Ten home design trends here to stay for 2021

Unlike Chip and Joanna Gaines, the pandemic has been the biggest home decorating influence no one has asked for. In early 2020, designers presented two-tone kitchens and bright colors as the next big trends. No one knew that practical amenities like home offices, gyms and bidets would end up being the most important design trends of 2020.

Yet, as the New Year presents a new opportunity to freshen up our homes, in some ways it still feels like we’re stuck in 2020. Many places are still under stay-at-home orders, remote working is a problem. become the norm, and some children have not yet returned to school full time. And while we’ll see some new looks for the home this year, many trends influenced by the pandemic are here to stay in 2021.

Home gyms

If anything positive can be taken away from the pandemic, it is that we all need to be mindful of our health and lifestyle choices. Gyms haven’t reopened everywhere and many people have adapted to home fitness routines. So having space to exercise couldn’t be more important, especially for Asha Kai, CEO of sportswear brands. Horn and Ultracor. “Being active isn’t an option these days, it’s essential for mental health,” she says.

Before the pandemic, Kai built a gym on the first floor of his Los Angeles home. She had more than enough equipment to stay in shape when she couldn’t take her regular Pilates class.

When COVID shut everything down, it became his only option. “In the midst of running two national brands and raising three children, training must remain a priority if I am to perform at my best. Since the pandemic has restricted access to gyms and studios, I feel incredibly lucky to have a home gym to keep me in shape. “

However, if you don’t have a lot of space or a separate room, that doesn’t mean home workouts are out of the question. Personal trainer and podcast host Doug Bopst believes there is no need to have extra floor space or invest in expensive equipment. “You can just wedge part of your basement, family room, or office with dumbbells, resistance bands, and a ball. Then develop from that, ”he says.

Buying portable cardio equipment is another option. “I advise people to buy a brand new rower. Try to spend around $ 900. You can lean it against the wall when not in use to save space, ”he says.

To make a home gym space blend into your decor, store dumbbells, resistance bands, and other equipment in a cube-style bookcase with bins. This unit of Wayfair is available in several wood shades so you can coordinate it with your furniture.

Home offices

Because technology has made the large corporate office unnecessary in many ways, home offices are now considered a “must have”.

“For those lucky enough to work from home in the past year, a home office or home work area has become essential. Even as businesses and offices reopen, many companies have deliberately moved to a hybrid work-from-home model that only requires employees to come to the office a few days a week, ”says Justina Blakeney, Founder of Jungalow. “We will see an increase in home offices and creative solutions for creating workspaces. For example, if renovations are out of reach, people can remove sliding closet doors and turn a guest bedroom closet into an office.

While most people are forced to adapt the space they currently have, it is likely that many new homes will be built with home offices. In homes undergoing renovations, we’ll likely see built-in offices, separate alcoves, and other areas converted to workstations.

Raised outdoor spaces

“In 2020, people were spending more time in their gardens for health and safety reasons. Many were sitting on their patio for the first time, socializing from a distance in their backyard or watching birthday parades from their front yard, says Blakeney.

She predicts that interior spaces will continue to inspire exterior design, with outdoor rugs and dining sets becoming popular choices for most backyards. The same can be said for fireplaces and other outdoor heat sources that have become essential in cooler climates.

Nature inspired designs

The natural world has had a major influence on design in recent years. “More than ever, we aspire to reconnect with nature and the outdoors. Organic materials and pure textiles highlight the beauty, structure and irregularities of nature ”, Rebecca Breslin, Senior Director of Design at Wayfair Professional tell me. “Earth tones, organic shapes and textures, woven rattan and reclaimed materials demonstrate our need for sustainable design and everyday well-being. “

The prominence of plants is another example of design inspired by nature. “For the past two years, there have been houseplants everywhere,” says Danielle Blundell, director of the house of Therapy Apartment. “Everyone brings trees, they have gardens on the windowsills – maybe they have an herb garden, but it’s just plants upon plants upon plants. And I don’t think it’s leading to anything.

However, Blundell sees this aesthetic evolve in 2021 through the incorporation of biophilic motifs, “It’s an emphasis on flora and fauna. In the past we have seen cute flowers and very springtime palaces. This time it’s a little more down to earth, a little whimsical.

Gallery walls

The gallery wall is fast becoming a classic and is unlikely to fall out of favor anytime soon. However, according to Household items Style expert and interior designer, Beth diana smith, there is a general tendency to make this design choice more meaningful and intentional than in previous years. “[In 2020], we have seen a greater focus on cultural design related to accepting one’s ethnicity, origins and traditions, which I hope will continue well beyond 2021.

Smith recommends framing old family photos and keepsakes using a mix of metal and wood frames, in a variety of sizes and styles, which are easy to find at stores like HomeGoods. “The gallery wall will tell the story of your family and your heritage, and the different styles of frames will help showcase the different stages of your family and your life.”

Exhilarating art

Brightly colored and whimsical art was a trend that picked up in 2020 to contrast the harsh reality of life. While 2021 already looks like a better year, a global gravitation towards vibrant colors is likely to remain, according to Alix Greenberg, founder of ArtSugar. “Sales of our acrylic pop-up smileys and popping colorful pieces have skyrocketed, illustrating that when people are stuck at home, at the very least, they want to feel joy. As the new year begins and we move closer and closer to the end of this pandemic, the artistic trend of wellness is not going to go away. “

Walnut wood

Walnut wood, which many people associate with mid-century modern design, has gone and dated over the past decade, but it’s back and probably here to stay. “When we launched in 2011, walnut was our calling card: its rich, deep browns and dramatic grain patterns gave every customer a one-of-a-kind look,” says Molly McDermott Walsh, vice president of marketing at Semi-handmade. “Walnut’s popularity has fluctuated over the past decade, but he definitely seems to be enjoying a moment again now, as evidenced by our 2020 sales.”

Art Deco

Interior designer based in New York and Paris Alexandre doherty is a supporter of the art deco style, which has seen a revival in 2020. This style will continue to remain popular due to the way it fits into contemporary spaces. “It’s great for new construction, like many homes in New York City that live in glass towers. Art Deco is a style that will fit very easily into houses with little architecture. Being able to nod to the past while using modern elements is essential.

For those looking to further incorporate this style into their current homes, he suggests combining a variety of materials, styles, and periods to create a unique layered look.

Bidet

With the toilet paper shortage across the country in 2020, many Americans have had no choice but to seek out an alternative that some previously considered too European for their personal tastes. The bidet currently has a moment.

From difficult installation of accessories to less designer toilet seat accessories, the bidet will continue to be on trend this year. “I think the 2020 toilet paper door scared us all and we got a few inquiries about our thoughts on bidets,” Tiffany Leigh of Tiffany Leigh Conception tell me.

The final touch

COVID has dragged and delayed many renovations. But in 2021, these projects are finally coming to fruition. After a long wait, artist and designer Elizabeth sutton reveals that there is a general tendency to do whatever it takes to achieve the perfect aesthetic. “People were finishing their spaces and forgetting about finishes like decorative items and art once their furniture arrived. But this year, as well as at the end of last year, I saw a lot of art purchases, adding new rugs and painting walls to add vibrancy to homes.

After all, if we’re spending so much time in one place, there’s no reason it can’t be perfect.