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Interior Design Trends
You don’t have to use them all. Or like any of them.
Trends in home decor are like trends in fashion. Just because the kids are wearing crop tops and 90s-inspired athleisure doesn’t mean you have to run out and grab a bright red FILA tracksuit if you’re more of a J. Crew gal. Some trends will speak to your personal style and work in your home, and others won’t. Take the ones you like and work them into your space to give it a fresh update.
The second one is: Instead of taking trends literally, look at them as a way to get you thinking about your space.
KITCHEN DECOR TRENDS FOR 2021
BYE-BYE UPPER CABINETS.
Until about 2018, upper cabinets in the kitchen just seemed like a given. You had a lower set of cabinets, and then an upper set.
Then, Instagram and Pinterest started swapping out upper cabinets for open shelving. And in 2021, you don’t need any shelving at all. Just wall space that you can use for art or windows or anything that isn’t storage.
PRIMITIVE KITCHEN TOOLS.
You’ve already probably noticed the abundance of rustic-looking bread boards, and wooden spoons and bowls strewn about countertops and open shelving all over the internet. Antique and primitive kitchen tools are actually a major trend that is only going to get bigger in 2021 as people embrace different ways to accessorize the kitchen.
DARK GREEN KITCHEN CABINETS.
Color has been creeping back into kitchens little by little over the last few years. It started with contrasting islands in all white-kitchens, or gray cabinets in lieu of white, and now cabinets are being drenched in saturated colors. While moody blues have been a big hit and will remain popular in 2020, the most of the moment shade is a dark green, a la this kitchen from House & Home. (And do you notice the little assemblage of primitive cutting boards?…)
WOOD-TONED KITCHEN CABINETS.
The other big kitchen cabinet design trend is the re-introduction of wood tones. Wood tones were a big no-no in the 2010s because we had PTSD from the bad wood cabinets of the early 2000s, but in the 2020s, they’re ba-aack. Except, the glazed, oak-y cabinets of 2005 are actually still out (and should be forever). They’ve been replaced with rough-hewn, rich, natural looking woods like in the photo above by California based Taylor + Taylor interior design. Wood grain cabinets are especially gorgeous paired with white marble counters and aged brass or bronze hardware.
BLACK COUNTERTOPS.
Keeping in line with the moodier kitchen designs, black stone countertops are also poised to become a big trend next year. You’ve probably already seen them popping up around Instagram, and I expect that to continue for the next few years.
THE LUXURY RANGE
Luxury ranges have always been a coveted item among professional chefs and gourmands, but now they’re a bona fide style statement, too. If you’ve got a whole lotta money to spend on your stove, a La Cornue or Lacanche range is a must-have.
PLASTER RANGE HOODS
Plaster or plaster-look range hoods emerged as a big trend in 2020, part of a turn toward more organic design forms all around the home, but particularly in the kitchen.
OVERSIZED ORGANIC POTTERY.
Again, this one’s super-specific, but it’s also everywhere. Big vessels and planters that look like they were handmade 100 years ago? So hip for 2021, and the answer to the tripod-style planters that were on-trend a few years back.
WEST COST COOL.
Also known as The Studio McGee look. This style, which mixes earthy neutrals with shades of green and blue, the rusticity of farmhouse style, and fresh traditional furnishings is the new farmhouse.
MAUVE.
Mauve hasn’t been this hot since your mom was a bridesmaid. Pale purply-pink is another hue that got its start in fashion and has crossed over into home decor.
SILVER ACCENTS.
Brass has been the it metal over the last decade, but shiny silver-toned metals are making a comeback. I think it’s because they pair beautifully and add nice contrast to all of the warmer-toned colors coming on the scene.
CANE & RATTAN
Rattan and cane have been having a moment for a couple of years now, but I’m betting they’ll be even bigger in 2021 and for years to come. It’s classic, and incredibly versatile because it can read traditional, coastal, bohemian, and modern all at once. Go check your favorite home decor retailer and you’ll probably see at least half-a-dozen cane or rattan options: chairs, beds, settees, stools, benches. It’s all over the house.
BOHO CHIC.
The boho look has been on the rise for years now, but I think it’s going to explode in 2021. For one, it’s been trending on Google, meaning more people are looking for boho-chic inspo. Plus, I think we’re all feeling the need to mix things up and try a bolder, brighter look for our homes in 2021. Think color, pattern and plants, people.
WARMED-UP NEUTRALS.
Cool gray tones are starting to feel dated in the way that “tan” walls feel like the year 2000. But warm gray walls? Now those are chic. Tones that border on warm taupe, gray-brown, or super pale warm grays are the newest neutral for walls.
OLIVE TREES.
Olive trees are the new fiddle leaf fig, and that’s all I have to say about that. (Except that I hope olive trees are easier to keep alive…).
COLORED MARBLE
Colored marble’s coming in hot. From Athena Calderone’s to-die-for pink marble bathroom design (above) that made the rounds on Instagram earlier this year, to smaller accent pieces made with black and green marble, we’re cracking open the full spectrum this year.
BRASS EVERYTHING.
Brass is still a big time trend, despite the fact that I also said polished silver and nickel are also trending. Brass is gorgeous, and pairs perfectly with marble for little cocktail tables, and in kitchen decor and so many other applications. The one thing I think that will happen to brass, though, is that it’s going to be more toned down in 2020 and in years to come. Think antique brass, not the yellow, shiny stuff from the past few year.