6 DECORATING TRENDS SHAPED BY THE PANDEMIC

Interior spaces have gotten more functional while keeping their style

Call it “decorating, pandemic-style.” The choices people are making, from paint colors to lighting, have been shaped by how much time they’ve spent — and are still spending — at home. The goal: to be comfortable, mentally and physically, while working, learning and bonding at home. Take a look at six decorating trends for 2021:

1. Warm and wild colors

Say goodbye to neutrals — they’ve been replaced by warm, rich colors like camel and olive green. “With the pandemic has come the need to feel nurtured and protected in our homes,” said Sharon Flatley, an interior designer in Dallas (flatleydesign.com). What to pair with these soothing hues? Flatley suggests warmer tones such as coral, peach and soft yellow. Besides warm tones, bold colors are also becoming popular on their own, such as brick red and orange. “They introduce fun into spaces—and we all need some fun in our lives,” Flatley said.

2. Indoor plants

Leafy green plants bring the outdoors in, literally, and help people reconnect with nature. While it’s debatable if plants act as air filters, studies have shown their presence

in a room reduces stress and makes people happy.

3. Multipurpose lighting

“The need for light that allows everyone to work and learn in the same space is crucial,” Flatley said. “Lighting needs to be flexible, dimmable and efficient.” Take the dining room, which often does double duty as an office, as an example. “The fixture itself still needs to be attractive when in use for dining but offer the ability of functional lighting for office use,” she said. Flatley suggests using bulbs that can be adjusted for color temperature depending on the room's color palette and the need for amped-up light for work tasks.

4. Durable fabrics

With more daily use than ever before, upholstered furniture may be looking worn out. To the rescue: materials that can withstand wear and tear and, in the case of slipcovers, can be washed. “Microfiber fabrics are one of the best, as well as cotton and linen,” Flatley said. Look for cottons and linens with a very tight weave, which helps dirt, dust and liquids from easily

penetrating.

5. Plaid

A pattern that conveys coziness, plaid has been making a comeback, especially on children’s bedding. But instead of the large and loud jewel-tone plaids from the past, Flatley said the trend is for smaller-scale plaids in upbeat, high-intensity colors like yellow and navy blue. “They make us feel more lighthearted,” she said. Plaids are also finding their way to living and family rooms to cover decorative pillows and upholstered furniture.

6. Bidets

Not that long ago, bidets were found mostly in bathrooms in Europe. Now, they’re showing up in American homes too. “Never before have we felt the need to be germ-free to the extent that we’re seeing now,” Flatley said. The shortage of toilet paper in some parts of the country last year may also be fueling interest. Today’s models are tricked out with perks like heated seats, touchless (self-opening and -closing) lids and air dryers.

GETTY IMAGES Bold wall colors are becoming popular. “They introduce fun into spaces — and we all need some fun in our lives,” interior designer Sharon Flatley said.

GETTY IMAGES Multifunctional lighting that works for different tasks is essentional when rooms double as work spaces.

GETTY IMAGES Plaids are making a comeback, even in the living room. Look for cheerful colors and smaller patterns.