Before we talk about the interior design trends we can expect in 2021, it might be best to talk about which trends we expect to die.
Collectively, we spent a lot more time at home in 2020 than any other year. The flaws of some of the prevailing design trends were exposed. Open-concept homes? Not nearly as appealing when you can’t leave. Dark colors and minimalist aesthetics? They can start to be bare and cold when you spend every waking moment staring at shades of gray. And fast furniture? Well, it wears down even faster when you spend 12 hours a day in the same seat.
What we can expect in 2021 is basically the opposite of much of the interior design we saw through the 2010s. Maximalism is making a big comeback. So are a variety of colors. Most of all, we can expect comfort to be the biggest factor in 2021’s design trends - all of the things that make a house a home.
The interior decoration colors of the year
Designers, paint companies, and other authorities on color have chosen their colors of the year for 2021. You can expect these home colors trends to have a huge influence on interior design.
Pantone did something they’ve never done, and chose two colors of the year: Ultimate Gray and Illuminating Yellow. Benjamin Moore chose Aegean Teal. Behr chose Canyon Dusk.
These are just a few examples of the many colors chosen by professionals, but they all have something in common. The colors were chosen because they are rejuvenating. There are a lot of warm tones, a lot of colors well-suited for accents, and a lot of earthy colors among color of the year winners in 2021.
The reason? We want our homes to feel cozy, comfortable, and rejuvenating. Expect to see a lot of beach and spa-like color palettes this year.
Let’s get cozy, follow the interior design trend
If it can add warmth to a home, expect to see it in 2021.
That means you can be sure to see people maximizing natural light - we’re spending all day at home anyway. Semi-sheer curtains will be everywhere.
Where there’s light, there are plants. Tending plants was a hobby that helped many people get through 2020, and plant life is here to stay. You can expect people to start growing their own herb gardens, too. That’s going to make homes more beautiful and more functional, which we’ll talk about in the next section.
If you love to put names on home decor trends, here are a few of the styles you can expect to see a lot of:
● Cottagecore
● Contemporary country
● Shabby chic
● Grandmillennial
If you’re thinking “These all sound like styles I’d find at my grandma’s house” - you’re on the right track. After all, what’s more comfortable and cozy than your grandma’s house? Expect to see a lot of very durable, very comfortable furniture. Lots of blankets, lots of pillows, lots of wooden antiques. Everything will be padded and upholstered.
Speaking of wooden antiques, expect to see a lot of wood, even in the kitchen - live edge charcuterie boards and wood with fabric dining chairs. Rattan furniture will also make an appearance - its natural, woven look is a great compliment to any cozy space. You can also expect to see a lot of vintage pieces, which almost invariably contain some amount of wood.
This will all play very well with the colors of the year - the warm and earthy tones pair excellently with colorful antique furniture.
Functional spaces, a must for interior designers
Don’t let all of this coziness fool you, though - there’s still work to do, and there’s no telling when (or if) we’ll all end up back in the office this year.
That means multi-purpose furniture will play an important role in interior design this year. Ottomans can save space and make for a comfortable seat - just don’t expect to see too many bulky leather varieties.
Floating shelves, multi-purpose desks, the aforementioned herb gardens - anything that can be used both for aesthetics and a variety of practical purposes will be popular in 2021.
And you can expect the home office to be the exception to the maximalist, grandma-esque coziness we described in the previous section. Natural lighting, a comfortable chair, a wooden multi-purpose desk, a plant, and maybe a small indoor fountain is all most people will want. The office has been reimagined as a space for zen-like focus.
We hope this piece has inspired you to try some of the cozy trends of 2021. We love the vintage, natural, comfortable hodgepodge of influences that are trending this year - we think you will too.
What new trend do you envision for 2021?
Many online interior designers are available providing free interior design ideas to kick start your imagination. You can take the next step and use their interior design services to start re-imagining your spaces.
Guest article by Kayla Russell