Biggest Home Decor Trends of 2021
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We’ve never spent as much time in our homes as we have over the last 12 months, which has actually had some upsides. “The pandemic has really made everyone appreciate the space they live in and want to make it more welcoming, functional and comfortable using interior design,” says Bridget Desroches, who owns Interior Designs by Bridget in Franklin, Massachusetts.
But before you start on that makeover, check out 25 of the biggest decor trends of 2021 — just what you need to get those creative juices flowing in every room of your home.
Comfort Is Key
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Making your home a space to relax in, that feels warm and inviting to enjoy with friends and family, may be most people’s priority this year, Desroches says.
To create the look, she recommends soft fabrics, deep-seated sofas, layered blankets and oversized comfy pillows.
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A Neutral Palette
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“A neutral palette always makes me feel calm and happy in a space,” reveals Desroches.
To create warmth and coziness, choose colors like putty, rust, oatmeal and heather. When there aren’t a lot of patterns and colors to disrupt the eye, you can feel really welcomed by the space, she adds.
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An Indoor Garden
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Plants don’t need to be confined to your outdoor space. Desroches says adding real greenery indoors adds color in a natural way, but also helps to boost mood and clean the air. “I find plants just make people happy,” she says.
If you’re not the most green-fingered sort, an indoor succulent garden is a low-maintenance way to bring the outdoors in.
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Warm Woods
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Textured woods, white oak and walnut are some woods that create a feeling of warmth as well as function, Desroches says. “Adding these woods in your kitchen cabinets, storage cabinets and coffee tables against neutral backdrops of white, beiges and taupes create a serene, comforting feel,” she explains.
If you have a busy lifestyle out of the home, warm woods help make a space that will welcome you back.
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An Organized Space
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Organization is key for those with busy family and/or work lives, but it’s also a decor trend in its own right. If you’re working at home due to the pandemic, it’s even more important that at the end of the day, you can put everything back in its place, close the doors to offices and playrooms and relax with your loved ones in comfortable, clutter-free family rooms.
A dedicated home office (“cloffice”) helps to keep work away from the kitchen table. And if you don’t have a spare room for an office, think about converting a tiny closet — all you need is a small desk and some floating shelves.
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Curves
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Contemporary design has had a pull in the last few years with modular furniture and straight-line design, says Dia Mukerji, designer and co-owner of Uniik, a hospitality design firm in Brentwood, Tennessee.
But she predicts that 2021 will see more rounded edges — on furniture, forms or even walls (via arches). “It will be aligned with the other design aspects to still look and feel modern,” Mukerji adds.
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Personalization
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One thing 2020 taught homeowners about decor trends is that, conversely, trends are perhaps the worst barometer for measuring how progressive our homes are, says Leigh Spicher, national director of design studies for Ashton Woods Homes.
“Many homeowners were forced to live within the confines of their homes, watching unused rooms and spaces collect dust while other areas of the home worked overtime,” she explains. “We saw spikes in requests for home offices, but we also saw requests for unconventional options such as Zoom nooks, convertible dining rooms and closet offices. Ultimately, personalization is the largest trend we’re going to see in 2021 because homeowners are more cognizant now than ever of what they need and truly want in their home.”
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Warm Walls
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While white and grey will never completely go out of style, Spicher says we need warmth and character in 2021. She suggests warm whites like Sherwin-Williams Alabaster, layered with natural wood finishes. Other new neutrals will move in that include soft green or blush undertones like Sherwin-Williams Seasalt or Breathless, she adds.
“While still neutral, this color palette soothes our senses and reduces anxiety but still allows our homes to enjoy color,” Spicher explains.
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Brass and Mixed Metals
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From light fixtures to plumbing and cabinet pulls, brass metals are making a huge entrance in the kitchen, says Spicher.
“Brass can make a statement and pop off a darker-stained cabinet,” she explains. “We’re also seeing homeowners use other metals such as matte black for the majority of their accent metals but using brass as the statement piece for a beautiful light fixture or focal point.”
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Touchless Features
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2020 was the year we all realized just how many surfaces we touch over the course of a day. As a result, you bet features like Moen’s Motionsense faucet lineup and similar touchless faucets are on the rise.
“These are hand-free faucets that just make sense in the name of not spreading potentially dangerous viruses, germs or bacteria,” Spicher explains.
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Home Bars
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There’s not been much bar-hopping during the pandemic, for obvious reasons. So, people have been creating their own home bars, says Bre Hance, principal designer and owner of Inhance Interiors, an interior design firm in Los Angeles.
