If you’re planning a design project this year, check out our list of 2021 design trends so you know what trends may soon become outdated and which to go for instead. Or simply use this list as a source of inspiration for your next design project.
We’ve scoured the top design publications and brands to feature our favorite 2021 design trends in one place.
Multifunctional and Livable Spaces
2020 was the year people spent time at home more than ever before. It brought to light that multifunctional spaces are a necessity, especially when you’re working, playing, relaxing, eating, and entertaining all at home. In a style trend report, Modsy highlights that design requests for home offices had increased by 40% last year.
When spending so much time at home many people were forced to re-think how their spaces should work to fit their new lifestyles. For homeowners with smaller spaces, this trend is a must!
Along with multifunctional spaces, comfort and livability have been key trends that 2020 has highlighted. When designing a living room or bedroom for example you’ll want to be sure your furniture is just as cozy and comfortable as it is stylish. Think plush surfaces, warm and inviting tones, and sink-in chairs and sofas.
Designer Kate Lester speaks to these trends in a Good Housekeeping article: “So many people have had to transition over the past year, that they are rethinking less-used spaces and embracing furniture concepts that play double duty. [2021] will be all about durable fabrics, comfortable upholstery, and furniture pieces that are versatile and chic.”
Biophilic and Sustainable Design
Biophilic design is the architectural and design term for incorporating plants and nature into design in a harmonious way. Essentially it focuses on bringing the outdoors inside and the indoors outside.
As we spend more time indoors and at home, urban dwellers have been craving indoor plants and gardens, in lieu of access to travel and wide-open vistas.
In addition to valuing plants and nature, sustainable design has also become an important trend. Many people are shifting from cookie-cutter brands to eco-friendly ones as they want their homes to reflect their environmental beliefs and lifestyle. This also includes a rise in natural materials like rattan furniture.
In a Vogue article, top designer Robert McKinley states: “Sustainability is a consideration in design that will remain important—2020 slowed us down and made us take stock of our consumption. Sustainable, durable brands will continue to grow in prominence, especially in the home space.”
Rethinking Open Floor Plans
Open floor plans have been the must-have design feature for homeowners over the past few decades, as they started to gain popularity in the 90s. Rather than having separate and closed-off kitchen, living, and dining spaces, open floor plans breakdown the walls between these rooms and let them flow continuously into one another – creating a large “great room” for family and friends to gather.
However, similar to the multifunctional space trend, the pandemic has caused homeowners and designers to re-think the open concept floor plan. Having one big space isn’t always practical when you’re working at home, you’re children are attending school at home, and you’re even exercising at home. It’s helpful to have spaces that more distinct and separate for better functionality.
If you already have invested in an open floor plan, don’t worry! There are smart design solutions to create more distinction or privacy in open spaces – like room dividers, bookcases, or curtains.
Japandi Aesthetic
Japandi is a popular new style that combines both Japanese and Scandinavian minimalist aesthetics. Characterized by creating harmony through design, clean lines, lighter wood tones, and neutral color schemes Pinterest references the style as the “new modern” and has included it in their 2021 “Pinterest Predicts” trend report. They have also seen a 100% increase in this search trend vs. the year before.
If you’re searching for some more zen in your life right now, a Japandi inspired design may be the way to go.
