The new year has just begun, and I already have a long list of home projects I’d love to complete this year, including remodeling our master bathroom, replacing our tile flooring, and revamping our dining room.
With those projects and others in mind, I’ve been scouting out the 2021 home decor trends and gathering design inspiration to share with you.
Needless to say, our lives changed drastically over the past couple of years, causing a few common design themes to emerge, including a desire for less clutter, calming rooms, and multi-functional spaces to accommodate working and learning from home.
Before I share all the details about the top design trends for this year, I want to restate that when it comes to decorating your home, there really are no ‘rules’–other than doing what makes you happy and resonates with your personal style.
However, I do think it helps to have a general idea of the current decorating trends, because it expands your awareness of what’s out there and opens up your mind to new styles and looks. Often, just by looking at your spaces with a fresh perspective, you can play around with what you already own and create an entirely new look in your home.
What are the current home decorating trends?
After a few years of spending more time than ever at home, we now have an opportunity to re-think our spaces and create more comfort and flexibility in our homes.
From the growing popularity of natural materials to comfortable, multi-functional spaces, there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about this year, especially when it comes to our homes.
Below you’ll find the home decor trends I’m loving, including the most popular colors, materials, and interior styles for this year. I’m also including a few ideas for refreshing your home in the coming months.
Home Decor Trends: 7 Looks You’ll Be Seeing Everywhere this Year
Trend 1: Calming Blues
Due to its soothing nature, blue will be on the design scene in the coming year, particularly in shades of cerulean.
Adding calming blues to our master bedroom was the beginning of my love for this dreamy hue. I’ve found it brings a clean, fresh look to any space.
Whether you’re already a fan of blue, like me, or are a bit more color-averse, here are some varied ways to incorporate blue in your home.
A blue velvet sofa adds the perfect touch of color to this stunning living room from Chris Loves Julia. This space actually incorporates almost all of this year’s design trends.
Blue accent pieces and Roman shades in the kitchen, from Clary Bosbyshell:
Gorgeous blue kitchen cabinets, from Erin Kestenbaum – color is Harbor by Cliq Studios:
Beautiful blue swivel chairs and ottoman in the sitting room, from Lisa Tharp:
Dreamy blue cabinets in the bathroom, from Studio McGee – cabinet color is Polaris Blue by Benjamin Moore:
Rich navy blue vanity and tile motif in the powder bath, from West of Main:
Comfy blue chairs in the master bedroom, from Pure Salt Interiors:
A bold blue door in the entryway, from Barrow Building and Design Group:
A gorgeous blue kitchen island, in Hale Navy, from Andrea McQueen Design:
Trend 2: Comfortable Seating + Easy-Care Fabrics
If there’s anything we’ve learned over the past three years, it’s the importance of comfort and coziness.
Even though I loved our mid-century style living room furniture, last year it started to feel too formal and boxy for our lifestyle, so we replaced it with easy-care slipcovered seating, making this space feel more relaxed, comfortable, approachable, and functional.
living room sources:
Here are a few more ideas for relaxed, comfortable seating:
Home of Ashley Lewis, via domino | Design: and and and Studio and Studio Life Style | Photograph by Stephen Busken
Amber Interior Design – Chairs
Studio McGee – Chairs – Coffee Table
For more living room ideas, see my post Stylish Living Rooms I Love.
Trend 3: Natural Materials
Rattan, cane, leather, jute, wicker, wovens, and ceramic anything will figure prominently again this year. And brown wood is back in a big way!
Home of Ashley Lewis, via domino | Design: Studio Life Style | Photography: Stephen Busken
Trend 4: Old Meets New
Another home decor trend you’ll see this year is the rustic vogue aesthetic, featuring reclaimed wood and pieces with a patina, rather than perfectly finished. Now is the time to display your favorite vintage pieces, flea market finds, and quirky travel mementos!
Amber Lewis, of Amber Interior Design, is a master of this look. Think beautiful woods, warm tones and textures, and curated rooms that are filled with character.
Emily Henderson’s beautiful Portland kitchen is a great example of how to bring character to a space by mixing old and new:
Emily Henderson – cabinet color is Pewter Green by Sherwin Williams
Attesting to the popularity of the old-meets-new trend, another take on this theme is grandmillennial style.
This style embraces chintz, wicker, bamboo, monogrammed linens, scalloped edges & hems, and slipcovered tables and ottomans. This aesthetic is a little more up my alley, as it tends to incorporate lots of blue and white!
If you’d like to add more vintage pieces to your home, McGee & Co. is a wonderful place to find one-of-a-kind vintage and antique textiles, art, rugs, furniture, and decorative accents.
