After being confined to our homes and staring at the same four walls for much of last year, it’s safe to say that we’re all dreaming of something fresh and exciting to stimulate our senses in 2021. But with even more time set to be spent indoors in the coming months, Brits are looking to interior design for inspiration and intrigue in their domestic lives.
If you’re wondering what elements of the home are looking hot for the year ahead, then read on; here are 7 IDEAL home and interior trends to expect in 2021.
WFH: THE MULTIFUNCTIONAL HOME
An increase in Brits working from home means the idea of the home office is evolving. No longer are we setting up laptops on kitchen tables and balancing files on ironing boards; the average home worker now needs a dedicated space for a functioning office, allowing for separation between work and relaxation.
Home offices – and interior design which supports their functionality – looks set to evolve in order to meet demand. This functionality will most keenly be realised via furniture; office chairs that are comfortable, contemporary and aesthetically pleasing will enter the home in 2021, doubling up as a chair for recreation at weekends.
Also expect to see open bookshelves and bookcases which allow home workers to show off their books on Zoom calls to grow in popularity! This nimble, flexible approach to furniture and functionality will enable homes to adapt to the ever changing needs of the occupant.
Of course, not everyone is blessed with the expansive floor space required for dedicated home offices and chance to make that clear dividing line between ‘home’ and ‘work’. As such, the idea of ‘zoning’ in the home is also certain to gain traction, with decorative screens that can break up a room deployed and fold away desks growing more popular.
Following on from this, the idea of ‘power corners’ and ‘snug spots’ is set to be a big 2021 interior design trend. These are an area of the home defined by a contemporary single chair, such the gorgeous pieces from John Sankey Furniture, where you can sit and reflect, meditate, read or simply enjoy some much needed ‘me time’ away from the chaos of the house and your work.
GLOBAL INTERIORS & FAR AWAY SHORES
As we long for weekend trips to Europe and extended holidays further afield, we’re bringing those globetrotting desires into our homes through worldly interior design accents to compensate, emulating the styles of destinations both far-flung and closer to home.
Be it through Spanish mosaics or South East Asian prints, Global interiors is all about artfully blending international influences, tasteful trinkets, exotic patterns and earthy materials, satiating that wanderlust and desire for a tropical getaway by bringing the tropics to our home instead.
For inspiration, and if you’re hankering after a trip to the island of Bali (aren’t we all?), dreaming of its ancient temples and lush jungles, then do check out our article on how to bring a Balinese design aesthetic to your home. From channelling earth-toned colour palettes with plenty of greens, a varied selection of plants, sustainable materials, lanterns and handicrafts, the Balinese design aesthetic is looking likely to have a huge 2021.
GROUNDED & UPLIFTING COLOURS
Speaking of earthy materials and tones, it seems that nearly everyone’s colour of the year draws from an earthy colour palette. Dulux’s colour of the year is Brave Ground (we could all do with entering next year with a bit of that, don’t you think?), whilst Sherwin-Williams chose the rich and warm Urbane Bronze as its 2021 Color of the Year.
Pantone went for a duo of colours this year, grey and yellow, saying that “the selection of two independent colours highlight how different elements come together to express a message of strength and hopefulness that is both enduring and uplifting, conveying the idea that it’s not about one colour or one person, it’s about more than one. The union of an enduring Ultimate Gray with the vibrant yellow Illuminating expresses a message of positivity supported by fortitude.”
Colours which evoke bravery, courage and fearlessness in a cruel world whilst also celebrating the grounding nature of ‘home’? Sounds ideal to us!
SANCTUARY AND SEA
As the world continues to be in a constant state of flux, with life beyond the four walls of our home forever shapeshifting, the idea of making your home a sanctuary is so meaningful.
The role that design has to play in being an instigator of physical, physiological and psychological wellbeing shouldn’t be underestimated. As such, the design and layout of your home can transform your outlook, cultivating calmness and comfort when done right.
Adding houseplants which exude a sense of tranquillity and create a healing energy, endeavouring to maximise and increase the flow of natural light, creating spots for quiet meditation and reflection, and focusing on what brings you joy, can all create a sense of sanctuary.
When it comes to prioritising joy in the design of your home, keep in mind the 5 R’S – relax, refresh, recover, reinvigorate and recharge. The use of this numeric mnemonic is an excellent way to ensure your interior is designed as a ‘sanctuary space’ with wellbeing at the forefront of every decision – yes we made that up, but it works! Right?
Speaking of meditative moments of calm, Benjamin Moore’s Color of the Year 2021 reflects our desire for the tranquillity of the ocean, for time spent relaxing by the sea and beach getaways. Perhaps your home could do with a coat of Aegean Teal to soothe and smooth those rough edges?
JAPANDI
Leading on from global interiors, the Japandi interior design trend experienced an incredible increase in popularity; there are now over 24’000 posts tagged with #japandi on Instagram and 97% more searches for ‘what is Japandi’ since the start of 2020, further proving that there is a huge appetite for this calming, neutral decor style evoked by Japanese and Scandinavian interior design.
Japandi is a hybrid of Japanese minimalism and modern Scandi materials and tones, and is an interiors trend that combines natural structures, warm tones and striking accents. Expect to see ‘Japandi’ enter the Oxford English Dictionary – and your home – this year!
ECO-FRIENDLY, SUSTAINABILITY & DIVERSITY
2020’s upheaval has made many of us reevaluate our relationship with consumption, consumerism, energy use and community spirit. Channelling these good intentions into a more environmentally friendly home, shopping more sustainably for our interiors and buying from responsible designers is a positive byproduct of a tumultuous year.
2021 looks set to pick up where 2020 left off in this respect. Moreover, shopping from independent designers and supporting businesses has never been more important; do so.
MAKE DO AND MEND
Make Do and Mend was a pamphlet issued by the British Ministry of Information in the midst of WWII. Many interior design experts are predicting that this attitude will re-emerge as a result of the pandemic.
If you need inspiration (and a little escapism), then watch Escape to the Chateau’s four-part series of the same name. The series was filmed during one of the last lockdowns and sees Dick and Angel Strawbridge ‘rediscover everyday objects by improving and repurposing them’.
We expect to see this energy and ethos adopted in our interior design tastes this year, with homeowners incorporating vintage, second-hand pieces, family heirlooms and hand-me downs, as well as upcycling tired, forgotten pieces, in the spirit of Make Do and Mend.
Looking for more trends? Check out our article on 5 IDEAL kitchen trends for 2021.