When it comes to design trends, it seems everyone’s got an opinion. And these days, nobody’s shy about sharing their thoughts. It can be completely overwhelming to sort through all the experiences, thoughts, and feelings of each Tom, Dick, and Harriet on the internet when all you’re trying to do is pick out cool bath tiles. That’s why I like to go straight to the home décor trend experts when I’m mulling a new design choice or purchase.
To help ease your search – and keep you from opinion overload – we rounded up the top tips and ideas for 2021 home décor styles and decorating trends from design leaders around the world wide web. These blogs and bloggers have certainly proved their staying power – and their design trend forecasting prowess.
Downsizing With Style – Young House Love
Two of the best design, trend, and do-it-yourself (DIY) bloggers on the block, Sherry and John from Young House Love, harnessed a major movement among millennials over the past year: downsizing. They transitioned from a 3,200-square-foot house to a 1400-square-foot one and became big fans of, you guessed it, quality storage solutions along the way.
On their blog, they offer a ton of DIY and typically low-cost advice on how to add high-impact improvements to all sorts of living spaces – even (and especially!) if they have become quite a bit smaller. If you’re a fan of cozy outdoor living, check out their recent backyard fence and firepit upgrade, for instance.
As Sherry writes, “We hang out here and make s’mores at least once a week (and sometimes a lot more than that), so it has been a very welcome addition. Especially during a time when everyone is spending A LOT of time at home, so something novel and new like this bonus hangout zone feels extra special We even made s’mores for dessert on Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve, so it’s quickly becoming quite the family tradition.”
A new outdoor living space and s’mores!? Sounds pretty good to me! (However, please remember to check if your town or city has an ordinance against burning wood before you zip to the store to buy a firepit.) And check out our recent article, Hygge Times: How to Hygge Your Outdoor Space for Winter and Beyond for more tips on how to make the most of your exterior areas.
Rich and Cool Colors – Style by Emily Henderson
When it comes to home décor styles, colors are always a dead giveaway that something is desperately in style – or desperately without hope. It’s amazing how much a color can tell you about the origin or age of an object or design trend. Luckily, colors are among the easiest things to update. It can be quickly and relatively cheaply accomplished even in a rental.
The design blogger Jess Bunge at Style by Emily Henderson predicts that blue-toned pastels will join cool mint as a key color in 2021 and be offset by rich, chocolatey browns and other variations on everyone’s favorite earth tone. She writes, “[Pastel] blue really elevates the space while still keeping the vibe soft and neutral.”
As for the browns, it looks like they’re here – and they’re here to stay – in a few different ways.
“Rich, bold brown is here and I think it will be one of the biggest trends of 2021,” Bunge writes. “Already a ton of big-box retailers are incorporating brown into their more modern designs… So while we think that the rich, chocolatey browns are what will really hit, there are a ton of variations that have been popping up [such as] a wonderful light gray-brown on the walls that when paired with rich warm tones like the gold, pink, and warmer browns really adds a beautiful depth to the space that doesn’t feel depressing in the least (which can happen with gray-browns).”
Brownies and the blues? Sounds like a great combination.
Working from Home | Justina Blakeney
Justina Blakeney is the amazing farmhouse / bohemian/tropical designer behind Jungalow (and a recent line of home goods at Target). If there’s one thing this working mom knows, it’s working from home. In a recent blog post about a home refresh with pieces from that line, she writes about the importance of a home office refresh and gives tips on how to do it quickly and cheaply:
“I like to use rugs to delineate the office ‘zone.’ That way, even if your office is in the dining room or the bedroom, the rug creates a visual boundary that marks the area. Utilizing wall space for storage can also help define the ‘work zone.’ Floating shelves provide added surface area, a place to keep those new plantastic officemates, and visually signal to our brains that we are entering a work space when we see our supplies (pens, pencils, notebooks, calendars, etc.) on display. A soothing wall color can also do wonders for focus! It’s another way to define your workspace from the rest of the house. And office spaces don’t need to feel ‘officey’ or clinical – especially not when they’re in your home. They can be fun and cozy and reflect your personality!”
With more and more of us continuing the “working from home trend” well into 2021, and perhaps even beyond, souped-up WFH offices are definitely a décor style that’s here to stay. Invest what you need to in order to stay productive and keep your sanity.
Better Bedrooms | Apartment Therapy
Of course, you can’t do a round-up of design trend experts without including Apartment Therapy – the big Kahuna of the field. In fact, they’ve got so many articles on 2021 design trends, you’ll need a cup of coffee – or two – to get through them all.
So, let’s start small: bedrooms. In their post,8 Décor Trends You Need to Know Now for a Better Bedroom, According to Designers, they quote designer Jeanine Hays as saying, “The bedroom is really becoming the ultimate sanctuary. We’re going to see spaces that are more like hotel rooms, focused on luxury, sumptuous materials and quality pieces that will last for a long time.”
As far as home décor styles go, the article mentions that texture, whitewashed (or “cerused”) wood, patterns, earth tones and soft shades, and bold yet thoughtful lighting are all deeply on trend for 2021.
Also, making a comeback? Traditional materials and styles. According to Shea McGee, star of Netflix’s Dream Home Makeover, “Standbys that were big in the ’90s like wicker and rattan are back, but they’re being reimagined with modern shapes and updated styling.”
Might be time to visit your CubeSmart self-storage unit to see if you’ve got some pieces that fit the bill. Looks like your mom was right: if you wait long enough, anything truly does come back in style. Upcycling for the win!
Mixing It Up | Chris Loves Julia
Chris Loves Julia is another one of the longest-running (and best) design trends and decorating blogs on the Internet. In a recent piece, The 2021 Interior Design Trends to Get Excited About!, they write about mixing materials, metals, and woods within your space.
“Light wood has reigned supreme for a while now. From flooring to furniture–wood has been bleached to death. But now, we’re going to start seeing a lot more mid to dark wood tones, rich in color! (I’m going to say the same is true for leather furniture!) Feel free to mix these richer wood tones in with what you already have! Mixing wood tones is encouraged. Wood isn’t just for furniture or floors either, I predict we’ll be seeing a lot more wood tones in walls, ceilings and cabinetry!”
As for the metals and materials, they write: “Mixed metals are always a good idea, but mixed materials are trending, too! Wood with stone and brick and marble all in one kitchen – go for it! Start adapting this idea in your home by trying to mix wood tones, with marble accents and some brass and natural stone (can be a vase or planter!) all in the same room.”
What’s appealing about the idea of mixing materials and metals is that it’s so forgiving! Gone are the days when we have to worry that the stainless steel microwave doesn’t match the copper tea kettle. Swing by your storage unit to swap out some of the matchy-matchy design pieces in your house, and add a little more texture and interest with variety.
2021 has a lot of potential, but the home décor styles from the experts seem to be playing it pretty safe and pretty close to home. There aren’t any wild, space-aged designs or stark, modernist edges. Everything is very nature-oriented. Very humane. I can get behind that strategy!
We are still coming out of the woods, and it feels right to refresh our spaces with a down-to-earth design strategy to match. The ideas of muted colors, dark or honey-colored woods, marble, and lush, green plants are all right up my alley.
How are you planning to refresh your space in 2021? Are there are design trends you’re particularly looking forward to trying out? Let us know in the comments or on social media (@cubesmart). We’d love to know what you’re up to, and how you’re making use of the space you’re in.
