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Don’t you just love the Fall? I can’t say it enough. I’ve already started my Fall blog posts and I’m so overwhelmed with the amount of ideas and things I have to share with you. Last week I gave you Part 1 of the Fall 2024 Interior Design Trends and this is Part 2. So much fun this whole year in terms of trends. You know how some trends you just look at and say “uh-no, not for me”?. Well I think all of the interior trends this year speak to me in one way or another.
If you want to compare where we started to where we are now, here are my posts on the predicted trends for 2024:
2024 Interior Design Trends Part 1
2024 Interior Design Trends Part 2
Names might have been changed to protect the innocent, but there are variations of everything; some broad and some go more in depth or take it a step further. In Part 1 we discussed how Deep Reds were in response to people turning away from Barbiecore and leaning into a more sophisticated style, the Mossy Greens were in response to people getting back to nature and Color Drenching makes people feel warm and cozy in their rooms (like a big hug).
In this post we will discuss Western Gothic, The Vintage Aesthetic and Biophilic Design. No matter which way you slice it, all trends this year have a very clear thread running through them. People want to live a more intentional and slower lifestyle and I’m here for it. No more rat race people, or if you have to participate, have clear boundaries and don’t let your home life suffer for it. Well, enough of my preaching, let’s get into it.
Western Gothic
I wrote a whole blog post about the Western Gothic Interior Design Style. It goes more in-depth and this post is a summary of this very funky and cool style. Previously, I referenced Cowboys and Edgar Allen Poe teaming up for a home makeover. Yup, you heard that right! Why this style? Western is a comfortable design style with natural materials and fabrics. It’s the epitome of Americana and I think since this was an Olympic year, everybody got on board. Goth because you still want a little edge.
You can go more cowboy/western with just touches of gothic, all goth and touches of western or even bring in some southwest touches for a pop of color. There are a lot of directions you can go with this design style.
This rustic living room with the wood and steel coffee table and plaster walls is definitely western in looks, but the light fixture and the black leather sofa are definitely leaning towards goth.
Dark and moody is the hallmark of goth and this room adds touches of wood to make it a little cowboy.
This living room is a perfect mix of western and gothic. The room feels like it could be in a ranch house on the plains but also has a dark and mysterious look to it.
Take a skull, black paint and ornate candlesticks and mix it with a cowhide rug and you have THE Western Gothic bathroom.
Image via Instagram @beetle_and_wilde
This is more on the Western side, but the moodiness of the room and the touches of black are definitely goth.
Add black to any western room and it really makes it Western Gothic like in this cool dining room.
Again with the skulls, touches of wood and black leather. Western Goth all the way.
Signature Pieces
For some reason, this chair reminds me of a saddle even though it’s made of wood. Must be the curvy lines.
Cowhide and antlers. Can’t get more Cowboy than that in this unique bench.
Image via Etsy Rocky Mountain Antler
This is what I mean by pulling in the Southwest for more color and the dark wood headboard adds a gothic look.
Yippee ki yay! Fringe and leather is definitely western and the pillow is giving goth vibes.
Pottery Barn has this very rustic coffee table that would look good in any Western Gothic room.
Get The Look
1. Amazon – Brass Skull Toilet Paper Holder
2. Home Depot Globe Noir Ceramic Subway Tile
3. Wayfair – Dragon Gothic Welcome Sign
4. Target – Round Wood Stained Coffee Table
5. Etsy Embroidry Expert – Black Fringed Denim Fabric
6. Etsy Wild West Frontier Art – Cowgirl Art Print Poster
7. Ouive – Geometric Shag Leather Decorative Pillows
9. Perigold – Brush Stroke Lumbar Pillows
10. Pinterest Vallila Interior – Dark Flower Wallpaper
11. Etsy Whiskey River LC – Cowhide Covered Outlet Switches
12. Etsy Goth House Printery – Digital Southwest Floral Skull Print
Vintage Aesthetic
Think nostalgia, a simpler life, sustainability and living green and you’ll know what the Vintage Aesthetic is. This design style is a personal favorite of mine because I thrift, go to garage & estate sales and buy vintage whenever I can. When you mix it with more contemporary pieces, it gives a tension and a soul that is needed in any room plus vintage is usually one of a kind and special.
Here are two blog posts I wrote, giving you an epic list of antique fairs and markets around the U.S. If you’re into thrifting or buying vintage, you will definitely enjoy these:
The Best Antique Fairs and Markets Part 1
The Best Antique Fairs and Markets Part 2
1st Dibs and Chairish have beautifully curated websites if you want to shop online but they tend to be expensive. Etsy is surprisingly a good place for vintage, especially when you shop local or you don’t mind traveling to nearby states to pick things up.
Right now, the top vintage design style is the 70’s as evidenced by this funky living room. All of the wood, brass and green is making my heart go pitter patter. Also, there was a lot of entertaining going on in the 70’s so the more seating the better. After the pandemic and it’s lingering aftereffects, we’re going to start hosting again, or at least I hope so.
A little Art Deco never hurt anybody right? Inspired by geometric ornamentation, repeating shapes, and clean lines, Art Deco harkens back to a time of glamour and elegance like this stunning bedroom.
