Home decor trends come and go. Sometimes, there’s a good reason why certain styles become trendy, and sometimes, there’s not. But one thing is for certain in 2021: The COVID-19 pandemic will have a huge impact on how we change our decor.
You’ve spent more time at home. You’ve been working from home. Your kids are doing school from home. You feel safe at home. In other words, your home has become an even bigger part of your life, and most of the home decor trends of 2021 will reflect that. People want to turn their personal space into a place that’s both comfortable and functional.
Your home is — more than ever — your sanctuary. But it’s also your office, classroom, restaurant, and entertainment venue. Look for most of the trends for 2021 to be the result of a year-long pandemic that we’re learning how to cope with.
Bringing the Outdoors In
Adding more nature to our homes has been en vogue for several years now, but this year, you’ll see renters and homeowners taking it up a notch. If we can’t be outside as much as we like, bringing the outdoors in is the next best thing.
That starts with adding live plants and trees to your home. Studies have shown that certain plants — like the snake plant, money plant, gerbera daisies, spider plants, aloe vera, and the rubber plant — can help purify the air, and clean air is more important than ever. Adding edible plants is another big trend. The mini herb garden on your windowsill. The potted tomato and peppers on the patio. The hydroponic lettuce set-up in your kitchen. All of these items will go from fun hobbies to a part of your home decor.
In addition to actually bringing nature inside, you’ll find people using more tones found outdoors, like blues, greens, and browns. As a matter of fact, brown shades are on track to replace the overused grey trend that has been so popular for the last few years and even become the new neutral.
Beyond colors, you’ll find more people adding wallpaper that features plants, flowers, woodlands, tropics, and other outdoor settings. You’ll also see more exposed wood, flagstone, rocks, and bricks — something you’d normally see outside a home.
Enhancing the Outdoors
Those who have a yard or outdoor space will be making that space an extended part of their home sanctuary. Instead of going on vacation, you’ll see more people building swimming pools. Instead of going out to a cafe to cozy up with a book and a cup of coffee, people will create outdoor living areas with comfy weatherproof furniture. Outdoor kitchens will be big, as will gardens that are both functional and attractive. People are getting back to basics after watching the aisles of their grocery store empty during the early days of the pandemic. They’re growing their own food in the backyard. Porches, decks, and patios will see a makeover, especially as we move towards the summer months.
Evoking Nostalgia
Nostalgia will be a trend with many millennial renters and homeowners. Why? Their adulthoods have, so far, been marked by recessions, pandemics, and social and political unrest. They long for the 80s and 90s, their childhood when things seemed pretty good. For this reason, you’ll see them favoring the colors, styles, and accents their parents and grandparents had.
Cottagecore has been popular for a few years, and that will continue into 2021. Think Laura Ashley prints, romantic florals, and shabby chic furniture. This also coincides with many people’s desire to take up old-fashioned simple hobbies like gardening, raising chickens, baking their own bread, and crocheting.
“Grandmillennial” style is another trend you’ll see a lot of in 2021. While it shares some overlapping qualities with cottagecore, this style is essentially recreating your grandma’s home from your childhood but adding your own touch. It might incorporate floral wallpaper, crocheted throws, antiques, fine china, and wicker furniture. Beyond the desire to evoke nostalgia, grand millennial is inexpensive and eco-friendly, as it trends towards buying secondhand items and antiques.
Bringing Back Wallpaper
Wallpaper is making a comeback. This might be the main trend that isn’t pandemic-related. It has more to do with the fact that maximalism is making a comeback. Instead of solid-colored walls, people want panoramics, murals, botanicals, textures, and animal prints. But this isn’t your grandmother’s wallpaper. Today’s homeowners and renters want it made from natural and sustainable materials. Another big trend is peel and stick wallpaper. It works like contact paper and allows people, especially renters, to add their own personality to their space without a commitment — or losing a deposit.
Comforting Ourselves With Luxury
When the outside world isn’t so comfortable, we want to make up for it at home. That’s why comfort and indulgence will be popular trends in home decor this year. For many people, this means simply adding more personalized decor. After all, what’s comfortable for you may not be comfortable for someone else. But there will be some trends that will be universal.
Revamping your bedroom so that it feels like a sanctuary will be big. That means trading out your old bedding for something luxurious, adding smart mood lighting, and choosing calming colors like shades of blue.
Throughout the rest of the house, you’ll see more bright and happy colors, like yellow. Pale shades of yellow will replace neutrals, and brighter shades of yellow will pair well with all of that grey as you phase it out.
In the living room, chairs and sofas with rounded backs and arms will help you create a space that is cozy and inviting. The bathroom will become your brand new home spa.
Creating Flexible Spaces
Last but not least, you’ll see more people turning rooms in their homes into flex space. Essentially, these are rooms or parts of rooms that are multifunctional, as well as furniture that is multifunctional. This will be especially trendy with those who are working or learning from home for now or permanently.
This means turning that room into a space that is both an office and a guest room. Creating a classroom in the corner of your living room. Converting your basement into an office/classroom/gym combination. The possibilities are endless and will be largely based on your needs.
Whether you’re setting up a home office or experimenting with various styles of decor in 2021, CORT Furniture Rental can help. Instead of running out and spending money on furniture, you may not love or even need for the long term, rent it. Visit our website to find exactly what you want, and we’ll handle the rest, including setting it up and taking it back when you’re finished or want to try something new. We can help you stay on trend in 2021 while creating a home that is comfortable and functional enough to meet all of your post-pandemic needs.
