Sherwin Williams Colour of the Year 2021 Urbane Bronze

With the global pandemic of 2020, we have all been stuck indoors for extended periods of time, only going out for essential needs. The interiors of our homes then made a big difference (more than usual) to our mental well-being. Consequently the 2021 interior design trends are a move toward natural, organic and simple. This becomes a celebration of the earth’s raw materials and subtle use of colour to evoke emotion. We explore the top 10 interior design trends we can expect to see in 2021.

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Navy

This was a popular colour in bathrooms in 2020 and for 2021, it’s going to be a trend colour in all aspects of our homes. A true neutral, it brings sophistication and masculinity to a room. Navy easily brings the feel of expensive luxury while creating a calm and grounding environment. From being the colour of the night sky to the mysterious depths of the sea, navy helps arouse a sense of confidence. Picture a rich navy wallpaper in a dining room with matching dinner plates!

There are so many ways to use navy in your décor from the paint on the walls, throw rugs in a bedroom or living room, to accessories such as chairs or lamps. If you’re using a lot of navy in a room, ensure you have plenty of natural light.

Textured Walls

This trend helps us make our way back to nature with walls of stone and marble, wood beams, wallpaper and wall panels all bringing interest and texture into our homes. Not only is this one of the most notable interior design trends for 2021 but it’s one of the easiest to achieve. Texture impacts sensation and touch and can be achieved through simple things like a marble looking wallpaper on one accent wall. For more information on how texture can impact the design of your home, click here.

Minimalist Art

Artwork will take on a very minimalist approach and will blend seamlessly with our interiors. This will allow for a calmer environment with less clutter. This trend has been inspired by Scandinavian homes where less is more with little or no clutter. We are encouraged to only purchase items that are useful and well-designed.

Click the image to go to Etsy.com to purchase this artwork and see others like it.

We’re also going to see a subtle appreciation for thought provoking black and white photography as artwork in our homes. Minimalist Japanese wall murals will also become more popular. Check out some amazing designs here.

Neutrals

Already popular in 2020, greige (a combination of grey and beige) will become the go to colour in 2021. Grey was very popular in previous years but can look and feel cold if not done right. Greige works well in cool and warm colour schemes. With beige sometimes being too warm (and boring for some), greige brings a sense of calm and balance.

We will also see a lot of peacemaker colours (a blend between bright colours and neutrals). This will include colours such as soft pinks or pistachio.

Plants

We’re going to see a huge trend toward indoor plants, particularly in bathrooms. For more info on 2021 bathroom trends click here.

Plants help cement our human connection to nature. Real plants are preferred as we are actually bringing a piece of nature indoors but if you’re anything like me and have two black thumbs (forget about green thumbs!), you may not have luck with real plants.

Faux plants are a realistic alternative as are dried plants and flowers. The quality of artificial plants and flowers these days is so good that these work very well in even the most luxurious homes. Dried plants/flowers will typically last 2 years. Some great options are palm spears, grasses and pampas plumes. You can even consider wallpaper or murals with plants on them!

Organic Materials and Vegetable Based Fibres

Hemp curtains, cork walls and raw, untreated wood are the norm and will be gaining in popularity as a 2021 trend. Once again this is a trend that is connecting us to nature and we’ll be seeing a lot of this in luxe décor.

A move to nature will also see more natural stone and marble walls and wooden floors. Stone walls are a great option for an accent wall in a dining room or family room. Consider a fireplace surrounded with natural stone. Now that’s a focal point in any room!

Cozy Details

As we have a strong need to feel comfort and a connection to our past, cozy details and granny chic will be making its way into 2021 trends. Think of grandma’s house but with a touch of elegance. Referred to as Grandmillenial, we’re going to see a lot more pretty florals and simple throwbacks to our childhood such as a table lamp with a pleated shade.

This trend evokes feelings of nostalgia, tradition and comfort. Consider floral wallpaper, delicate china, crocheted throws and other vintage touches to create those cozy details.

Zen Garden Details

As travel was limited in 2020, we all spent a lot more time in our homes and backyards. 2021 will see a trend toward zen inspired garden details with the use of water features and rock gardens. Even if you live in an apartment, you can easily pick up a small water fountain through Amazon to help create your own little zen garden. These zen garden features help create a calm and peaceful space which helps your home feel more serene.

Lots of Natural Light

Letting in lots of natural light is a great option at any time but for 2021 it will become even more important in creating a connection with nature and making our lives more centred and calm. Minimalist or no curtains will start to trend. Semi opaque cotton curtains still allow an element of privacy while maximizing the amount of light that shines in. Heavy or overly patterned window treatments are on their way out.

Multi-Purpose Spaces

The global pandemic had many of us working from home and even educating from home. This forced us to create make shift home offices. Without a “spare” bedroom to create an office in, multi-purpose rooms became the norm and will continue to be popular as the trend toward remote working increases. Our living rooms, dining rooms and even kitchens have had to double as home offices. For more information on how to create a home office within your home, click here.