A mid-century wall shelving unit is backed by a retro wallpaper. Fill it with a mix of plants, books and other treasured items and you have a statement piece that wows.
A vintage English kitchen makes me feel like baking a cobbler. No? Just me? Well, I love the pot rack and the cozy seating by the window.
This bedroom feels a little like an old gentleman’s club with its earthy green palette. I especially love the plaid blanket and vintage landscapes.
This family room is a mixture of different eras of vintage furnishings, art and accessories and it totally works.
Molding has been everywhere in all its forms. You can do a simple wainscoting, add arched moldings, double/triple it up or basically anything your brain can come up with. It instantly gives a room an Old World feeling.
A vintage daybed with a pop of color for the upholstery can liven up any contemporary space.
Signature Pieces
Place this over a pool table, a kitchen island or breakfast nook to add some pizzazz.
An iconic 70’s oversized leather chair can fit into any design style.
Hear me out. This yellow vintage dresser packs a punch and would look great in the foyer or mudroom. If it’s too much color for you, consider it in a kid’s playroom or bedroom.
These are listed as dining chairs and I can totally get into it. Wooden beads are surprisingly comfortable. Think of a cab driver with their beaded seats.
Get The Look
1. Amazon – Designer Norwegian Wool Blanket
3. Nordstrom Rack – Vintage Look Bathroom Wall Rack
4. Etsy Downsized Designs – Frank Lloyd Wright Accent Plaques
5. Wayfair – Geometric Shag Area Rug
6. Etsy The Pretty Pillow Lady = Vintage Quilted Pillows
7. Mathmos – Modern Lava Lamps
8. Smeg – Vintage Kitchen Appliances
9. Otto Tiles – Art Deco Ceramic Tiles
10. Home Depot – Resin Casing Flexible Moulding
11. Bobbi Beck – Rainbow 70’s Wallpaper Mural
12. Amazon – Wildlife Fox Wall Sculpture
Biophilic Design
Have you been seeing the term “biophilic design” lately? It seems like it’s all over the place and designers like myself have been embracing this design style wholeheartedly. This design style aims to create spaces that connect humans with nature and as a result improve their well-being. I love the idea of bringing nature into interior spaces. I grew up in Connecticut in a small town named Bethany and even though we moved to Atlanta when I was a teen, I still remember hiking in the woods, skiing, camping, building a treehouse with my Dad and just hanging outside until my Mom made us come inside.
The term biophilic was first used by Stephen R. Kellert, an environmental psychologist, in the 1990’s when he said there were evolutionary reasons for humans to want to be by nature. It makes us feel better, makes the air cleaner and gives us a sense of serenity. But it’s not all about plants. It’s anything from nature like potted trees, stone, wood including live edges and accessories that evoke a sense of nature. Speaking of stone, I wrote a blog post on how I was coming up with a new design style – Modern Flintstone is a Design Style Y’all. I must have been clairvoyant. Check it out when you have the time.
This is what we usually think of in terms of biophilic design; a living wall. This is a perfect example of using a living wall to bring nature in from outside the huge picture windows in this family room.
Water and over-the-top branches on the wall make this an aspirational biophilic design.
Here’s an instance of when stone is bringing the outdoors inside.
Live edge wood has been in fashion for a long while and it definitely fits into the biophilic design. Take a look at this fabulous table.
A serene, monochromatic bedroom brings relaxation to a new level, but the potted tree adds life and energy.
Add plants to your bathroom that will benefit from the moisture in the air. It will make you feel like you’re bathing outside.
If you want to take baby steps, place a comfy chair by the window, add some plants and a comfy chair and you have a serene little nook.
This biophilic vignette creates a lot of movement with different layers of plant life amidst a backdrop of green wallpaper.
Signature Pieces
This is called the “Mushroom Chair” and it’s an example of biophilic design that mimics nature.
This Murano glass lilypad light pendant can be used to evoke a piece of the forest coming into your home.
Why not try a brass faux palm tree? Somebody must have said, “get a palm tree but make it fashion”.
These curvy and smooth wooden chairs are kinda sexy, right? I would probably slide right out of these onto the floor. LOL
Get The Look
1. Amazon – Geometric Decorative Candles
2. Home by Be – Travertine Mezcal Drink Set
3. Amazon – Non-Slip Shag Area Rug
4. Etsy Treehause Shop – Teak Root Bowls
5. Casa Ceramica – Botteganove Floral Ceramic Tile
6. Anthropologie – Toadstool Bottle Holder
7. Amazon – Hanging Vertical Planter
8. Art – Vintage Botanical Chart Print
9. Etsy Culturist Co – 2ft Driftwood Branches
10. Etsy Nakawe Trading – Edged Glazed Clay Plates
11. Prestige Botanicals – Eucalyptus Pod Branches
12. Amazon – Moss Wall Covering
These three styles are definitely a variation of the same theme of slowing down to smell the roses, wellness, sustainability and taking care of our planet. It just depends on your personal home style as to how you’ll respond to the different trends. How about a mashup of all three? I couldn’t find an example of this so I guess I’ll have to do it myself.
Stay tuned and I’ll see ya next time.
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