Top Interior Design Trends in 2021

After chatting with 20+ interior designers, I am excited to share a few 2021 design trends. From granny chic to bidets, the trends are certainly an ode to the times we live in. Comfort and convenience seem to be on everyone’s mind.

Top Design Trends

Here are a few design trends from Lisa Queen, founder and principal designer at Lisa Queen Design:

1. Updated, refreshed, granny chic, ie. the “grand millennial” — There’s a bit of a movement happening with people in their 20s and 30s toward this style. It is often referred to as granny chic but is in no way stodgy or stuffy. Young people are adopting an appreciation for nostalgia into contemporary life by using antique furniture, floral patterns, wallpaper, and skirting, to give a few examples. I love this trend. While nostalgic, it feels very thoughtful and forward-thinking — breaking the millennial mold — and utterly chic!
2. Kitschy and Colorful — I described this one to a friend, and she immediately said it sounds very 70s mod! Brands like Coming Soon NY (featured in February’s issue of AD) embody this style. Bold and bright colors, often neons, some pastels in the form of milk glass, enamel, and retro patterns like an irregular checkerboard, hints at this growing trend. I often see white spaces adorned with this type of decor. We might even see some brave designers choose a wall-to-wall carpet in retro colors! This style is also nostalgic of 70s Scandinavian interior design.

Interior Design: Courtney Sempliner Design // Photo: Kyle J Caldwell

I also heard from Courtney Sempliner, founder of Courtney Sempliner Designs. Below are some of the trends she’s currently excited about and how readers can incorporate the trends into their homes:

1. Comfort. Just as fashion has been impacted by the pandemic (hello athleisure-wear), so has home design. Our homes, particularly our living spaces where we come to unwind, are taking a sharp turn towards relaxation — think cozy fabrics, soft lines, and maximum comfort.
2. We are bringing the outside in. With the pandemic limiting our time outside, we see the outside being brought into our living spaces more and more via various methods. While indoor plants will continue to grow in popularity, many will seek to integrate natural materials such as rattan furniture, woven window shades, and grasscloth wallpaper to create a soft, soothing, and texturally rich interior.
3. Saturated colors. Bold colors will continue to infuse living rooms with dramatic mood, whether it be through upholstery, paint, or accessories — or all of the above. Gone are the blank canvas, all-white rooms of the past. People are now looking to infuse personality via dramatic and often monochromatic color combinations.

2021 Color Trends

To discover interior color trends, I heard from Jennifer Guerin, owner of JG Color Studios. She is an interior designer and color expert who has over a decade of experience in creating, designing, and consulting. Jennifer is also one of the few select certified color consultants in the country.

When asked what her favorite interior color picks for 2021 were, Jennifer says, “I like Brazilian Rainforest by Benjamin Moore, Full Gloss Loggia 232 by Farrow and Ball, and Midnight Haze de 5818 by Dunn Edwards. The best interior colors have a complex mix of pigments that trick the eye during different times of day to wonder what color it really is. They become chameleons, rock stars & foundation hues all at the same time. All of the hues I mentioned have more life and depth than the traditional and usual suspects of modern charcoals, black hues or shades of white.” As for where to best use these colors throughout the home, Jennifer explains, “Brazilian Rainforest & Midnight Haze are great for adding a touch of the unexpected on a credenza, dresser, or even kitchen island. I love these colors on lower cabinets in a kitchen or vanity. We have even used Midnight Haze on all the walls in the bedroom and powder bath. For the Full Gloss Loggia, a little goes a long way with these warmer tones. Bedrooms shine with an accent wall in this color, or you can bring on your appetite by placing this in your dining room or for a little softness in your office.”

2021 Eco-Friendly Design Trend

I would be remiss without discussing eco-friendly design ideas. To get a better idea of what is trending in this space, I spoke with Sarah Bowen from Spruce Up.

According to Sarah, homeowners are opting to add more warmth to their décor. In place of the cool and minimalistic aesthetic, she is seeing an increase in earthy, natural colors and unique handmade pieces. Indoor and outdoor plant sales are still increasing, with medicinal plants such as the Echinacea becoming more and more popular.

In addition to a preference for a cozy interior, layers are going to be huge in 2021. Sarah shares how unique handmade pieces are a perfect way to add texture to the living room or bedroom to achieve this.

Courtesy of Marca Corona

While I loved hearing from everyone, the most exciting design trend I learned about is the Japandi style. According to Ash Read, Founder of Living Cozy, “Japandi style is a design trend that’s popular in 2021 and perfect for almost any space. Japandi is a hybrid of Japanese and Scandinavian aesthetics — it combines minimalism and functional design with warm and calming touches to create a super cozy atmosphere. When it comes to implementing the Japandi aesthetic at home, think wood and natural elements and soft, calming tones such as beige, pale green and blue and light gray.”

If you are looking to spruce up your home decor, I recommend learning more from any of the designers mentioned above.