Whether you’re sick of your space or need to buy all the things for your new place, both scenarios could probs use some inspo. That brings us to Ami McKay (she/her), founder and creative director of PURE Design Inc. “My artistic foundation is lifelong and deeply rooted in curiosity, experimentation, and drama,” she says. “In my early life, I found myself in theater encompassing costume design, set design, floral design, production design, and scene painting. As I learned how to make spaces beautiful, I evolved to interior design as my chosen canvas, working with form, scale, color, shape, and texture.” Now (when she’s not busy running her biz), Ami’s seen on Vancouver Reno sprucing up homes in the PNW. We’re just lucky that she had time to give us a few decorating tips for the upcoming year.

What do you predict the biggest home decor trends of 2024 will be?
Limewash and texture on walls, moving away from grays to warmer browns, earthy hues, mustard, and burnt orange. Curves and arches, wallpaper on the ceiling, and spa-like bathrooms. Also recycling, repurposing, and vintage. We love to search for older beautiful pieces that can find a new life. I love patina, history, and the mystery of where vintage and antique pieces come from. I swoon over well-made, handcrafted pieces from the past. There are so many resources now for finding these gems, from flea markets to antique shops to online dealers, Etsy, Facebook Marketplace, and so on. We love to style with foraged greenery from the great outdoors all year long as well, from cedar garland during the holidays to the cherry blossoms in the spring. What joy and beauty they easily bring.

What trends are absolutely out this year?
Waste and fast furniture! We try to reuse or donate materials and appliances when we renovate.

For someone with a smaller budget, what types of pieces can they buy to still partake in these trends?
I get such a thrill from treasure hunting and finding even the smallest beautiful item. My advice is to find the makers and artisans in your area, look for one-of-a-kind ceramics, art, and handcrafted anything. One special chosen piece can inspire you. Recycled fabrics and textiles are incredible; vintage material can be made into anything: tablecloths, pillowcases, table runners. If you’re traveling, google flea markets near you. Go and find the most amazing pre-loved fabrics and incorporate them into your home.

For the sustainable shopper, what materials should they search for?
Natural materials that are renewable and recyclable. Whether you’re looking for furniture or materials, consider ones with a smaller carbon footprint and choose items that are locally made with healthy materials. When renovating, look for sustainable wood, sustainable concrete, steel (it can be recycled again and again), recycled rubber, wool as insulation, cork for floors, ceilings and walls, tiles and stone, and clay brick.

For those with smaller spaces, how can they stay on-trend without creating clutter?
Start fresh! First declutter, and then consider your space and aesthetic. Take time to choose your favorite items, and don’t feel the need to fill up all the spaces. Negative space is equally important as filling a space and it draws the eye to your design choices. In a smaller space, large-scale pieces look great! Have clusters and vignettes and change them up periodically. This goes back to collecting small pieces that inspire and you can play with.

And finally, what’s the secret to finding pieces that enhance a place’s potential?
Know your aesthetic and look for objects that make you happy. Look for quality, craftsmanship, and small batch items that aren’t mass produced. Most cities and towns have artisans, and that’s a good place to start for smaller items. Do research on furniture and find out how and where things are made. We love to look for items for our clients they’ll want to live with for a long time and pass down. For wood pieces, we also search for pre-loved furniture as they’re often handmade. Finding the right pieces can take some time, but it’s worth it.