One thing driving lifestyle choices today is what’s known as biophilic design, meaning to design an interior space that purposefully directly or indirectly incorporates elements of nature. But it goes well beyond that, as this type of design is implemented to intentionally create a life-enriching connection. In other words, to contribute to human health and a higher quality of life for all who experience the design. With biophilic design, you can create a powerful symbiotic relationship. Plants? Good start. But let’s think bigger. Like living walls of ivy. Think emphasizing natural daylight. Think atrium canopies. Let’s think repeated and sustained engagement with nature – all of which can increase productivity and reduce stress.

Whether overhead, underfoot, along a wall, or part of furniture, wood brings nature and all its texture into the home where today’s homebuyers want to experience it most. Outside the traditional wood surface, such as a dining table, we are seeing more plant and tree patterns. With open, seamless spaces being the norm, wood flooring is taking center stage – from kitchens to the connected living room and beyond. Faux or realistic lookalike wood? Finished or unfinished? It works. Oak, walnut, maple, cedar? It works. Painted, stained, varnished? It all works. Wood has also been an inspiration for tile and LVP. As home builders find themselves removing barriers, wood is finding its home on walls. One of the trends regarding the use of wood gaining the most momentum in 2024 is the resurgence of wood walls. Smooth wood planks connected to rough surfaces, three-dimensional patterns of interlocking geometric shapes, carved etchings, intricate millwork panels, lath strips and more, are all at the forefront of wall space, with each layer bringing more depth and texture than the last.

Something on every designer’s mind this year is the creation of seamless experiences. This involves a design concept continuing while it moves from one room to the next. The question then isn’t just how does it flow, but perhaps more importantly, to where does it flow? See, today’s buyers want to live in a place that delivers a collaboration between indoor and outdoor living spaces – bringing the outside in – and vice versa. For designers and builders, that means there is less of a need to define the end of one space or the beginning of the other. With transitions that enable a space to appear limitless – through the use of glass or a border of plants instead of a wall – the more humans begin see themselves the same way: boundless and alive.

To bring texture and relief to any room is to elevate the meaning created within it. And when it comes to interior design in 2024, what people can touch will become just as important as what they see. Thankfully, for designers there are infinite choices at our disposal. From counters to floors to walls, we have the freedom to mix and match materials to create one-of-a-kind concepts that home buyers are seeking. As more people trend toward healthier living and wellness, in 2024, we will see the use of anti-microbial surfaces, such as quartz for countertops, continue to rise. A heightened focus on sustainability will also bring a trend of different surface options like cork flooring and other natural elements. Backsplashes and other high impact tiled areas will get a refresh in 2024 as homebuyers look to install Zellige tile known for its handcrafted look and distinctive glaze. This year, we will see mixed metals as an accent choice surge as metal affords designers a distinct way to a juxtapose the hard with the soft, the shiny with the muted, the organic with the wrought.

The bathroom will always be about elegant functionality. Because of the nature of the bathroom, as a place reserved for relaxation and rejuvenation, design in this space excels when a bit more attention is given to how the pieces within make people feel. It’s such a personal space, so design plays a crucial role because a connection has to be made with the human spirit in this intimate, private room. In 2024, we will see that as more and more sensibility is given to evolve bathrooms into spas, builders will need to consider that it is no longer about how a sink works in concert with the surface below it or in relation to the shower stall and flooring, but rather, how they all work in relation to the person looking for a respite from the day.

Attend any design conference today, and you’ll hear one word over every other: sustainability. That’s because more and more, homeowners are seeing their residence as more than just a house, but rather, a living eco-system where humans gather to share in community, and by making sustainable design a priority, builders can align with the lifestyle and personal values of their buyers. From energy-saving appliances to sustainable structures, and public green spaces, the modern home will only continue to trend toward not just financial savings, but environmental savings, as well. It is a trend that enables homeowners to contribute to the well-being of the world outside their door. And moving forward, new, smart technologies and materials will allow builders to do even more with less.

From bringing nature into the home to getting more out of the materials used to build it, we have an opportunity to address the needs of homebuyers like never before. More than crafting living spaces, we can use the most modern design techniques, textures, and styles to design something beautiful as well as functional, and offer human-friendly, eco-conscious living spaces that create meaningful connection and give life to homeowners.

XOXO, Team Possibilities