“Both built-in and store-bought bars are a hot feature and a focal point in today's homes,” Hance says. “We are seeing this trend emerge in main rooms, such as living rooms and dining rooms.”
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Ceiling as the Fifth Wall
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Incorporating the ceiling into the design of the room is huge right now. Sheri Rose Riskind from Sheri Rose Designs suggests either painting it the same color as the walls or a different color.
Alternatively, you could wallpaper it with a pattern, or install wood paneling. Anything goes — this is the year to celebrate the “wall above.”
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Maximalism
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If you’re not into minimalism, go the other way! According to Riskind, pattern, color, texture, wallpaper and paneling are all huge right now. “You can’t do too much,” she says.
For a really on-trend effect, mix and match. But ultimately, there’s no right way to go!
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Natural and Organic
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“Organic and natural is here to stay,” says Hance. “We’re continuing to see the use of pampas and driftwood mixed with white and just a super neutral palette.”
Spicher agrees that homeowners want something new and fresh, and that’s apparent in the kitchen. So, it may be time to bid farewell to the white kitchen cabinets that have dominated for years. “Homeowners are now embracing natural touches in their home, and that makes way for natural or stained wood cabinets in the kitchen,” she says.
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Open Shelving
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Forget about hiding your kitchen dishes and supplies behind closed doors. Riskind suggests open shelving for easy access, and you can continue the trend through the rest of the house.
Open shelving in the family room and living rooms can show off accessories, collections and other decorative items.
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Black and Steel Grey
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Black and steel grey are hot right now, says Riskind. She suggests black for super stylish kitchens and bathrooms, and painting walls black in family rooms to create warmth and coziness.
If black is too much for you, go for dark gray.
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Global Travel Inspired
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Interior designer Michelle Harrison-McAllister, owner of Michelle Harrison Design in San Diego, California, describes rattan, wicker and natural wood tones as “the new grays.”
These natural materials add warmth and lightness. To create a vibe inspired by exotic places, she suggests using warmer tones and colors, such as golds and rusts, paired with vibrant blues.
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Vintage Treasures
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There’s nothing like one-off “treasure finds” to add charm and character to any space in your home. For Harrison-McAllister, they’re always a welcome addition to interior design trends.
She suggests using a vintage magazine rack as a nightstand or turning a piano bench made into a stool. And to embrace your own style, mix and match dining chairs.
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Letting the Sunshine In
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Creating a beautiful home isn’t just about what you have on the inside. “2021 is all about the natural sunlight filtering through our windows,” Harrison-McAllister says.
She recommends keeping your window coverings light with sheers or just side panels to frame the windows — and keep that warm light shining in your home.
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Texture, Texture, Texture
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On-trend style may look amazing, but a home isn’t a home without comfort. For Harrison-McAllister, it boils down to texture. Some of the luxury items people are adding to their homes include fabrics like chenille, pillows with tassels and thick silk area rugs. You can extend the texture love to your furniture pieces with shearling, adds Megan Dufresne, the founder of boutique interiors firm MC Design, which works throughout Southern California.
Painting is a lot of work, so leaving your walls neutral and focusing on textiles for colors is much easier. Replacing your area rug, throw pillows, blanket and window treatments is all you need for a really quick but effective home makeover.
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Herringbone Flooring
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To bring texture and dimension to an indoor space without overpowering it, consider herringbone flooring, says Dufresne.
“You can go as bold or subtle as you like, depending on the tone you opt for,” she says. “Either way, this trend is definitely an option to consider.”
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Decorative Room Partition Screens
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Room partition screens are a vintage staple making a big comeback in 2021. “They marry function and design in an easy and fun way,” Dufresne says.
And there are so many options in terms of material, color and pattern — ensuring your screen expresses your personality, without having to go to the effort of painting or making structural changes.
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Textured Walls
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Textured wallpaper is back with a vengeance this year.
Popular options make your room feel softer and more comfortable to be in, but it’s also a cost-saving way to create a realistic look with faux wood, stone, brick or concrete.
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Darker Bedrooms
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Interior design experts are observing a bedroom trend that’s dark and moody, as people turn their sleeping spaces into cocoons.
Try dark paints like Sherwin-Williams Urbane Bronze, paired with soft lighting.
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Calming Blues
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Shades of blue will never go out of fashion because blue is the perfect color to relax the mind.
This year, more than ever, we want our homes to be calming places. The most soothing blues are soft powder blues reminiscent of the sky and water.
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