it’s not always possible to predict how or why one may die out. On average, you can expect a furniture trend to last around 1-3 years, although certain ones may have a bit more staying power and could stick around for much longer. Because of how unpredictable trends can be, it’s always a good idea to follow a few simple rules:

  • Buy furniture pieces you enjoy and won’t get tired of

  • Find timeless styles that match your aesthetic preferences

  • Focus on quality over quantity when possible

By doing this, you’ll set yourself up for a lifetime of collecting high-quality, trendy items. The most important question you want to ask yourself is: do I see myself still loving this piece of furniture a few years down the line? If the answer is no, it may be best to pass on it and wait until you find something that truly aligns with your interior design goals.

When it comes to situating your home, your own enjoyment should come first.

What are some famous furniture trends of the past?

Interior design trends change often, but that doesn’t mean we can’t learn from the past or incorporate our favorite bits from each season into the next. So let’s talk a little bit about historical trends that may not be quite as popular as they once were:

Throughout the 1940’s to 1960’s, mid-century modern furniture was huge. That may even be an understatement, as the style eclipsed all others at the time and cemented itself as a staple aesthetic within interior design. Known for clean, simple lines without the use of fancy or unnecessary decorations, mid-century modern is starting to make a comeback as the demand for modern, functional, sturdy furniture extends into 2024.

An example of a recent style that’s beginning to show its age would be modern farmhouse – a design trend that incorporates rustic elements within the contemporary home, including things like white or neutral interiors, barn doors, floors made from wide planks, and furniture made from reclaimed wood and metal. Popular for years starting in the early 2000’s, those who embraced the trend are now starting to question if it’s already passed.

What furniture trends will be stylish in 2024?

Big changes are coming in 2024, whether you're looking to update your living room or upgrade your Airbnb furnishings. With many of us looking to move away from overly-designed, quickly out of date trends – this year, prioritizing things like comfort, coziness, longevity, and the use of natural colors and materials is going to be huge.

Furniture color trends

Plenty of color palettes will be in vogue in 2024, especially warm colors and more down to earth aesthetics.

Earth tones

Earth tones are in - matte black, boring whites, and other neutral tones are on their way out. That doesn’t mean it’s time to bring back green carpeting in your bathroom or 1970's wood-paneling, but more and more design enthusiasts are starting to look to nature for inspiration in 2024.

Ania Sousa, the owner of Interior Design Hub, recently said this in her video covering 2024 color trends:

“A lot of what we’re seeing is really reminiscent of what’s happening around us in the world – we’re seeing that in this change in style where we’re moving into very homey, very comfortable, very warm, very soft, and very earth tone like colors. We do tend to see designs ebb and flow depending on what’s happening in the world.”

As brands look to lessen their environmental impact, various shades of browns, greens, and other natural tones just make sense. Whether we’re aware of it or not, most of us immediately feel a bit cozier when we’re surrounded by these colors, as they convey a soothing atmosphere not found with perfectly manicured interiors.

Brown, amber, and beige

Adding on to the idea of earth tones making a comeback in 2024, you’ll specifically want to be on the hunt for rich browns, ambers, and mushroom-like beiges. Couches, chairs, and throw rugs or blankets are a few items that work well with these colors.

These three colors were also recommended by Ania Sousa, one of YouTube's most popular interior designers, who recently released another video covering color trends to be aware of in the near future.

Vibrant and bold colors

Natural colors are going to be popular, but so are pops of vibrant color. A bit further down the list we’ll be discussing statement pieces – furniture that allows you to flex your creative muscles without disrupting the overall vibe of a room. Rich colors go hand-in-hand with statement pieces, as you really only need to keep a few around.

Vibrant colors can be the focal point of any room, as our eyes are naturally drawn to these pops of color. Making sure you have a few pieces of richly shaded furniture is one of the easiest ways to tie a room together.

Furniture material trends

Not only do colors matter - design experts are also touting the importance of high-quality furniture materials in 2024.

