In the past, home décor trend roundups focused on the hottest shapes, colors, and motifs. But these are extraordinary times. With the rise of working from home, virtual schooling, and sheltering in place, people are interacting with their spaces in new ways. To that end, it’s crucial furniture and accessories support these new tasks — and, of course, look great.
Here are some of the noteworthy directions we see décor taking in the coming year.
Whether you’re prepping a pitch deck or helping a youngster with long division, the home office has become a major hub in the home. And as more companies like Microsoft and Facebook announce they are moving to virtual operations for the foreseeable future, it’s no surprise that buyers are looking for houses and apartments that offer room for a dedicated office.
Smaller-scale desks or writing tables that blend with your furnishings will help your workspace feel like a natural fit. Smart features like cable-management systems, movable filing cabinets, and hidden keyboard drawers enhance efficiency while also keeping odds and ends in order.
Playtime and entertaining look a world different these days. Social outings like movies, concerts, and sporting events are largely off limits, which means we’re getting together in-house with our very nearest and dearest for game nights and movie marathons.
For many, this is a perfect excuse to splurge on large-screen smart TVs, projectors, and gaming units. Smartly designed media cabinets protect that investment by providing the perfect housing for each device, keeping electronics cool and interior devices functioning for the long haul.
With more time spent in the home, it is more important than ever to get organized and maximize your home’s square footage. Not only will your spaces look better, but research shows that eliminating clutter can decrease stress and anxiety.
In the home office, this can mean choosing desks with storage drawers, cable-management systems, and coordinating filing cabinets. Elsewhere in the home, multifunctional pieces can provide storage as well as attractive display surfaces.
After six months spent stockpiling antibacterial wipes and hand sanitizer, it’s safe to say cleanliness will remain top of mind. This will extend to materials and surfaces we choose for our furniture.
Surfaces made from non-porous materials such as metal, plastic, porcelain and glass mean bacteria and viruses can’t “hide.” And as an added bonus, these materials are often more durable and able to withstand continued use, making them a good investment.
At the end of the day, your home is more so much more than a place to take care of business. It’s a sanctuary. Sumptuous textures — think nubby upholstery, high-pile rugs, pillows made from velvet and faux fur, and cashmere throws — add variation and visual depth to arrangements otherwise dominated by 2-D designs. Even for hard surfaces, texture will play an important role in 2021, giving dimension to case goods, accessories and occasional pieces that can bring an artistic nuance to the space.