Trend 5: Closed Floor Plans
The growing popularity of Zoom calls, home schooling, and working from home means that open floor plans are losing their appeal.
Our last home had an open floor plan, which meant our kitchen was in full view every time someone walked in the front door.
Back then, our kitchen was the dumping ground for our daughters’ backpacks, homework, and clutter, which meant our entire open-plan living space never looked tidy.
So when we had our current house built, we specifically chose a closed floor plan for more privacy (and peace of mind!).
This beautiful living room, from Chris Loves Julia, has a sweeping open feeling, while still maintaining a separation between spaces.
This designated office space, with doors and curtains for privacy and sound insulation, is what work-from-home dreams are made of! From Amber Interior Design.
Trend 6: Warm Colors and Rich Tones
Another carry-over from last year is the popularity of warm, rich colors. And camel is back in a big way–both in fashion and home design. I love how beautifully camel pairs with blue–and every other neutral and color.
Here’s a beautiful example of how to mix warm and cool tones in the same space:
You might want to consider adding new artwork, pillows, and/or rugs and runners to update your home for the new year. They offer an easy way to add warmth with a minimal amount of effort and expense.
Kassandra Dekoning, via the Everymom – Rug – Rug
Juniper Home – artwork – rug – bed – nightstand
This beautiful kitchen, from Jean Stoffer Design, is one of my all-time favorites. I love how she incorporated so much warmth and character in an otherwise light and airy space!
Trend 7: Multi-Functional Spaces
The living room is now a multi-functional space, encompassing work, online education, and entertainment.
With people spending more quality time at home, adding a game table, a library table for work and school, and a few seating areas for reading and relaxing will allow the family to still be together in the same room.
Now that we’re dining in more often, our dining spaces will also change, with a greater appreciation for substantial dining tables, multi-purpose dining/school/work spaces, and comfortable eat-in kitchens.
See my posts, Beautiful Dining Room Ideas, Inspiring Kitchen Design Ideas, and Breakfast Nook Ideas for Cozy Kitchen Dining, for more ideas for these spaces.
An abundance of natural light, as well as a sizeable table and plenty of seating, make this beautiful dining space perfect for the demands of working, learning, and dining at home:
Light and Dwell – light fixture – table – chairs – rug
This wonderful dining room, with its massive dining table and oversized pendant lights, is the epitome of a multi-functional space!
Up and Coming Interior Design Trends
I couldn’t fit all the trends for this year in one post, so here are a few more trending styles and elements you’ll see in the coming months:
Japandi Style
A mix of refined Japanese design and minimalist Scandinavian decor, this trend incorporates an abundance of black and neutral tones, along with light woods, organic elements, and plants.
Outdoor Living
Homeowners are turning their outdoor areas and patios into mini vacation destinations, as evidenced by the growing popularity of outdoor fireplaces and fire pits, swimming pools, and raised-bed gardening.
See my post, Beautiful Patio Ideas for Relaxed Outdoor Living, for more ideas for your outdoor spaces.
Creative Solutions for Working from Home
Including nooks, closets, and flexible lighting and storage solutions. See my posts, Tips for Decorating and Organizing Your Home Office and A Fresh and Feminine Home Office Design, for more ideas.
Zen Bedrooms
More than ever, our bedrooms are becoming a refuge from the outside world, with things like luxurious bedding, a comfy mattress, a space to do yoga or meditate, and a quiet place to work becoming must-haves.
See my post, Modern Bedroom Design Ideas for a Dreamy Master Suite, for more ideas for creating a calming master bedroom.
I hope you found this post helpful and informative. Wishing you a new year filled with beauty, love, health, and joy. xo Jane
current home decor finds
Looking for more design and decorating trends, styles, and ideas? Here are a few favorite related posts from the blog:
How to Add a Touch of Nancy Meyers Style to Your Kitchen and Home
Restoration Hardware Style: How to Get the Luxury RH Look for Less
Modern Coastal Decorating Ideas for Your Home
What is Coastal Grandmother Style? (and why I’m loving this trend)
Modern Kitchen Pendant Lighting Ideas You Will Love
Beautiful Kitchen Design Ideas to Inspire Your Next Renovation
Modern Bathroom Design Ideas You Will Love
A Simple Guide to Mixing Metals in the Bathroom
The New Studio McGee Target Collection
Designer Spotlight: Pure Salt Interiors
How to Choose a Design Style that Feels Right for You
Modern Bedroom Design Ideas for a Dreamy Master Suite
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