Dark woods

If you’re going to fill your home with wooden furnishings, you’ll want to get your hands on darker shades in 2024. Fitting in with the overall aesthetic of more natural spaces, darker shades of wood can take relatively simple furniture designs to the next level.

Be on the lookout for wood species like walnut if you're a fan of darker wood tones, although other kinds can work as well depending on your living space. Buying wooden furniture can be confusing, so you may want to read up on it a bit before making a purchase.

Eco-friendly furniture

Filling your home with sustainable swaps isn’t cheap, and the materials used to craft your pieces truly do matter. In 2024, you'll probably be looking for some sustainably made, eco-friendly furniture. Sustainable materials can be daunting to learn about, so here's what to look for:

  • Sustainable furniture made from natural materials like wood and recycled metals

  • Fabrics, finishes, and adhesives that are non-toxic to humans, pets, or the environment

  • The use of renewable energy for manufacturing, shipping, and recycling

  • Pieces that last a lifetime and can be fixed, altered, or passed on to others eventually

Biophilic design

Are you a plant enthusiast? It’s your time to shine – as biophilic design is going to be huge in 2024. Haven’t heard of it? No sweat. To put it simply, it aims to bridge the gap between modern day humans and nature by including natural forms and textiles within our homes, a concept that pairs quite elegantly with eco-friendly furniture.

Quarantine forced many of us inside, leaving us scrambling to throw together home offices that are both cozy and productive spaces. The core idea behind bio-design, reconnecting with nature, can be achieved in your home decor through the use of materials like wood, stone, ceramics, metal, woven textiles, and of course, thriving houseplants.

The best part of biophilic interiors - aside from their pleasing aesthetic - is that surrounding yourself with natural forms and living plants is also a proven way to reduce your stress and ease into a day of work or relaxation.

Second-hand and vintage influences

Thrifting has been a staple for years, which means competition can be fierce and many of your local hidden gem thrift shops may be crowded. But crowded shops doesn’t mean you should abandon the idea of buying vintage and antique furniture, as thrifting is still going to be around in 2024.

Finding a classic or vintage second-hand piece is still possible – but it may take you a bit longer to stumble upon that perfect coffee table when shopping around at local estate sales or thrift shops. The key is to keep looking. Don’t give up after the first or second failed outing – buying and flipping antique furniture is a pretty common hustle nowadays, so you’ll have to stick it out and show up regularly if you want to avoid buying new.

Online marketplaces exist too: websites like Etsy, eBay, and a variety of others are a perfectly fine way to shop for vintage furniture, although it can feel a bit lacking compared to the real thing. Seeing sofas and chairs, and being able to get a feel for how they may fit into a room are some of the most important factors for many.

Plush seating

It's a known fact that many of us are sitting much more than previous generations. In fact, many of us are required to sit for hours on end each day to make a living. With that in mind, it seems as if the push for comfier, plush seating and cushions is set to transform 2024.

The great thing about plush fabrics and cushions are that they can fit into whatever other styles you include in your indoor or outdoor spaces. Fabrics and materials, colors, and even shapes and sizes can all be micromanaged and customized depending on your individual needs.

Performance fabric

Fabrics that are built to last without sacrificing comfort have arrived. Both eco friendly materials and synthetics can be found, giving you a variety of choices when it comes to choosing the kind of fabric for your new sofa.

In the past, chairs and sofas made from performance fabrics simply weren't very comfortable. Luckily, modern day textured fabrics both perform well and won't rub you the wrong way when you're trying to relax. Some examples of performance fabrics include nylon, polyester, acrylic, olefin, and even some newer eco-friendly fabrics like bamboo and hemp based textiles.

Furniture style trends

The style in which you outfit your living spaces is just as important as color or material, so let's take a look at some top prospects for 2024.

Custom furniture

In 2024, you’re going to want to be on the lookout for custom-made services, especially for a brand new furniture piece. Planning and ordering custom pieces can be overwhelming, but comes with a set of benefits most people rarely consider. Here are a few reasons you may want to look into getting some custom-made furniture:

  • Pieces can be made to fit specific aesthetics or rooms

  • Modularity and functionality can be prioritized by designers

  • Custom furniture is budget friendly, depending on what you’re ordering

  • In many cases, you’re supporting local businesses with unique designs

Most people may look over that list, and think – how could custom furniture ever be affordable or budget friendly? It’s true that high-end custom pieces will cost you a bit of cash, but nobody is saying you absolutely have to order an expensive dining room table made from rare tropical woods.

