Sourdough starters, puzzles, virtual workouts—2020 has seen our home life drastically change, and every inch of our houses and apartments is being tested to the limit.
Without restaurants to go to or vacations to take, disposable incomes have shifted to cast-iron pots, yoga mats…and renovations. In many ways 2020 has also been the year of installing second dishwashers and soundproofing Zoom offices. Domino compiled a list of the top trends we may see in 2021. Check them out below!
So what does this mean for layouts, materials, and dominating colors in 2021? We asked 12 interior designers, renovating pros, and architects for their predictions.
Joy in Separation
If 2020 was the year we realized that open-concept living isn’t what it’s cracked up to be, 2021 is when we really start to remedy the situation. “Quarantine has shown us that being open to everything and everyone in our home is not necessarily a positive, especially when people are working from home,” says Clara Jung of Banner Day Interiors. She isn’t the only one expressing that sentiment. Serial renovators Emily Henderson and Anita Yokota believe that adding walls is the way to go in the future. “I think we’ll see people moving away from the traditional great room,” says Yokota.
Move Away, Marble
Marble may be all the rage as far as countertops go, but interior designer Breegan Jane is betting on manufactured stone as the next big thing. “Porcelain isn’t really being used in kitchen spaces anymore, and we’ve moved away from incorporating real stone because of upkeep costs,” she explains. Jordan Slocum and Barry Bordelon, aka the Brownstone Boys, are excited about using terrazzo and tadelakt, a waterproof cement-like finish popular in Southwestern-style kitchens. You can also expect thicker mitered countertop edges to be the norm, especially on vanities. “It’s an easy way to elevate a bathroom with minimal effort,” says Jung. For floors, Henderson is turning to checkered motifs.
Self-Care Will Come First
We’ve all been through a lot this year, and the need for comfort is showing in our decorating (and renovating) choices. As a result, industrial-style, mirrored furniture and bulky farmhouse elements like barn doors are falling out of favor while Scandinavian hygge and warm minimalism (think: wood, stone, organic textures) are here to stay. Wijaya, who embraces simple and uncluttered spaces, is also placing her bets on more wellness-focused reading nooks and sunrooms. “I think we’ll be seeing more parents-only zones that soothe, ease stress, and enliven,” says Leann Conquer of design firm Chroma. “A getaway in your home for playing games, listening to records, reading a favorite novel, and escaping.”
Color Us Bright
Paint is another area where cooler tones like grays and blues are being replaced with cozier shades. “It will be natural for us to gravitate, psychologically, to earthy palettes,” says Yokota, whose top pick for 2021 is Sherwin-Williams’s Urbane Bronze. Henderson, meanwhile, is drawn to browns and rich tans, and Caron is gravitating toward rusts, yellows, buttercreams, and Key lime greens. “I’m completely fixated on Farrow & Ball’s India Yellow right now and dreaming up bathrooms and laundry rooms to use those deep, rich yellows ASAP,” she says. Different applications, like textured walls, a contrasting trim color, bold checkered floors (Henderson’s trend of choice), or a tuxedo kitchen (one with both light and dark cabinets)—Jane’s trend pick—make it easier to take a bigger color risk.