Look to the future

Design platform Houzz tapped experts to help predict 2021’s biggest interior decor trends. SAM WYLIE-HARRIS finds out more

AFTER an unprecedented year, how will the pandemic have shaped interior trends to come? There’s no doubt how we used our homes, and what we want from them, changed dramatically during 2020. According to home renovation and design platform Houzz.co.uk, this is already being reflected in popular search terms and design directions.

So, what can we expect to see more of in 2021? Houzz analysed its site data, browsed hundreds of home design photos, and interviewed professionals on Houzz Pro to reveal six key home design trends for the year to come. Here’s a look, along with tips on how to make them work in your home.

RETURN OF THE ALL-WHITE KITCHEN

THIS neutral, light-enhancing choice for the hardest-working room in the house is growing in popularity again, with searches for ‘white kitchen’ rising in 2020.

We’re also seeing many photos on Houzz that have white worktops and expect to see more in 2021, perhaps reflecting a pandemic-fuelled desire for clean-looking cook spaces.

“We’re seeing a resurgence of white kitchens but with people leaning towards matte designs rather than gloss, which was favoured a few years ago,” explains Josh Delane, director of kitchen designers, The Wood Works.

“It pairs well with metallic accents like brass, copper and even matte black fixtures.”

In terms of worktops, Josh says: “Veined and marble effect quartz worktops are surging in popularity – a good alternative to real marble, which is porous and can be stained.”

THE incorporation of nature into our interiors looks set to continue, with colour experts on Houzz predicting warm earth tones, such as burnt umber, terracotta and clay, and contrasting forest colours like sage, pine and turquoise will be strong choices for 2021. These colours are perfectly complemented by natural materials such as rattan, jute, wood and concrete, which have all featured heavily in the most-saved photos on Houzz lately.

If you’re wanting to embrace natural materials in your home, rattan is a good place to start and will continue to be big in 2021.

Omar Bhatti, director of Space Shack, says: “It has a bohemian vibe, which you can mix with any interior. To avoid overkill, my top tip is to use it in moderation. I would suggest investing in a rattan accent chair or small planter baskets.”

Plants are another easy way to incorporate nature into interiors. Omar agrees: “You can never have enough plants. If I’m ever in doubt and need to fill an empty space or shelf, I always use plants. This is also a great way to bring the