5 Design Trends to Say Goodbye to in 2021
Plus, a few styles to say hello to instead in the New Year.
Each person’s home style is unique — and that’s the way it should be.
Your home is a reflection of you, and it should be a place that brings you joy. On the other hand, all trends are subject to change over time, particularly in 2020, when many people forged a new relationship with their home. This included everything from scrambling to come up with a workable home office space to embarking on a series of DIY projects after being forced to spend more time staring at your own four walls — and noticing everything you want to alter about them.
So if you’re down for some changes, here are a few trends local experts say are destined to be left behind in 2020 — and a few that we see taking shape in 2021.
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Farmhouse Decor
With the greatest apologies to Joanna Gaines! When the doyenne of shiplap debuted “Fixer Upper” on HGTV in 2013, she ushered in with it a new era of rustic charm — and oversized wall clocks.
Although “Fixer Upper” has been off the airways since 2017 (R.I.P), the styles Gaines popularized during her years on the show have only recently begun to fade.
Amanda Bock, owner of Pittsburgh-based 412 Design Co. — which specializes in E-design — says the rustic elements Gaines favored (think barn doors and wrought iron touches) are now morphing into a more modern traditional aesthetic.
If you want to go for that transitional (i.e., a mix of traditional and modern) look, Bock suggests opting for darker woods in lieu of the whitewashed, rustic elements.
P.S. If you’re hankering for more Joanna Gaines, and miss the goofy antics of her husband, Chip, the couple is starring in a “Fixer Upper: Welcome Home” reboot on their all-new Magnolia Network in early 2021. We can’t wait to see what Joanna (and OK sure, Chip) comes up with next.
PPG PAINTS CHOSE A PALETTE OF WARM NEUTRALS AS ITS COLORS OF THE YEAR FOR 2021. PICTURED HERE IS TRANSCEND, A MID-TONE, OATMEAL-COLORED HUE.
Gray Walls
Gray walls have been popular since 2008 — and it’s easy to see why. The neutral color is like the little black dress of the paint world — it pairs with everything.
And while grey probably won’t be going completely away any time soon, that cold gray-on-gray or white aesthetic (reminiscent of the Pittsburgh sky, only indoors) is definitely going by the wayside. Instead, there’s been a shift to warm neutrals well as bold jewel tones. Bock says she also sees the “all neutral” palette taking a backseat to muted, less-saturated color schemes.
A BOLD BLUE KITCHEN BY MOLLY SINGER DESIGN. PHOTO BY MAYABEE DESIGN & PHOTOGRAPHY
White Kitchens
Although white kitchens are another classic, natural wood elements are enjoying a bit of a comeback. This includes subtle-grained ash and (gasp!) warm-toned oak cabinets, as recently seen on an episode of HGTV’s “Property Brothers: Forever Home.”
The key to keeping it in 2021 and not 1991? Make sure the material has clean lines and contemporary finishes.
Deep greens and blues also can create a warm mood in the kitchen. Designer Molly Singer — who recently opened a new design studio and retail shop in Blawnox — says these hues can add bright pops of color to spaces.
“It’s a lot more fun,” she says. “I think that the way the colors are being used now, it’s all very timeless.”
If you don’t want to fully commit to colored or wood cabinetry, it’s OK to take baby steps. Consider adding them to lower cabinets or the kitchen island only for an on-trend, two-tone look.
BLACK CHERRY DESIGN OWNER LAUREN PIASECKI TRANSFORMED HER UNDER UTILIZED SUNROOM INTO A HOME OFFICE DURING THE STAY-AT-HOME ORDERS
Open Floor Plans
You can blame the COVID-19 pandemic directly for this one. Open-concept spaces have been in-demand for years, but once the stay-at-home orders hit — and people scrambled to find private spaces to conduct Zoom meetings — a combined kitchen, great room and playroom didn’t seem quite so appealing.
Indeed, Jungalow founder Justina Blakeney recently told Forbes magazine that rooms with doors, windows and some privacy will become more standard features in the coming years.
“Now that we have had a taste of what it is like to work from home, while a partner is doing the same, or a child is attending school via zoom at the same time, open floor plans aren’t as attractive as they used to be,” she says.
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Bye-bye to BoHo
This one hurts a little. Although it was hard to go on Instagram and not see a ubiquitous white woven chair swinging from a tastefully bohemian playroom, Bock says she expects to see fewer boho elements, such as macrame wall hangings and planter hangers, in 2021.
Instead, as designer Brady Tolbert told The Spruce, consider replacing the hanging swing with a clean-lined option such as a leather sling chair.
