4 Interior Design Trends for 2021
Knowledge Base
January 29, 2021By Ashlee Palka

4 Interior Design Trends for 2021

Ready to change up your space?

Overall, adding a sense of calmness to your space is going to be huge in the twenties. After all, since we're spending so much more time at home these days, shouldn't it be a relaxing space? Take a look at these 4 interior design trends for the 2020s and let us know which one you'll be modeling your space after this decade.

Nudes

The trend of “going nude” has been steadily gaining popularity over the last 5 years and that’s not slowing down anytime soon. Nudes are all about clean spaces and neutral undertones inspired by cosmetics and the fashion world. Without a huge variation in color, this trend is all about adding fun textures to your space and creating a sense of calm and balance.

Nude spaces are filled with clean white walls, tan or taupe furniture pieces, greige and blush accents, and the occasional pop of ocean blue glass or greenery from plant life. Layer your neutral furniture pieces with subtle throw pillows and blankets to add a sense of comfort to your space. Metallic accent pieces will add a modern flair to your nude space and helps cool things down where needed. Outdoor-inspired pieces are another way to keep your nude space feeling open and airy (think woven chairs and light fixtures).

To get the look: Stick to clean spaces and mostly empty walls with just a few larger art pieces. Use clear glass tabletops to keep your space feeling open and incorporate warm undertones throughout. For flooring, go with a mid to light brown in a wood look (Elmstead works perfectly). Add blush accent pieces and use bright pops of blue and green in spaces that need to feel a bit more “awake” (like the kitchen or office).

Don’t forget, as far as color goes, nude doesn’t mean beige on beige. Use white or light gray for your walls to keep your space from getting weighed down or choose a color with a neutral or slightly warm undertone (muted terracotta or taupe would work perfectly). Throw in some warmer grays throughout or try something in greige to get the best of both worlds. You can also add in items with red or pink undertones (especially in your flooring so give warmth throughout the space).

Japandi

Japandi is the number one interior design trend to watch in the twenties. Calling it a trend almost doesn’t seem fair since Japandi has all the markers of a larger design movement that’s built to last and will easily adapt to changing preferences over time. Minimalist, modern Scandinavian designs combine with warm, earthy, timeless Japanese pieces to form this portmanteau. Japandi is all about celebrating imperfections and the craftsmanship behind items while maintaining a functional and tranquil aesthetic.

Both Japanese and Scandinavian design cultures share an affinity for clean lines and natural materials. They also lean towards practical, uncluttered spaces with just a handful of statement pieces for decoration. Japandi incorporates both wabi-sabi (finding beauty in imperfection) and hygge (creating an atmosphere of warmth and comfort).

Key features of Japandi design include functional items mixed with soft, warm pieces that give your space a sense of comfort. Keep it fairly simple and incorporate some natural elements (think wooden or woven pieces, mixed textiles in neutral tones, and plant life). Curved shapes work better than hard corners. If you want to incorporate metal into this style, make sure you use a dark bronze or brushed copper, stay away from bright chrome.

To get the look: Japandi plays well with the Nude trend plus some additional, warmer colors and pieces with a bit of history. This means items from thrift shops, live plants (steer clear of plastic), ceramic bowls, wood-look flooring with big knots (like Palka or Yuzen), etcetera. Target mostly neutral shades with earth and jewel-tone accents (terra cotta, rose, indigo, emerald, even deep black).

Keep your spaces as decluttered as possible to maintain an airy and tranquil feel. For decorative accents, focus on quality over quantity. Grab a mixture of utilitarian and comfort pieces to embrace both sides of this style.

Use natural materials like wood and bamboo wherever you can and don’t be afraid to mix light and dark stains to add in some variety. Go with a lighter wood look floor with large, rustic knots to add a little wabi-sabi to every room. Throw down a mottled faux sheepskin rug to add the perfect accent to your Japandi space.

Grandmillennial Style

A classically-informed look that’s favored by members of the millennial generation, Grandmillennial style is bringing back all things chintz. This style is effortlessly formal, always fresh, and never stuffy. It’s worth noting that there’s a risk of things looking too cluttered if you lack an editorial eye.

Grandmillennial style is all about comfort and warmth. It’s about adding extra ruffles because you can. It’s needlepoint pillows and fun wallpaper, vintage glasses, and your collection of travel souvenirs. It’s eclectic and colorful and it works.

Grandmillennials want people to feel welcome and they want to give a sense of who they are and where they’ve been when they entertain. In fact, entertaining is a huge facet of this style. Elaborate table settings and candle-lit dinner parties bring a Grandmillennial space to life.

To get the look: This look has to be carefully curated to keep it feeling Grandmillennial rather than “granny”. For example, avoid tea-stained linens and instead opt for crisp whites with bright pops of color. Add something unexpected to each room for intrigue, like a piece of abstract artwork.

Find a chintz wallpaper you love and pair it with a classic, brown wood-look floor (we recommend staying in the light to medium range — try Palka, Soho, or Sutton). Grab an armchair in a botanical print and stock up on block-printed fabrics. Antiques work perfectly with this style.

Add in needlepoint pillows or wall art, lettuceware, a couple of wicker pieces, and some dark wood furniture and you’re all set. Have fun with it and incorporate all of the styles you’re attracted to. Grandmillennial style is about showing the world who you are and what you love.

Black & White

In the twenties, black and white interiors are going to be big. This dramatic style features lots of contrast but maintains a clean, modern feel overall. Incorporating black into your home will ground the space and give each room a clear focal point and sense of depth, all while adding a sophisticated feel. When you contrast that with pure white, you get the drama and spark that is black and white design.

If you’re looking for a space that feels fresh and clean, sophisticated, and elegant all at once, this style is for you. For a super modern, striking look, try to use almost entirely black and white in your space. Add in some metal accent pieces in chrome for a contemporary look or in gold for a touch of glam. Offset this look with yellow, red, purple, or camel for a bit of variety but make sure to let black and white shine as the prominent colors.

To get the look: Start with either a dark or a light floor (in either wood or stone looks). Think ebony-colored flooring (like Queensbury) or white marble. Choose either a stark white or softer ivory for your walls. If you’re feeling bold, try painting one of your bathrooms in black, including the ceiling. This will give the room a sultry, spa feel when paired with white marble, shiny gold accents, and a few house plants.

For white walls, use either dark wood or painted black frames for your artwork. Add a colored mat to get a pop of color on your walls. Find a black or white couch that you love (if you have kids or pets, we recommend black) and pair it with a rug of the opposite color.

Black iron accent pieces are easy to come by and they’re usually very affordable. Grab black and white china for your table and swap your silverware for a gold or matte black set.

If you’re looking for more subtle ways to incorporate this trend, look for prints and patterns that incorporate a little black. Mix it up with some mid-tone brown wood pieces or tone down the look with a neutral brown wood-look floor.

The best thing about this look is its ability to work with any other color combination. To get started, just add a couple of black accent pieces to your existing style to add an air of sophistication to any room in your house.

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Elmstead

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Palka

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Yuzen

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Soho

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Sutton

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Queensbury

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