Interior Design Tips Inspired by the Paris 2024 Olympics

In addition to being a showcase for the best in summer sports, the Paris 2024 Olympics boasts several design elements that will pique the interest of homeowners around the world. Interior design inspiration abounds, with a focus on sustainable materials and architecture, beautiful wood features, accessibility, and a colorful Art Deco style.

As you watch the Paris Olympics from home, here are some podium-worthy design tips homeowners should look for.

Durable and elegant design

The hallmark of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games design is the Organising Committee’s commitment to sustainability, which was at the heart of its bid (along with accessible and inclusive design). The initial mandate was to reduce the overall footprint at every opportunity to deliver the most environmentally friendly Olympic Games to date.

This meant repurposing and renovating existing buildings where possible instead of building new ones, with only a few newly constructed buildings. And for those that were built recently, strict requirements were imposed to minimise the environmental footprint: at least half of the materials had to be wood or other sustainable materials.

One of the new buildings is the Aquatics Centre, built primarily from wood. It is a stunning and elegant 5,000-seat venue with a massive, curved solar roof and intricate timber detailing inside and out, proof positive that it is possible to balance sustainability with style.

It is powered by renewable energy sources and has been efficiently prefabricated, almost entirely off-site. Its modular design means it can be easily reused to serve a variety of functions in the future.

The Olympic Village also benefits from sustainable design and construction, with additional features such as mattresses made from recycled fishing nets and cardboard bed frames.

How can homeowners incorporate these impressive design principles into their decor?

Interior Design Tip: Balance Sustainability and Style

Sustainability is a top priority for homeowners, but the features that homeowners want are not always aligned with this goal. Yet, as the innovative approach taken at the Paris Olympics demonstrates, it is possible to create highly functional and aesthetically pleasing spaces that support sustainability goals.

“People often think of the term ‘sustainability’ as something extreme or unattainable. However, there are simple ways to make a positive impact,” says Cameron Cook, director of community marketing and commercial programming at Republic Property Group.

Cook advises looking at specific design features and finding ways to make them more environmentally friendly.

For example, when it comes to lighting, “replace incandescent bulbs with energy-efficient LEDs. Take it a step further by using a dimmer or timer to reduce consumption even further. Many of our new homes have been designed to capture plenty of natural light as well, further reducing the need for excessive lighting,” he says.

When it comes to furniture, opt for timeless over trendy and invest in quality so you don’t have to replace items often, keeping them out of the landfill.

“Opt for furniture with natural fabrics like cotton, wool or hemp,” Cook says.

Take a creative approach with existing elements, in the same way that the developers of the Paris Games did, reusing old buildings for the Games.

By adopting the same mindset, homeowners can get creative with their upcycling. “There are endless bargain finds on Facebook Marketplace that can be transformed with a little elbow grease, fresh paint, and some fun new hardware,” Cook says.

Interior Design Tip: Take Advantage of the Decorative Power of Wood

From a style standpoint, what’s most impressive about the aquatic center is the intricate wood detailing. With its wood-slatted exterior, wood accent walls and timber-framed ceilings inside, and beautiful fluted accents throughout, this building is a remarkable example of the stunning, simple and enduring style that wood offers.

You can recreate some of these features in your home with laminated wood wall panels, perfect for a simple, warm, and elegant accent wall. As a bonus, wood wall panels play a role in sound dampening, so they’re a great choice for a home office or bedroom.

Choose wood as a way to introduce warm colors into your spaces with custom cabinetry or embrace the trend of fluted wood accents on furniture, shelving and decor.

Inclusive and accessible design

The slogan of the Paris Olympic Games is “Games Grands Ouverts”, a theme that is reflected in their approach to design.

Paris took accessibility and inclusivity to heart when designing public spaces and buildings. The Paralympic Games will immediately follow these Games, using many of the same venues and the Olympic Village. Accessibility was therefore paramount.

Advocacy groups were impressed with how universal design principles were incorporated, including accessible buildings, multi-sensory signage, sensory rooms and areas dedicated to service dogs.

Homeowners can adopt similar universal design principles.

Interior Design Tip: Improve Functionality with Universal Design

While universal design is often associated with aging in place, it’s a design approach that people of all ages and stages of life should embrace because of its functional aspects. What many homeowners don’t realize is that many trendy finishes and features support universal design principles, including:

· The ever-popular open floor plan. Not only does an open floor plan promote circulation and provide generous sight lines, it also provides ample and safe space for wheelchairs, walkers or other assistive devices.

· Black and white color palettes. This color palette provides contrast for visual acuity and can help define space and transition areas.

· Cohesive flooring made of hard materials, such as hardwood or luxury vinyl plank, provides design continuity, especially in an open floor plan, but also reduces trip and fall hazards, due to minimal transitions.

Joyful and colorful expression

Each edition of the Olympic Games has its own “look”, which constitutes the visual identity of the Games. It also sets the stylistic tone. The Olympic poster is a key element of this.

For the Paris Olympics, the official poster is extremely detailed, featuring iconic Parisian landmarks and a hive of activity. It is resolutely colorful, with a touch of flamboyance, true to the Parisian Art Deco influence.

Other branding materials are just as colorful and festive.

Homeowners can take inspiration from these vibrant colors and patterns to reintroduce color into interior design after years of muted hues.

Interior Design Tip: Be Bold With Color, But Be Strategic For Best Results

Use the 60:30:10 rule, where the majority of the space (60 percent) is allocated to a main color, with 30 percent to a secondary color and 10 percent to an accent color. Consult a color wheel to determine the best colors that complement each other.

It can be helpful to start small, in a powder room or laundry room with bolder colors or patterns. These rooms are usually located away from the main living areas and can be easily altered if the result isn’t what you envisioned.

To be progressive and flexible with bold colors, use them as accents, while keeping the main elements (i.e. countertops, cabinets, flooring, etc.) neutral.

“Rugs, throws and accent chairs give you so many different ways to change the feel of a room,” without having to invest a lot or spend a lot of money on color, Cook says.