Optimistic Color Palettes and Whimsical Hues at Maison & Objet
Joyful and dreamy shades made a splash at the January 2024 design trade fair in Paris
The Maison & Objet design fair recently celebrated its 30th birthday in technicolor. Straddling nature and technology, as dictated by the Tech Eden theme of the Jan. 18-22 trade event at the Paris Nord Villepinte Exhibition Center, this year’s palette was all about creating a world of optimism that looks joyfully toward the future. Let’s take a closer look at the hues set to influence our interiors over the coming months, as showcased throughout the aisles of France’s leading event dedicated to the fine art of living well, or as the French say, l’art de vivre.
Mathieu Lehanneur installation. Photo by Anne-Emmanuelle Thion
Designer of the Year Mathieu Lehanneur chose yellow as the backdrop for his Outonomy installation, conceived as “an ecosystem for living” that is “both minimal and optimal.” He described yellow as a therapeutic color, a drug providing us with welcome boosts of optimism.
Vincent Grégoire, trend watcher at NellyRodi, explored this idea even further and predicted the emergence of fluorescent and radiant greens, influenced by science fiction and the world of space exploration. He said these colors respond to the need for a new future and a new fantasy.
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Designer of the Year Mathieu Lehanneur chose yellow as the backdrop for his Outonomy installation, conceived as “an ecosystem for living” that is “both minimal and optimal.” He described yellow as a therapeutic color, a drug providing us with welcome boosts of optimism.
Vincent Grégoire, trend watcher at NellyRodi, explored this idea even further and predicted the emergence of fluorescent and radiant greens, influenced by science fiction and the world of space exploration. He said these colors respond to the need for a new future and a new fantasy.
When working with clients on a decorating or remodeling project, you can help clients visualize their new space with Houzz Pro Mood Boards and 3D Floor Plans.
Learn about Houzz Pro software
Miss Lo sofa, Tabata coffee table and Malone Pouf at Popus Editions
2. Floral Pink
With the Barbie hype in 2023 came a renewed appreciation for pink, and this year the trend is set to get bigger. Across the 2024 collections, it’s no surprise to see pink paired with all shades of blue, but more unusual combinations also see it set side by side with yellow and orange.
“In the wake of the Barbie film release in 2023, we expected to see pink everywhere,” said Vincent Grégoire. And it certainly doesn’t seem to be going anywhere this year, cementing its position in the chart of top colors for 2024.
2. Floral Pink
With the Barbie hype in 2023 came a renewed appreciation for pink, and this year the trend is set to get bigger. Across the 2024 collections, it’s no surprise to see pink paired with all shades of blue, but more unusual combinations also see it set side by side with yellow and orange.
“In the wake of the Barbie film release in 2023, we expected to see pink everywhere,” said Vincent Grégoire. And it certainly doesn’t seem to be going anywhere this year, cementing its position in the chart of top colors for 2024.
Photo by Anne-Emmanuelle Thion
Pink is also a color associated with tender, dreamy, fantastical atmospheres and whimsical universes: an important dimension of the theme for this year’s fair. As a floral tone, it pairs beautifully with botanical palettes, as showcased in the What’s New in Decor installation by trend watcher Elizabeth Leriche.
Pink is also a color associated with tender, dreamy, fantastical atmospheres and whimsical universes: an important dimension of the theme for this year’s fair. As a floral tone, it pairs beautifully with botanical palettes, as showcased in the What’s New in Decor installation by trend watcher Elizabeth Leriche.
Photo by Anne-Emmanuelle Thion
3. Deep Greens
One of the displays in this installation, entitled Meta Végétal, was conceptualized to represent a luscious world of opulent beauty with a multitude of contrasting shapes, motifs and shimmering tones. Botanical and floral patterns were mixed among clean geometric lines to create a hypnotic universe based on rich greens: another color trend that stood out at the fair.
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3. Deep Greens
One of the displays in this installation, entitled Meta Végétal, was conceptualized to represent a luscious world of opulent beauty with a multitude of contrasting shapes, motifs and shimmering tones. Botanical and floral patterns were mixed among clean geometric lines to create a hypnotic universe based on rich greens: another color trend that stood out at the fair.
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Dakota armchair from Porus Studio
4. Aquatic Colors
This strong link with nature was also reflected in the use of aquatic colors, with shades of blue ranging from turquoise to indigo.
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4. Aquatic Colors
This strong link with nature was also reflected in the use of aquatic colors, with shades of blue ranging from turquoise to indigo.
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5. Iridescent Shades
This leads us into iridescent shades, which was one of the most striking color trends of this year’s show. From silvery textures to pearlescent effects, these are shades that change color in the light, thanks to their shimmery, highly reflective surfaces. Like many of this year’s trends, these too are primarily inspired by nature.
This leads us into iridescent shades, which was one of the most striking color trends of this year’s show. From silvery textures to pearlescent effects, these are shades that change color in the light, thanks to their shimmery, highly reflective surfaces. Like many of this year’s trends, these too are primarily inspired by nature.
With their ever-changing reflections, iridescent shades are also a reference to the digital world — the other angle alluded to by the Tech Eden theme of the show. One of the most striking examples was this tunnel at the LCD booth showing coated walls with lustrous reflective surfaces.
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Bloz 153g Blend vases by Sheyn
6. A Palette Inspired by the Virtual World
The virtual world was also alluded to more generally in many of 2024’s trending tones. Vibrant, opalescent shades played on the notion of movement to create a sort of visual hallucination that once again directs us toward the realm of dreams, as demonstrated by these Sheyn vases.
6. A Palette Inspired by the Virtual World
The virtual world was also alluded to more generally in many of 2024’s trending tones. Vibrant, opalescent shades played on the notion of movement to create a sort of visual hallucination that once again directs us toward the realm of dreams, as demonstrated by these Sheyn vases.
Iris Ceramica Group
7. Sweet Peach
We couldn’t round off our overview of “colors to watch” without mentioning all the variations of Peach Fuzz — Pantone’s 2024 Color of the Year — at the show. They ranged from pastel peach to sweeter pink beiges.
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7. Sweet Peach
We couldn’t round off our overview of “colors to watch” without mentioning all the variations of Peach Fuzz — Pantone’s 2024 Color of the Year — at the show. They ranged from pastel peach to sweeter pink beiges.
More for Pros on Houzz
Read more stories for pros
Learn about Houzz Pro software
Talk with your peers in pro-to-pro discussions
Join the Houzz Trade Program
1. Happy Yellow
Walking through the aisles of the exhibition center, you couldn’t help but sense an overwhelming thirst for optimism: an urgent desire for our interiors to help us stand strong during tough times.
This translated into the widespread use of bright, sunshine yellow, from small, intermittent flashes to all-over block prints.
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