30/01/2021 17:10
2020 has been a time of dramatic change for everyone, to the point that it is a big influencer in this years’ interior decorating trends.
Our homes are no longer just the place where we just come to relax or put our heads down when the day has ended. It is now our office, place of entertainment, exercise, classroom (for those with children) and somehow is still meant to be your space for sleep, but also for mental relaxation.
Let us know what you think of the predicted trends for 2021. Have you been using these styles for years and the world is just catching up with you now? Do you feel these trends are outdated or should never have been a thing to start off with? Are these applicable to South Africa or rather opinions of those in foreign countries? Do you agree with these trends or do you have other ideas you would like to share?
Whether you an interior decorator, a trendsetter or just someone with an eye for style and home decor, we welcome your opinion?
This is the time for indoor plants. Gone are the plastic pot plants you didn’t have to worry about keeping alive. With people being indoors so often and for so long, the bright colours and smells of nature are wanted. This trend is to bring the outdoors in, with hanging plants, green walls, large pots and feature spaces adorned with plants.
Before, working on the couch or in bed on a sick or slow day was expectable, but otherwise unheard of. Now we need to integrate our home and office and be productive in our private space. This has brought about the need for furniture to serve multiple functions. For example, pull-out desktop and bookshelves in cupboards or low desk with draws as coffee tables. Even the humble smart TV, has occasionally been called upon to serve as a classroom or conference room.
With whole families being home, separation is needed. People are now looking for privacy to have work meetings, listen to lectures and webinars or for just some alone time. Open-plan homes are on the fence. Some are of the opinion they should go, while others are saying less formal separation is necessary. For example, room separation can be achieved with curtains, bookshelves or mobile panels to give privacy when needed, but also help make you feel less closed in.
Gone are the fancy staircases that take up too much space, are visually appealing, but with the sole purpose of getting us from one floor to the next. Nowadays, people are trying to have less wasted space in a home. Stairs are being integrated as furniture with the space under stairs being used in new and creative ways for additional storage, work areas and shelving.
This is making a comeback for its durability and low maintenance. The warmth, comfort and texture of wood pairs up perfectly with the strength, smooth and refreshing feel of concrete, bringing elegant style to any room, be it a bedroom or a bathroom. It is being used for ceilings, floors and walls.
Another way of bringing nature into the home. This is one of those examples of what used to be considered an old-style and for a time used mainly for outside furniture, in 2021 moving back into our homes. But not in the form of the old chunky furniture, but a new twist with a modern take. It is coming back in our chairs, finishes, carpets and light fittings.
With many of us being home for extended periods, looking at the same walls and patterns can become tedious. Wallpaper is a “low commitment upgrade” that allows you to explore some of your more experimental ideas without compromising the future value of your property. It can be used to accent a feature wall or spice up a room.
The colour of 2021 presents us with a flawless canvas, neutral, but not blank. It is the perfect match for whatever mood you are in. Are you after the energy of bright colours, the tranquillity of green and blue hues or the grounding shades of nature? It doesn’t really matter. Whatever your choice, sprinkle it on the “ultimate gray” and you can’t go wrong.
This design trend brings on the playfulness of furniture. Neoteny refers to “the exaggeration of childlike features”. This furniture is built for style, but not necessary for comfort. These pieces are eccentric, colourful, tubular with large, rounded edges, comfortably embracing curves.
Images courtesy of aciiid.com
It seems the general trend is in trying to make your home an area of self-expression and individualism. For many of us, it has become the four walls we see all day, every day, with very little variation. With movement outside being limited, it is about bringing the outside in and making our homes feel lighter, brighter, functional and more welcoming.
References:
1. Interior Design Trends That Will Shape the Next Decade by Pola Mora
2. Interior Design Trends 2021 by Jennifer Ebert
3. Best and Worst Interior Design Trends for 2021 by Sophia Mitrokostas
4. Here Are the Interior Design Trends Going Away in 2021 by Amanda Lauren
5. Interior Design Trends 2021 Predictions by Kate Reggev