Design Resolutions for 2024

At Maché we love a refresh, and as we get going into 2024 it is the perfect time to breathe fresh life into your living spaces. 

But how do you decide what to do and where do you start? Our recommendation is to look at what bugs you. What are the areas of your home that are just not working? What furniture is not working for the space or is looking a little tired? Or bigger still, are there areas of your home that you aren’t using to the max? Just as you make personal resolutions, why not set some interior goals to revitalise your home? 

Below we have put together five ideas to get you thinking. 

1. Look for inspiration

Stuck in a design rut and want to be inspired? Set yourself the task of finding a few great interiors blogs to subscribe to (hint hint). Or find 10 people who embody your style on Pinterest and Instagram. Or if you prefer to flick through a magazine with your morning coffee, why not subscribe to your favourite interiors publications? 

Once you have a selection of designs that you love and feel inspired by, try putting together a vision board for your home. This will help you visualise your design goals and set a realistic budget and timeline for each project. Also, instead of overwhelming yourself with a full-scale home renovation, focus on upgrading one room at a time. Whether it's a kitchen makeover, a bathroom renovation, or a bedroom refresh, tackling one room allows you to invest more thought and resources into the transformation.

Let me know in the comments if you would like some examples of home vison boards to get you on your way!

2. Take inspiration from your wardrobe 

We know that starting a home refresh can be daunting and deciding on your personal style can seem impossible. But there is a trick to getting many of the answers you are looking for … just open your wardrobe. 

If your wardrobe is filled with a neutral pallet and lots of natural fabrics and materials, that will likely be a great place to start for your home design. If you are a colour queen, why not take some of your favourite outfits and use those as a basis for your room design. Another great way to bring your personality into your space is taking a piece of clothing that has your favourite pattern and picking out the colours within to use in your upcoming refresh.  If it works when you wear it, it will likely work for you to live in it. 

Remember that you don’t have to tackle a refresh all at once. If you are nervous, start with smaller decor items like a throw, cushions or artwork, to test different colour palettes and patterns before making bigger commitments.

3. Refresh your decorative accents

Although you might have a great vision board for your home, you might not have the available budget to do a big refresh this year. If this is the case, then updating your home styling is a great way to make your space feel fresh and start your journey to creating the décor you want. 

New (or vintage) vases, coffee table books, cushions and throws can be a low-cost way to really make your room feel elevated. 

Here are a few places we recommend you check out:

Zara Home – they do good quality for high-street prices. We are fans of their vases and their soft furnishings.

Amazon – great for picking up coffee table books at a fraction of the price compared to interiors shops. 

Vinterior/antique shops – if you are in the market for something unique to you, check out some vintage pieces that can really make your interiors bespoke to you. Just be sure to take your vision board along with you on your phone so you are building towards your vision.

Abigail Ahern – A great independent interiors store, that is brilliant for styling pieces that are the crossroads of modern and traditional. 

Rockett St George – A really fun place for quirky interiors styling pieces that will add personality to every space. 

4. Declutter with Purpose

Ok, we know this is not as exciting as the previous resolutions, but a clutter-free space is the foundation of great design. Start by decluttering room by room, eliminating items that no longer serve a purpose. Donate, recycle, or upcycle as needed. The goal is to create a more organised and harmonious living environment, that you can then plan your storage solutions to fit. 

Then take a long look at your space and look at where additional storage could be added to make your life easier and your home clutter free. Think of drawers in wardrobes (there are lots of brands that make drawers for standard wardrobe widths), shelving on walls to display your handbags/shoes, and even inbuilt storage in areas that are not being utilised otherwise. If possible, getting a carpenter to build bespoke solutions that work to maximise every nook of your home will work wonders. But again, if budgets are tight there are also great brands out there that offer solutions at a more cost-effective price.  

5. Decorate and do good

Lastly, let’s make our choices sustainable. We will be going into more detail on how to incorporate eco-friendly design into your home in our next blog, but one design resolution could be to make eco swaps where you can. 

Look for furniture made from reclaimed materials, choose energy-efficient lighting, refresh walls with eco paints and invest in textiles and decor items crafted from sustainable materials. Sustainable design not only benefits the environment but also adds a unique charm to your space. Another great way to make this resolution a reality is to research local artisans and brands who prioritise sustainability and support their efforts by purchasing their products. By doing this you move away from cookie-cutter furniture and get to feel good about your eco choices. 

By setting these interior design resolutions, you'll be well on your way to achieving a beautifully designed, organised, and sustainable home in 2024. 

Remember, the key is to take small, consistent steps towards your design goals throughout the year. You didn’t buy the entire contents of your wardrobe in a year, so don’t expect to change your home in one.