The New Arts & Crafts: Embracing Handmade, Imperfectly Perfect Design in 2024
While the tech world predicts AI taking over aspects of our lives, in the world of interior design, a new wave is sweeping across spaces, ushering in an era that celebrates the incomparable skill of human hands. As we step into 2024, the spotlight is on bespoke pieces and artisanal work, where the artist’s hand and the human touch take centre stage, shaping spaces that tell a story of craftsmanship and individuality.
Post-pandemic, there’s a palpable yearning for the handmade, as customers seek the authenticity and human irregularity found in artisanal creations. Interior designers, such as Oliver Furth, emphasise the desire for pieces like ceramic tiles, hand-carved wood furniture, and handblown glass—craftsmanship that goes beyond perfection, offering a sense of comfort through its uniqueness.
Imperfections take the spotlight in the design forecast, with online vintage retailer Chairish noting an increased demand for imperfectly perfect elements, including American folk art and features like whip stitching. In a world where mass production prevails, the uniqueness and character inherent in handmade, heirloom, antique, or vintage items are celebrated.
Designers like Hollis Loudon are tapping into artists to craft one-of-a-kind, hand-tooled pieces that make a statement. British artist Nic Webb, known for carving pieces from solid wood, has turned his creations into lighting and tableware. Connecting with the essence of a place through local craft and materials is a prevailing theme. Soho House design Director, Vicky Charles, emphasises the importance of incorporating handmade, one-of-a-kind pieces in the design process. Whether it’s pottery, tableware, or art, these bespoke elements add a unique layer to the overall aesthetic of a space.
As we embrace the artisan in 2024, interior design becomes a canvas for individuality, imperfection, and the celebration of human craftsmanship. From hand-carved wood furniture to locally sourced materials, the New Arts & Crafts movement invites us to appreciate the beauty in the irregular, the unique, and the artistically crafted elements that make our living spaces truly extraordinary.
