When it comes to knowing a thing or two about design, Zillow is a tried-and-true source. The real estate platform is home to millions of listings across the United States, and by extension, has key intel as to what interior design trends are on the horizon.
So, when we came across their official design trend predictions for 2024, we were intrigued. “We looked at nearly 300 home features and design styles mentioned in for-sale listing descriptions on Zillow and then identified the keywords showing up far more frequently than they did a year ago,” explains the report. Their analysis unveiled one surprising key design trend for 2024: brutalist interiors.
Characterized by minimalist construction, raw elements, and natural materials, this look is equal parts stunning and polarizing. Unlike trends like mid-century modern or organic modern, brutalist design is a bit less mainstream.
“The raw and exposed beauty of mid-20th-century design’s controversial brutalist aesthetic is set to make a daring comeback in 2024,” reads the report. “Characterized by design elements such as blackened steel casement windows, raw concrete floors and striking patinated bronze light fixtures, this style exudes a modern, functional and sustainable appeal.”
Per the brand’s findings, mentions of brutalist design in real estate listings increased by a whopping 452% compared to last year. Zillow recommends bringing in accents like wrought iron chandeliers and tarnished brass trays to dip your toe into the brutalist waters at home.
While we’re all for the brutalist look — particularly in the right home (high ceilings always help) — we are a bit surprised by these findings. Generally speaking, the interior design world has embraced more traditional details in the last few years, including pattern, saturated color, and ornate details like pleating, fringe, and tufting.
Of course, this stands in stark opposition to ultra-minimalist brutalism, which is modern with a capital “M.” What’s more, this look doesn’t translate well to the average home — it’s more of an architectural overhaul than a design trend.
Whether you love brutalism or find yourself in favor of the more traditional aesthetic gaining favor among designers, this finding is interesting, to say the least. However, we do love the idea of mixing a few modern, brutalist pieces in with traditional, vintage-inspired furniture, particularly 1980s-style marble coffee tables and accents.
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