Last year saw many of us unexpectedly spending much more time in our homes, so it’s no wonder interior experts have been hard at work creating stylish schemes to keep us comfortable and contented indoors in 2021. From ‘well-being’ living rooms layered with texture to luxurious bedrooms bursting with Art Deco design, we’ve rounded up the hottest trends for the home as we start a new year and a new chapter. Click or scroll through and prepare to be inspired…
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Seascape colors
The Benjamin Moore Color of the Year 2021 is Aegean Teal. This soothing blue is said to celebrate the simple pleasures that make your home feel even more like home. Part of the sunbaked Color Trends 2021 palette, it demonstrates that wall colors are finally moving away from the pared-back neutrals and whites that we’ve been used to in recent times, and transitioning to warmer and more comforting tones.
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Gray gardens
Gray has been a mainstay in interiors and this year we’re going to see this trend appearing in yards too. Think gray garden furniture and raised planters paired with complementary leafy green plants. Orange or purple lavender blooms add just the right hit of color.
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Broken-plan flooring
Open-plan living as we know it is being given a design twist by defining areas with broken-plan flooring. It uses wood flooring to border or complement sections of statement tiles. This practical and attractive layout retains an airy sense of space, yet zones and highlights dining areas, hot desks or living spaces for a multifunctional and inviting feel.
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Pocket doors
If there’s anything 2020 has taught us, as we’ve been largely confined to our homes, it’s that space is paramount. With that in mind, this year will see space-saving features sliding into our interiors. Pocket doors are one such feature, as they recess into a compartment in an adjacent wall, making them perfect for small spaces.
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Strong contrast
Since its birth in the 1920s, has our love for Art Deco ever really left? This year it’s all about making those curved edges the star of the show. Velvet upholstered furniture in colorful tones continues to be a hero feature, like this bed with a luxuriously padded pink headboard. Doesn’t it look divine set against the moody gray, color-blocked wall? Team with contrasting furniture to define the look.
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Global influence
A frustrated traveler’s paradise; this is a trend that looks to distant lands and hones in on safari style, bold textures and exotic wildlife. Capture the global atmosphere with earthy tones and lots of natural wood. Then hang fabrics on walls and add in wild animal motifs.
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Wall murals
What better way to reimagine traditional wallpaper this year than by embracing a mural wall that will bring a room to life? Graham & Brown’s Wallpaper of the Year 2021 Timepiece Amethyst is a masterpiece. With oversized floral blooms embedded within a geometric diamond pattern, it is rich in both design and color.
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Home office heaven
Whether you have a dedicated study or have cleverly carved a zone out of an existing room, home office décor skyrocketed last year. And, it is set to stay a priority as many of us continue to work from home this year too. More thought is going into workspaces by combining aesthetics with productivity. Stylish storage, inspirational art and complementary color palettes will inspire.
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Period paneling
Wainscoting, moldings and panels will continue to adorn our walls as people look for practical and cost-effective décor that won’t date. The versatile 3D finish looks sophisticated in both contemporary and traditional homes and makes an alternative option to highlight two-tone paint schemes when mounted mid-height.
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Bold traditions
This confident decorating story embraces color and pattern with a traditional twist. Using a color palette of rich green, deep blue and saffron, vintage patterns add an exciting and eclectic clash. There is hardly a plain surface in sight in this busy period-inspired living room!
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Pure & simple
Simplify your life with an edited room scheme that’s refreshing and uplifting. This look explores our well-being and sustainable style. Go for pale backdrops, useful furniture made from natural materials and long-lasting and good quality accessories. Finish with purifying plants to bring the outside in.
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Fancy floral wallpaper
Wallpaper is having a revolution and is every bit busy and eccentric in pattern and color. Feature walls remain the focus so make your style statement with large botanical designs and bold tones that embrace the maximalist 70s era.
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Beige is back
The experts at Dulux have chosen warm earthy tone Brave Ground as their Color of the Year 2021. The shade is said to reconnect us with nature by creating a feeling of stability. The “natural neutral” works in harmony with so many other leading trends such as cozy wood, wicker and organic soft furnishings.
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Artisan chic
This is a soft and handcrafted look that leans on the Arts and Crafts movement. Earthy hues and natural materials create a calming and relaxed feel. Texture is introduced with tufted textiles, cane, rattan and unrefined ceramics.
