2020 was (to say the least) a challenging year for almost everyone. The pandemic, social unrest and the consequences of climate change have combined into a perfect storm of events that h ave sent a lot of people scrambling to redefine what’s “normal” in their lives.
A new year is on the horizon, however, and with it comes renewed hopes for easier days to come. Take a peek into our crystal ball with us while we make a few predictions about the home trends you can expect to see in 2021.
What’s Guiding 2021’s Home Trends?
We’ve already shared with you the colors that are expected to influence everything from fashion to home decor. Urbane Bronze from Sherwin-Williams conveys a message of comfort and sanctuary, while Pantone selected a mix of hues that are designed to exude a mixture of stability and optimism.
The driving forces behind the home trends we anticipate are drawn from the same compelling powers that are shaping the colors designers have chosen. Life in lockdown and isolation has made people focus inward in ways they’ve seldom done before. Folks are hunting for the basis of their own resilience and personal power — and many of them are finding it in their family, their history and their homes.
As a result, people are reaching backward toward simpler, less chaotic times where they felt safer. In an effort to break away from the relentless presence of technology in everyday existence, many have also started to embrace nature again. Unsurprisingly, nostalgia is taking root and pushing many of the trends that we’re already seeing.
All of these sentiments are growing into a movement that’s starting to take a clear direction. Here’s where they’re going:
Grandmillennial Glory and Bohemian Chic
Minimalist interiors, stark-white spaces and mass-market furniture seem cold, clinical — even somewhat indifferent — when people are seeking comfort and connections or looking for a firm foundation in their lives.
Hence the rise of the “grandmillennial” style. Grandmillennial mixes old-school style with modern elements for a comfortable, individualistic take on home decor. Think homey mixes of patterns and textures and overstuffed furniture mixed with wicker or antique and vintage finds.
Toile wallpaper and chintz upholstery are being placed right alongside abstract art pieces and metallic accents to create an eclectic, bohemian atmosphere that steps outside of linear time. Pulling the look off correctly requires a tight color palette that is layered and eclectic but not chaotic or cluttered.
This style is also eminently earth-friendly. It’s perfectly okay to put a well-worn end table and antique rocker in the room, and vintage accents from the 70s, 80s and earlier eras are part of the charm — so people are digging the family heirlooms out of the attic and haunting thrift stores for pieces they can upcycle.
Above all, the look is big on individuality. You get a real sense of the personality of the people who live in a home just by looking at the things they choose to put in their spaces.
Natural, Unfinished and Earthy Decor
If driftwood, cane, leather, plants, metal, stone and ceramics make your heart sing, you’ll be happy to know that they’re all in style.
As with the grandmillennial aesthetic, the move toward adding natural elements into home decor stems from a heightened sense that it’s important to think about both their heritage and sustainability. People are choosing to invest in items that will last a lifetime instead of just a few years.
Home trends have been drifting toward all things natural and earthy for several years now, and the pandemic seems to have accelerated that movement. People are increasingly surrounded by technology and stuck in front of their computer screens, so putting natural, organic materials in their surroundings helps them feel grounded and reconnected to the earth.
Think wood-framed furniture, dried flowers and living plants, wicker baskets, macrame art hung on driftwood, chunks of crystals, metal statuary and candleholders, and handmade pottery if you’re thinking of embracing this trend. A zen waterfall won’t look out of place, either.
Affordable Upgrades and Redesigned Spaces
Above all, people are trying to find ways to make the most important areas of their home both functional and aesthetically pleasing.
Because the pandemic has shifted the work-life balance for so many, upgrades to home offices are going to be happening throughout 2021 — but living rooms and bedrooms won’t be neglected. Since those are the three rooms that people tend to use the most, this makes sense.All the time they’ve spent in their homes lately has made people hyperconscious of the way their surroundings affect their mood and their productivity. Many found their existing spaces inadequate for their needs, so they’re looking for ways to refresh without breaking the bank. On average, people are spending about $1,500 per room on updates, which is an affordable alternative to the thousands they might sink into a bathroom or kitchen remodel, instead.
Final Thoughts as We Move Forward to 2021
In short: 2020 has given people the time to look around and decide how they want to make their homes more comfortable and functional than ever before. In response, people are taking steps to make their surroundings more of a personal reflection of what they keep in their hearts and souls. There are plenty of things that are still uncertain about the future, so why not turn your home into a reliable and dependable retreat against the changeable nature of the outside world?
