THE FIVE BIGGEST INTERIORS TRENDS OF 2020

The return of neutrals

Inspired by “Tranquil Dawn” Dulux’s Colour of the Year 2020 – a dreamy blue inspired by the morning sky – washed-out neutrals and pastel shades are soaring in popularity. “Our homes are increasingly becoming our sanctuaries, so muted neutrals are a natural choice,” says Joa Studholme, colour curator at Farrow & Ball. “‘Oxford Stone’ is perfect with popular materials such as linen, wood and limestone to create an ageless scheme, while the slightly edgier ‘Jitney’ with its underlying black base is more suited to the modern home. Whichever tone you choose you will create a serene interior with comforting warmth that makes few demands on you.”

Dried flowers

It’s no secret that dried flowers have made a comeback. Bex Partridge, author of Everlastings: How to Grow, Harvest and Create with Dried Flowers (£14.99, Hardie Grant) notes that: “There is a wider movement towards more local, native and ‘organic’ flowers and dried flowers are following this movement.” Some florists have reported a sales increase of up to 115 per cent during lockdown.

Cottagecore

According to a survey by Rightmove, 30 per cent of people looking to buy a home said lockdown had made them want to move to a more rural area, while Savills reported a 90 per cent increase in demand for country locations. Naturally, a revival of country-themed interiors (chintz curtains and floral sofas) has followed. Follow cottagecore influencer Laura Hunter (@nofeaturewalls) for inspiration.

Curated patterns

“I think I can safely speak for everyone by saying we all need a little excitement

Statement walls and pops of colour, both trends in 2020

in our life right now and one of the ways most of us are getting that is by introducing new colours and patterns into our home,” says Megan Wright, a designer for online interior design service Decorist. “Since we can’t get inspiration from travelling, trying new restaurants, or visiting art exhibits, people are wanting to switch up their homes whether it be small pops of colour or bolder patterned statement walls.” Natural materials Drawing inspiration from the “Nordic retreat” trend of 2019, homeowners are turning their backs on quick-fix buys from B&Q and Ikea in favour of crafted, artisan-style furniture in raw materials. From raffia chairs to cane dressers made from cane, stores including online marketplace Etsy are becoming a favourite with buyers looking for vintage and secondhand pieces. Morgan Lawrence