2020 was the year homeowners made the most of being forced to stay inside by doing up their properties. Cottagecore, the color pink, dried flowers, and maximalism were just a few of the hot trends.
Photo by Collov Home Design on Unsplash
However, a brand new year always offers up new interior design fads. After spending so long stuck indoors, we have a newfound respect for our homes, and this is sure to influence the care and attention given to where we live. Many have created home offices while others have focused on making their space more inviting and cosy. Here we look at four of the interior trends expected to take centre stage in 2021.
- Minimalist art
With homeowners craving a more calming environment after the chaos of the pandemic, minimalist art is set to be a big interior design trend in 2021. This style is inspired by Scandinavian homes and follows the mantra of ‘less is more’. Designer Sharon Blaustein says minimalism is about “keeping a space simple, uncluttered, and accentuating the attractive architectural features of a space.” And this concept has influenced our art choices.
One style that’s expected to blossom is graphic line art, which is based on a distinct display of straight and curved lines against a plain background, often alluding to familiar silhouettes or abstract shapes. These pieces tend to be minimal enough to blend in with almost any decor scheme, yet graphic enough to stand out on their own. However, to complement your line art in the home, you’ll want to choose a frame which matches the pieces to ensure it looks the part on your walls. As noted by framing company Soho Frames: “A picture frame can often be much more than a border, but part of the whole artwork”, while also protecting it from damage “such as scratches or fading under sunlight.”
- Yellow and gray
Pantone’s Color of the Year always has a big impact on interior trends for the following twelve months. For 2021, the institute revealed ‘illuminating’ yellow and ‘ultimate gray’ as the chosen colors, describing them as “practical and rock solid but at the same time warming and optimistic.” These shades are expected to be dominant in home interiors, with designers recommending them as accent colors in items such as throws and plump cushions, to avoid making a commitment to a bold color. Any hue that is rich in tone (like illuminating yellow) would be overpowering for one room, so shouldn’t be used to paint walls with. Homeowners should focus on the smaller elements of their home when using these colors, incorporating them into things like vases and kitchen plates, bowls and accessories. Gray’s neutrality makes it a great choice for a textured wall, while yellow is perfect for adding vibrant pops of color.
- Sustainable interior design
With growing concern around the environment, in 2021 we’ll see a rise in sustainable design. Co-founder and design director of Healthy Materials Lab tells Architectural Digest that there’ll be a “return to using materials that originate from nature rather than highly processed synthetic materials.” For example, vinyl flooring is being swapped for linoleum and marmoleum, and carpet companies are removing stain and water repellent chemicals from their processes. We should also expect to see bioplastic in furniture design, more homeowners opting to upcycle and repair old items, as well as an increase in second-hand furniture purchases. More organic materials are to be used in construction, like wood, wool and stone. Meanwhile there will be a greater focus on where these items are being sourced from and whether they’ve been extracted with minimal environmental impact.
- Natural elements
Also known as biophilic design, this interior trend is focused on bringing the outdoors in. Throughout 2020, nature played such an important part of our lives considering we had nowhere else to go. So it’s no surprise that the outdoors is making its way indoors. Plants are one way of doing this, with millennials going crazy over all of the different types of houseplants. Not only do these improve air quality, but they can brighten up your mood too.
Nature will also be found in the materials used to decorate our home, such as stone, wood, and seashells. Natural wood, in particular, is expected to make an appearance in kitchens again, after a long-period of dominance for white-painted cabinetry. Meanwhile timber, linen, and natural fibres like wicker, hemp and rattan are top picks too. For example, searches for ‘rattan furniture’ have grown by 809% since the start of March 2020.