Reinvent and Refresh your space! 2020 is over and it's time for a change.
Any house can look like a home, but the personalized style and the love that grows inside is what makes the house a true home.
Some home design elements seem so brilliant that we hope they last forever. Some people can say this about minimalist living rooms, all white kitchens, farmhouse decor, whitewash, or maybe even wallpaper; and they would be wrong! 2020 was a year filled with uncertainty due to the shutdowns and restrictions happening all over the world, and this means that every person was being required to spend a majority of their year indoors. We all had to adapt and overcome the obstacles that followed, which included recreating our indoor spaces to fit our immediate needs, but potentially for an extended period of time. A significant portion of all of our daily activities was forced to retreat to our homes, meaning that accommodations for home office space for work as well as a homeschooling space for children. Some families chose to make a gym at home to keep up their health and fitness regimes, and even added personalized nooks and spaces they can escape to just to 'get away'. Research and experts have collaborated to provide insight on outdated interior and exterior design trends and help families organize and edit their home styles to fit a post-pandemic lifestyle.
INTERIOR TRENDS;
In home designing, colors are everything. In 2020, the color of the year was a Classic Blue and dark neutrals set the tone for an appropriately fitting time. This year, yellows and greys are dominating the market.
A home design fad that has established itself strongly over the years in kicking out the idea of designing according to one specific time period/ style. Contemporary and modern trends suggest that incorporating a blend of various periods and styles is functional and produces a layered, influential, effortless look that's easy to maintain and swap out as time goes on.
Another home design fad that we are leaving in 2020 is the glamourized Rose Gold. Metallics are a creative way to make any space look elegant and classy, especially coppers, golds, and silvers; but Rose Gold is a color that has become difficult to coordinate the rest of the room to. Rose Gold pairs well with whites, greys, and even navy blue. However, with 2021 encouraging bringing back warmth and hope and positivity back into the home, Rose Gold just doesn't seem to fit anymore.
Maximalism is bulldozing its way into the interior design world! What began as a reaction to the minimalist movement and has aspects and elements that are practically the polar opposite to minimalist components. White walls, minimally decorated walls, and quiet color palettes are a no-go for maximalism. When it comes to decor, the bigger, brighter, and busier the better. Think precious photographs, prized collections, and eclectic furniture, which you may have acquired over time, often in a rainbow of colors, textures, and styles. Rather than displaying one or two of these aspects, this style takes and utilizes all of them. What was once a category of music, visual art, and literature has now expanded into the world of interior design. A common misconception is that maximalism encourages hoarding items and overstuffing rooms. While it embraces the idea of excess, it's not in the way you might think. It promotes repetition, patterns, bold palettes, intricate graphic details, and one-of-a-kind possessions. Maximalism is a loud style composed of mixed patterns, excessive, but curated collections, and saturated colors.
The trend of maximalism has bled into 2020 seamlessly due to the necessity of livable luxury in multipurpose rooms. As mentioned above, oen compromise many homes have had to make since the pandemic is creating a stylish yet functional use of small or limited spaces. This includes creating rooms with multiple functions in it. This can create mental unrest or the inability to relax or even focus at times. One solution to creating distance or space in a home is creating a nook in your home. What is a nook, exactly? It is a small corner, alcove, or recess, especially one in a large room, that can be considered a "sacred space". It can be for reading, sleeping, listening to music, watching netflix on your phone, writing, or just relaxing in general. Creating a little nook in your home is a creative and inventive way to compartmentalize and separate work, from school, from living space, from play space, and from where you sleep. Adding soft and comfortable elements to your space, with a mixture of textures – linen and wool on sofas and armchairs and warm wood tables – combine to make a comfortable place to relax.
One timeless trend is the inclusion of plants and nature into the home. Adding plants to your bookcases, shelves, tabletops and mantles is an effortless way to bring a new energy into your space. Plants are also an easy answer to hard-to-style sections of any home as well. If you’re limited on space, hanging plants are the perfect solution. A dramatic draping plant like ivy or fern is ideal for these spaces. I highly recommend a plant that hangs over the planter for a more texturized look. Having plants of various heights adds depth and texture to a home, and ceramic, woven, clay, wooden, or plastic planters all affect the interior design styles as well. Adding a living element into your space transforms the whole vibe of the room. Studies have shown that keeping living plants indoors; boosts mood, productivity, creativity, and even concentration, helps clean indoor air by absorbing toxins, increasing humidity & producing oxygen, reduces your stress, fatigue, sore throats and colds, and is even seen as therapeutic.
More subtle interior design elements that play into the maximalization of a home includes ceramic vases and art, decorative boxes, colorful and artsy throw pillows and blankets, durable fabrics in the home as far as furniture/ curtains/ rugs go, and more glasswork/ transparency. Going for a rustic vogue, sophisticated cottage look with exposed beams and original floors is going to give the home a modern, vintage look that will be transformative and easy to adapt as new trends arise.
EXTERIOR TRENDS;
Regardless if you are prepping to sell your home or are preparing to purchase one, the exterior of your home often reflects the overall style of the house and the family that lives there, so it sets the pace for the rest of your space. Curb appeal for the home is just as important as the interior design because whether we want to believe it or not, aesthetic matters!
The primary purpose of your home's siding is to protect the home, along with foundation and contents within it. It protects the home from rain, snow, wind, and any other strong weather elements. When it is colder, a well installed siding can protect the interior of the home from the cold weather outside.
The most durable and low- maintenance exterior siding is any type of modified/ engineered wood siding. There are plenty of options regarding the color and design layout of this kind of material- especially using warm, earth toned siding accented with black hued beams, window trims, door trims, and porch banisters.
One trend in 2021 that is seeing growth is the rise in textures. Both inside and outside, utilizing materials such as shiplap, board and batten, shake shingles, polished plaster, marble, silk, ect., makes any accent wall or exterior elements have more character.
A huge trend that I don't predict is going away anytime soon is the desire for windows! Bright and airy interiors are in, and adding more or taller windows dramatically modernizes the home. Mirrors and transparency within in the home are nicely reflected with the transparency on the exterior as well.
In 2021, we swap curved lines for straight lines and have interesting architectural doors. Arched windows and lines had their time to shine in the 90's and 2000's, however, straight-lined exterior features are the updated trend every home needs. Also, adding a wider-framed door or a door with natural light is becoming popular as well. Especially neutral colored doors in a wood tone or iron with unique designs that showcase the personality of the home and the people in it.
Utilizing durable, dependable, low maintenance materials both inside and outside are going to be more cost-effective over time. One example is the use of river rock over mulch for the landscaping. Mulch can combust spontaneously, and though it's initial cost of installation is cheaper, river rock is easier to clean and will not need to be replaced over time unless the owner decides to change it.
