Packing, unpacking, adapting to new schools, new communities—it's enough to make anyone dream of a permanent address! While we can't control military orders, we can control our home environment, making it a haven of comfort and joy wherever we land.
So, let's get inspired by the hottest home design and décor trends of 2024, perfect for creating a space that says "welcome home," no matter the zip code.
1) Fancy Furniture
Buying furniture with heart and soul is big in 2024. Consumers are focusing on pieces that stand the test of time, whether repurposing an existing piece, shopping for antiques or buying furniture with indestructible fabric. Longevity with minimal environmental impact is the name of the game.
Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Choices
Sustainability isn’t just a trend; it's a lifestyle choice that resonates with many families, especially military families on a budget who want to buy quality pieces that can withstand kids, pets, and multiple PCS tours.
Investing in custom and vintage furniture vs. buying ready-made items also decreases broken furniture in landfills. You can also consider furniture made from recycled materials, energy-efficient appliances, and eco-conscious décor to reduce your carbon footprint.
Photo from iStock.com/thelastlight
Fabulously Curvaceous
Say goodbye to sharp corners and hello to soft, inviting curves. Curvy lines highlighted in dining and coffee tables create a calm and welcoming space. This trend extends beyond furniture, embracing arches, rounded doorways, and even curvy mirrors. It's all about creating a sense of flow and harmony that masterfully mixes vintage finds with modern curves.
Deep Dark Woods
Painted furniture has seen its day. Now, dark wood is all the rage—think rich walnut burls and deep coffee-colored wood of all shades. If you prefer vintage or antique furniture, you should have no problem finding pieces that reflect this trend. They’re actually part of a bigger color picture in 2024.
Start your 2024 decorating with impact: How to Decorate Your Living Room.
2) The Return to Warm, Earthy Colors
The dramatic return to warm, earthy tones has finally pushed past years of cool grays. Similar to this year’s on-trend furniture color, all shades of brown are in demand, as are mossy green, plum-raisin, and deep amber. It's a comforting shift inspired by nature's calming embrace.
Photo from iStock.com/Vasyl Cheipesh
Add the earthy oasis look to your walls with high-quality paint, like Glidden's Color of the Year, Limitless. "A fresh, warm hue, the 2024 color of the year is anything but yellow. Limitless contains both the power of a primary color and the essence of a neutral.” Or, swap out cool colors in your décor for cozy linen textiles and add pops of greenery with houseplants—your PCS-weary soul will thank you.
Comfy, Cozy, Moody Blue
Today, homes have larger windows than ever before, in part to maximize natural light but also to blur the lines between the exterior and interior. The result is a comfy, cozy atmosphere inside. Homeowners in the Pacific Northwest have perfected this trend, incorporating moody blues and greens into their homes for years. Bringing the outside influences into your home never goes out of style.
If you want to try this trend, take a look at Benjamin Moore’s Color of the Year, Blue Nova. If that blue doesn’t suit you, Valspar and Sherwin-Williams’ colors of the year are also distinct blues.
Transform Your Spare Room: Decorating Ideas for Maximizing Space and Style.
Photo from iStock.com/White Bear Studio
3) Quiet Luxury
The term quiet luxury usually relates to fashion, but it’s drifted into home design trends and décor this year. What does it mean? It's a lifestyle term that emphasizes understated elegance and exclusivity, but the result isn’t overtly wealthy or ostentatious. This is great news for military families on a budget! You can incorporate the look in your home using brick, handmade clay tiles, and rustic wood elements. Quiet luxury really is about an upscale, timeless, or traditional look.
Today, designers are installing quartz or stone slabs behind key kitchen areas, like the range or coffee stations, to achieve quiet luxury on a more permanent scale. The distinctive materials break up the tile backsplash coverage and elevate the overall visual interest and luxury factor.
Rediscovering Herringbone
Unless you’re planning your forever home post-military life, mixed stone in the kitchen might be a far-fetched trend, so luckily, there’s another classic decorating icon that might be easier to incorporate: herringbone. The angles of herringbone patterns (positioned vertically or horizontally) add sophistication to any space. Use a herringbone pattern in a rug, window coverings, or sofa fabrics.
Photo from iStock.com/ucpage
Cafe Core
Although coffee is anything but an extravagance for some people, a dedicated coffee station isn’t something everyone has—consider it a version of quiet luxury. Coffee corners, nooks, and stations are perfectly customizable and easy on the bank account if you’re renting but want to personalize a small area to your exact specifications.
Are you settling in after a mid year PCS? Read 10 Decorating Hacks for Your New Home.
4) Mixed Metals
If you hated the brass hardware and accessories movement of recent years, it's time for you to rejoice because silver-hued mixed metals, especially aluminum, stainless steel, and chrome, will be a hit in 2024.
Depending on your age group, it might be surprising that aluminum and metallics are hot again. They had a moment back in the 1990s, but now, thanks to Gen Z, everything aluminum has made its way to the fore, including furniture.
Photo from iStock.com/Elenathewise
Stainless steel countertops always have a place in the kitchen regardless of the decade, but if you want to bump up your trendy factor, add a piece to your accent cabinets for an edgy flare.
If you’re decorating your home in 2024, these trends offer a perfect blend of style, functionality, and personalization. From curvy design to the bold resurgence of metallics, the options are diverse and cater to transitional military life. Incorporate these trends, channel your favorite influencers, and let your home reflect the warmth and resilience of your family.
