Home decoration inspiration: 4 trends for modern households
We got an interior designer’s take on the recent trends that she's been loving, and where to start when it comes to decorating your own new build home.
As we welcome in the new year, it’s the perfect time for homeowners and interiors lovers to take a look back at some of the trends that have shaped our style in the past 12 months, and look ahead to what we can expect to see more of in 2025.
This is even more relevant if you’re looking to buy a new home in 2025 – whether that means taking the first step on the ladder, or selling up and moving on to a new space. The prospect of having a whole house to decorate is equal parts exciting and daunting. Luckily, if you’re considering a new build home, we at Persimmon are here to help.
We talked to interior designer Sarah Coward from Clayton and Company. She shared the most popular home decoration trends she has seen recently. She also shares her tips for where to start with planning your interiors if you’re moving house in 2025.
Along the way we’ll take a look at one of the Persimmon show homes that Sarah has worked on recently, for inspiration on how to incorporate trends and specific style preferences into a contemporary new space.
So, over to Sarah!
The home decoration trends that were popular in 2024
Hi I’m Sarah, and I work as a Senior Design Project Manager at Clayton and Company. During my time in interior design I’ve worked on projects including retirement living, marketing suites, and of course show homes!
Keeping up with trends is a fun part of working in interior design. We follow many trends to keep our designs fresh. This is especially true for colour trends and furniture styles.
That said, a new home is the perfect opportunity to inject your own style into space, whether that means embracing popular interiors styles or not.
But, if you are interested in some of the home decoration trends for 2024, these are 4 of the most popular recent looks for modern style interiors.
1. Wall panelling
We’ve seen a big emergence of wall panelling over the last couple of years, and it has to be one of my personal favourite looks. You can be so creative with the different looks, styles and placements of panelling. We often see it used just on one feature wall, for example behind a bed, or used throughout a whole room.
I love the appearance of painting wall panelling in a contrast colour to the rest of a room to create a real focal point. It’s also a fantastic option if you’re on a budget. All you need is some MDF, adhesive and a saw, or buy an affordable panelling kit – and it can be easily installed by almost anyone.
2. Bringing the outdoors in
We’ve seen lots of focus on nature in recent years, particularly in wallpapers, colours and fabrics. This falls under the umbrella of biophilic design, the concept of connecting people to nature through the use of natural materials and elements. Not only does it fill our homes with colour and texture, it can also boost your mood and productivity.
We’ve also seen an increase in indoor planting, such as potted trees and houseplants. Working greenery into your home has so many proven benefits, from improving air quality to aiding relaxation.
3. Waves and curves
Using wavy and curved décor pieces is one of the more recent emerging trends we’ve seen in modern spaces. Almost all of the new furniture pieces we’re seeing recently have been curved in design, from curved sofas to side tables and coffee tables with curved edges.
This applies to décor as well, with wavy mirrors, vases and rugs all making an appearance. Taking inspiration from the 70s, curved furniture also has an organic appeal, giving your home a cosy and soft look while still making a statement. It can work particularly well in the modern interior of a new build home, especially in a contemporary living room.
4. Large scale statement artwork
Finally, a big 2024 home interiors trend that we’re continuing to see now is large scale framed canvas artwork. Gallery walls and smaller frames clustered together have had their time in the spotlight – now, more people are turning to bigger prints and paintings as a way to inject colour with one simple change.
A statement artwork can really change your colour palette and overall style. Best of all, it doesn’t need to cost a lot. We often use them in show home bedrooms or living rooms to set the tone for the rest of the room – and they don’t have to be expensive.
Bringing trends to life in modern home interior design
A recent example of working to a brief which uses modern design trends was Persimmon Homes The Maples show home. It might give you some inspiration for how you can incorporate modern elements into your own home, while sticking to your personal style preferences and household needs.
The brief was to create a standout show home that had links to the local area, and would appeal to a wide audience with a focus on young families. We were also asked to make references to the West Midlands Safari Park, a great local attraction.
To do this, I leaned into some specific trends such as the use of bold feature paint colours, along striking feature wallpapers, furniture and artwork, and rattan textures.
Key elements of the design included vibrant banquet seating in the kitchen/dining space which works brilliantly for a busy modern household.
There’s also a modern design-led headboard in the teenage boys bedroom, and we used animal print cushions, accessories, artwork and wallpapers to really communicate the theme.
Like the look of The Maples? Find out more about the beautiful show home and development here.
Tips for decorating your new build home
When you buy a new build home, you’re in the exciting position of having a completely blank canvas to decorate however you want. There’s no need to strip out old wallpaper, carpets and built-in furniture – really, it’s a designer’s dream!
However it can be tricky to know where to begin, or tempting to try to do everything all at once. Here are some pointers to help get you started.
- Get some ideas of the style you like. There’s a wealth of inspiration out there – you could create a Pinterest board for each room of your house. If you’re buying a Persimmon home, it’s also a good idea to see how others have decorated the same house type. Take a look at the Persimmon Homes Instagram account or check out the #LoveMyPersimmonHome hashtag for homeowner inspiration.
- See how furniture would look in your home. If you have the opportunity to visit a show home for the house type you’re buying, take note of how the different styles and sizes of furniture look in the rooms. Or, take a virtual tour of your Persimmon house type online to help visualise the space.
- Think about a colour scheme. This doesn’t have to be achieved through just paint or wallpaper – you can add colour though cushions, artwork and other accessories, too.
- Tackle each room at a time. Principle rooms such as living room or main bedroom are a great place to start. You can then continue the look and style you’ve created in that room throughout the rest of the home.
- Stay on top of trends. Seasonal launches are always a good time to look at what retailers are bringing out, and you might see something that really catches your eye. For example, spring and autumn furniture collections often feature beautiful and innovative pieces.
Hopefully this article has given you some interior design food for thought, whether you’re planning your next home makeover or just want to catch up on the latest trends.
If you’ve got a Persimmon home and want to share your own beautiful interiors, remember to share your photos on Instagram using #lovemypersimmonhome for a chance to win a £100 Ikea voucher. Visit our Facebook page for terms and conditions.
