What’s ‘in’ for 2021?
Contemporary style, bold colors and durable finishes will lead home design
Ask an interior designer about trends and he or she will look at you like you’ve just uttered a dirty word in church. We all know what trends are — shelter magazines and home makeover reality TV shows specialize in them. And while designers are more about classic styles that will last their clients more than a few years,
they all know when something is “in” or “out.”
Here’s a roundup of what’s trending right now, either fully formed and in homes or on the cusp of ubiquity.
1. Transitional and contemporary homes
Transitional and contemporary homes dominate new construction. Except for the occasional Mediterranean-style home, it’s rare to find anything that can’t be described as more contemporary, with clean lines. Even older homes are being remodeled to be transitional — a term for somewhere between traditional and contemporary.
I’m listing this as my top trend for 2021 because it drives everything else on the list. When you want your home to be less traditional, everything inside needs to be, as well — from paint colors to furnishings and hard finishes.
What’s “out” in this category? I’m predicting we’re at the start of the rustic farmhouse style winding down — unless you actually do live in a farmhouse or in a rural area.
2. White walls
For at least the past five years, I could visit 20 houses in a row and every one of them would have light gray walls. Now residential paint colors have taken a big, bright turn to white.
Sue Wadden, director of color marketing for Sherwin-williams, said the top-selling paint color in Texas and in the U.S. is its “Pure White.” In fact, three of its top five are whites (”Pure White,” “Alabaster” and “Snowbound”). In Texas, “Agreeable Gray” and “Repose Gray” are both in the top five, but they’re warm grays — what I’d call taupe.
White walls make rooms feel more open. They also allow you to do just about anything with the colors in your furnishings and accessories. And they’re a great backdrop for art.
3. White sofas
The beauty of a white sofa is that not only does it brighten up any room, you can pair any color of rug, chair, pillows or draperies with it. If you need a little variety, find a white upholstery with some texture or pattern in its weave. Just be sure to check out more durable performance fabrics that can stand up to the wear and tear of children — and grandchildren — pets and red wine.
Since our walls and couches are going lighter, we’re going to start having more fun with tile — natural stone, cement or porcelain. Expect to see it in fresh and unexpected ways on fireplace surrounds, kitchen backsplashes and the floors of laundry rooms and bathrooms.
Even better than tile in pretty shapes is tile with color and pattern, or ordinary tile laid in a stylish way, such as herringbone, which looks good anywhere and can add visual interest.
The best part of this trend is that great-looking tile isn’t available only to people with big budgets.
The same goes for slabs of natural or man-made stone. Great options are out there with more dramatic veining and lovely colors. They’ll be great choices for powder bathrooms, bars and wine rooms.
Simple subway tile, I’m predicting, will drop in popularity.
5. Home offices
When the city shut down in March, everyone scrambled to expand their Wifi bandwidth, add second monitors and start a scavenger hunt for a new desk after realizing that turning a dining table into an office/classroom combination was not productive.
Home offices used to be showplaces where people used handsome wood paneling, a large wood desk and shelves filled with books, trophies and other honors. Now, they’re about having electrical outlets in the right places, a desk sized to your needs, nice natural light and a high-functioning layout.
No longer do we need a flex room with no real purpose. It’s a home office — since many of us will continue to work from home long after we’re vaccinated.
6. Bars and wine rooms
We may be living in a marathon of isolation, but when the pandemic is over, we’re all going to celebrate.
Humans are social animals, and most homes being built today have some kind of wine room or bar feature.
Houses being remodeled are carving out the kind of spaces that make entertaining easier. Whether you create a full-on lounge from what used to be your formal living room, or dedicate a corner of another room to a nice bar or wine display, this is a corker of a trend.
7. Swedish and Belgian antiques
Taste in antiques has swung wildly in recent years.
You can use ever-popular ornate French and Italian antiques sparingly in transitional and contemporary homes, but tastes are starting to reflect our taste in general: simpler, cleaner lines. That makes it a great time to look past French buffets and cabinets and search for something with Swedish or Belgian origins and Gustavian in style.
The backstory is that in the 1780s, King Gustav III of Sweden visited King Louis XVI at the Palace of Versailles, fell in love with French style and went home to demand a new style heavily influenced by what he saw.
So they’ll still feel a little bit French but much less fussy.
They’re also often painted, so they fit into homes wanting less brown furniture. Gustavian-style chairs are especially chic, and its curvy clocks are adorable.
8. Prints and bold colors
While right now it seems like we all need a little more “calm,” we’re getting tired of kitchens and other rooms that are all white or filled with light neutrals.
Bold colors such as navy or peacock blue for office cabinets or walls or even on an island in a kitchen are becoming more popular.
Pair that with print upholstery in side chairs, draperies or decorative pillows and you’ve got an interesting room.
If you’re worried about picking the right color combinations, consult the color wheel you studied in school — or consult with an interior designer who’s got better instincts.
9. Wallpaper
Wallpaper continues to reign as manufacturers come up with gorgeous new patterns and styles. Grasscloth is still immensely popular and available in moisture-resistant materials suitable for bathrooms. Floral designs are big and bold — not your grandmother’s dainty pink roses.
Homeowners are starting to use wallpaper in children’s bedrooms and bathrooms, too. I’ve seen a boy’s bathroom with wallpaper covered in cute snakes and girls’ bedrooms with Disney princesses.
What’s out in wallcoverings? Probably shiplap, unless you’re in a historic home that still has its original materials.