Custom pieces of furniture can tie a room together. In fact, adding a small but stylish piece you specifically ordered can make or break an interior design project. If you’re interested in buying custom – something built to last – looking for a local or online custom furniture service is one of the best ways you can spend your money.

Multipurpose furniture

Along the same line as custom-made furniture, you’ll want to keep an eye out for multipurpose furniture going into 2024. If you’re a fan of minimalism, another recently popular trend, you’ll most likely be a big fan of small-space multifunctional furniture.

Just to be clear – multipurpose doesn’t mean gimmicky. It can still be simple, actually, in addition to being highly functional and pleasing to use and admire from afar. Here are just a few examples of multipurpose furniture:

  • The Dresden, our signature combination board game dining room table

  • Ottomans, which can be used as foot rests, coffee tables, and even for storage

  • Wall mounted hinge tables, which can be setup or taken down as needed

  • Desks with adjustable heights, both motorized or manual setups

With more of us starting to work from home, bringing a bit of functionality into our lives is an easy way to stay on top of trends without spending unnecessarily. For example, a multipurpose dining room table can now be a workspace, a place to share meals, and even a table for board game enthusiasts.

Botanical and rustic upholstery

Grays, whites, and other bland upholstery and fabric colors are fading – but botanical upholstery is just beginning to sprout. In a nutshell, botanical upholstery includes fabrics and other textiles designed with the natural world in mind.

Natural forms inspired by plants, animals, and other primal imagery has always been a popular niche. But in 2024, you’re definitely going to be seeing more of it. With the rise of biophilic design and eco-friendly furniture, botanical upholstery just makes sense.

Greens, browns, and other rich earth tones are starting to catch on – these are colors that naturally pair well with floral scenes, among other bold patterns. If you’re looking for a cozy, lived-in upholstery experience, definitely be on the lookout as you begin picking up new pieces.

Minimalist and maximalist aesthetics

Minimalism has been a staple design trend for quite a while now, but moving into 2024 you’ll be seeing more maximalism as well. The great thing about these two aesthetics is that, depending on your personal taste, you can choose either of them.

If you prefer open spaces and layouts with a small, selective furniture lineup. If you're designing a space with limited room, such as a small man cave - minimalism is for you. If you’re someone who prefers a bit of “organized” clutter, you may want to start thinking about what you’ll want to pick up to create a maximalist vibe in your home or office.

Curved lines and edges

Edges and curved silhouettes were big in 2023, and going into 2024 it’s looking as if the trend is here to stay – for a while, at least. The basic idea is to incorporate natural, curved shapes in a way that doesn’t detract from each individual piece, instead of purely straight lines. By combining a variety of curved pieces together, like a cute and curvy side table, spaces which previously felt a bit manufactured are given a little bit of breathing room with rounded shapes.

Statement pieces

The great thing about statement pieces is that you don’t have to follow any specific rules. That isn’t to say you ever needed to – but the point of a statement piece is to flex your own unique taste, and show off the aesthetics you’re most comfortable with.

Because statement pieces are such an individual concept, you can pick and choose them as you please. Are you into vintage themes? Totally fine. Maybe you’re more of a modernist, or you just happen to be obsessed with minimalism. The point is, it doesn’t matter if you're a professional interior designer.

Tying a room together with unique pieces you love should be one of your main priorities in 2024. You have our personal permission to go hog wild here, and add those eye-catching pieces to your collection.

Final thoughts

2024 is shaping up to be an exciting year for fans of furniture - if that's you, stay up to date with the trends we've covered in this guide.

By buying locally when possible, and thinking about how you might use a piece of furniture in multiple ways, you'll set yourself up for success when it comes to reaching your long term interior design goals.