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Light tropics
Jungle fever is still running high in 2021, but this look celebrates a more ‘spring infused’ natural world. Think subtle banana leaf prints, pops of coral and fun wild animal motifs for a bright and sophisticated tropical feel.
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New shabby chic
Don’t worry there is no need to start distressing every piece of painted furniture you have. Yes, the shabby chic look is back but this time the story is more boho chic with a ‘less is more’ mantra. Lose the frills, then add in eclectic minimalism using vintage finds and well-loved farmhouse furniture.
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Garden rooms
As we spent so much time at home last year, new ways to create space are being explored. Whether it’s for a home gym, playroom or garden office, standalone outdoor structures that blend in beautifully with their environment are set to pop up in backyards everywhere.
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Wild gardens
At the other end of the scale is the perfectly manicured gray yard. The ‘wild’ or nature garden is the ideal sanctuary for wildlife, such as butterflies and insects. Fill with wildflowers and allow them to grow tall for a beautifully wild appearance that will bring all the bees to your yard.
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Texture, texture, texture
Texture continues to be a key element this year, but as well as using it on upholstery and soft furnishings, walls are taking a turn too, from paneling, shiplap and grainy wood to raw plaster and exposed brickwork.
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Cottagecore
What with the daily commute on hold and house sales to rural areas on the rise, a trend that celebrates all things country is exploding into our homes. The term cottagecore is about homely and wholesome style that allows us to reconnect with nostalgic activities such as baking, crafting and grow-your-own. Think cozy country style, vintage furniture and fabrics with pretty patterns and folklore prints.
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Outdoor firepits
We spent more time in our yards last year than possibly ever before as we abided by social distancing rules. And while summertime alfresco socials were lovely, sales of firepits have rocketed as the temperature tumbles. This year we’re set to see more firepits and indoor-outdoor spaces as we continue using our yards as an extension of our homes.
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Green spaces
As we continue to bring the outdoors in, houseplants are expected to keep on growing in presence in our homes. From sets of tiny succulents to oversized leafy statement plants; real or faux foliage will add a touch of calm and color to decorating schemes.
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Bauhaus style
Arched shapes in bold colors inspired by the Bauhaus movement create a perfect geometric match for timeless mid-century-style furniture. Shades of butterscotch, navy blue and ochre make a warming complement to this easy-going style.
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Outside living
It’s no surprise that outdoor living areas are set to be big this year. From cozy inside-outside corners with stylish seating to mini outdoor kitchen areas with shelving that wouldn’t look out of place indoors, 2021 will see our homes continue to spill outside into our yards.
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Bouclé upholstery
With texture being the buzzword for so long, new upholstery weaves that are set to give 2020s velvet a run for its money. First up is bouclé, which translates from the French language to ‘loop’. It is soft and cozy yet hardwearing. The curled yarn finish has a fuzzy sheepskin appeal so looks perfect in chalky white and cream tones. Close on bouclé’s heels is corduroy. Closer in texture to velvet, the tufted cord has a soft, silky striped finish.
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Social hot spots
As it’s been advised to spend more time outside in this uncertain period, creating intimate spaces to relax alfresco will be high on our yard or balcony wishlists. Add a chic bistro table to your patio and cocoon with lush greenery and a set of outdoor storage shelves for privacy.
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Modern deco
As mentioned earlier, we’re still obsessed with Art Deco shapes this year in all their beautiful, curvaceous forms. For this look, the timeless trend has been adapted and updated using mid-century shapes and a cool 1970s retro vibe. Lustrous furniture, opulent accessories and rich color palettes exude luxury.
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Hashtag home
Here’s a comforting, Instagram-friendly and easy-to-create trend that looks to small space solutions, apartment-style living and a happy-go-lucky color scheme. Graphic art adds interest while clever convertible furniture helps to make use of compact rooms that may be needed for other uses as we spend more and more time at home.
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Grow at home
Empty supermarket shelves and the foraged food cooking craze has seen an increase in grow-your-own gardening ideas. Patios and flowerbeds are transforming into kitchen gardens and vegetable plots in our outdoor spaces. Whether it’s the addition of a pretty potting table or urban outdoor herb shelves, our gardens will become much more useful this year.
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