As we look ahead to what’s coming up in 2021, the irony isn’t lost on me that the interior trends we’ve fallen in love with have an ounce of nostalgia wrapped in them. Spending more time at home has many of us yearning for cosiness and practicality, as well as carefully curated pieces that make us feel at home. After quite the year, many of us are taking a check on our surroundings and are thinking about how we design a space that inspires our creativity, and ultimately allows us to balance work, life, and school seamlessly (if that’s even possible?)
The uniqueness wrapped around 2021 trends has us smitten by the elegance and romanticism of rural living while keeping functional space alive as we lean towards a from home, at home culture.
Imagine waking up in a bed with a four-poster metal frame, with flowers and vines wrapped around it. Your living room has soft furnishings with natural elements such as dried and fresh flowers, while in your dining room there’s a reclaimed wooden table where you’d usually sit for afternoon tea and an accent wall with whimsical floral wallpaper. In the corner sits a cabinet filled with patterned china tableware, typically accompanied by a stunning vintage teapot.
Cottagecore interior is a trend that, unsurprisingly, began to shoot up late last year as the countryside became a place we fantasised running away to and, oh to get away from it all. Aesthetically, Cottagecore celebrates a simpler way of living and looks to traditional interiors from the English countryside combined with hints of luxe couture. The natural decorative pieces that you would find on a walk (or foraging, if that’s your thing), warm and neutral tones and metal furnishing makes Cottagecore timeless and adaptable. As an interior style, Cottagecore continues to evolve and change, meaning you can mix it up with contemporary pieces and make it work for you without having to compromise on old or new.
Did someone say Wedgewood? 2021 is the year taking your grandparents’ advice, and style has become trendy. They told us never to throw anything away, and now we’re listening. Grandmillenial, aka granny chic decor, is on the rise and looks to evokes the feeling of home, with much of those cosy aesthetics coming from what you would find in your grandmother’s house. The Grandmillenial style is one that’s wonderfully versatile and can make your own; the trend welcomes all, from a bright to dark colour palette, maximalist to minimalist decor. Plus, those blankets you’ve been knitting make for a perfect addition to a home embracing the Grandmillenial look.
It can be easy to get carried away when the oyster is all yours, but if you are a fan of Grandmillenial then you’ll be pleased to know that ‘too much’ didn’t make it in the dictionary. Personally, I think it’s time we go all-in on the vintage wallpaper, chinoiserie prints, paisley throws, tassels, and fringes.
Just as I was ready to close the book on grey, Pantone announced their colours of the year (Ultimate Gray and Illuminating Yellow). Typical. But if like me, you’re ready to move away from the monochrome look, you’ll be pleased to hear dark hues are making a statement. Bringing that edge of personality into our homes that can often be lost in whites and greys.
A personal favourite is Duck Green by Farrow & Ball, whether as an accent wall in your bedroom or coated all over in your living room, its earthy tone and calmness makes it the perfect shade for any room. A stylist’s note: Dark hues working only in spacious rooms is a myth, they work wonders in adding depth to enclosed spaces. This is a trend I’m here for, and I hope it lasts way beyond 2021.
Gratitude to the outdoors has been on the list of many from what we’ve learned and appreciated over the last year. The short walks that turn into hours; the catching of the sunset or rise; sitting on a bench looking out across a park. The naturalistic interior design looks to bring natural materials and elements into our homes with sustainability echoed throughout, and I couldn’t be happier.
Wicker and rattan furniture are being used in our indoor living space; from nature-inspired chairs to rattan oak sideboards. Indoor plants have been stealing the show with more people devoting time to becoming green-fingered. Bringing the outside in is a trend we’re getting behind, and one we can turn to our Scandinavian neighbours for whenever we’re in need of some home inspiration. Dry foliage – think curly moss, wheatgrass, and babala – can be used for a more sophisticated look when styling console tables with elegant candles and lanterns, or placed on top of a coffee table with some beautiful books.
We’ve had to think on our feet and rework our living spaces, becoming something other than what we thought we would use it for. Some have had to turn their homes into a school, others the backroom into an office or (as in my case) a dog grooming salon. There’s no escaping the fact that we’ve had to make pretty big sacrifices to adapt, manoeuvre, and reshape the way to live to suit today’s climate. As with all constraints, these changes have inspired creative ideas on how we can make the best use of our spaces in the most effective – and affordable – way.
With entire companies being run from the cupboard under the stairs to the utility room becoming a salon, the resilience of people is astounding. Although this was a trend born out of necessity, there are many advantages of multifunctional furniture and it would seem that it has become quite popular with people wanting to make it a key feature of their home, including multipurpose office desks and fold-out workspaces.
Photo credits: 1. Hill House Vintage 2. Amy Barry 3. Home & Garden 5. Emily Henderson 6. Historiskahem
Our guide on how mix patterns when using fabrics and wallpaper for interior styles such as shabby chic like an interior design.
Obsessed with the serene aesthetic of Japandi interiors? Then, these are our favourite accounts you won't want to scroll past.
From jungle to bold shapes, choose a wallpaper design that sparks your child's imagination and will grow with them.
