Design Styles

Interior Design Trends. What Are They and Must You Have Them?

A trend to beat all trends in interior decor would be to not follow any trends at all. Being an individual will never date, never go out of style. Because the style is you and you are the style.

Choose your decor and colors to suit your tastes and not be a slave to other people’s claimed trends. Your home is for you and your design should show this.

Every season, we see new trends dominate the market. While some are fads that vanish in no time, a few styles beat the odds. Interior design has a lot to do with personal choice. Whether it is a home or office space, we often strive for a look that reflects our personality. From all-white walls and minimal furniture to bright colors, wallpapers with bold patterns and grand antiques, there is a lot one can do to get there.

What’s Not Working Anymore

Every now and then we do an evaluation of our life, right? Where we stand, what to let go and what to invite in. The same principle applies to interior designing. What you need is to balance the new rage with designs that speak to you. Here’s a quick list of decorating trends that are in and out. Let the purging begin. 

Move Over, Shiplap

If you’re not familiar with the terminology, shiplap is a type of wooden board that is typically placed horizontally for exteriors. But guess what, shiplap? Time’s up.

Now, this is something a lot of people have loved for a long time. And if you are one of those, you don’t exactly have to get rid of the whole thing. You just need to limit its usage on every vertical space in the house and replace it with a classic beadboard. You manage to keep the look intact but, to quote our friends in advertising, it is now “new and improved”.

If you are looking for an overhaul, you could also try a graphic wallpaper. Patterns can make quite the statement.

Repeating Patterns (And Gendered Colors)

Speaking of patterns, for a long time, designers picked a pattern and made that the theme. So you’d see it repeat, sometimes in the same room. That was fun while it lasted but it can get boring and predictable. It also occasionally clashes with the fabric, especially in a place like a bedroom which has multiple fabrics that change regularly.

Now, if you like what you have but want to shake things up just a bit, you can try mixing and matching. They are definitely a new-age concept. A combination of geometrical shapes with floral designs, for instance, is one way to do this. Another idea is to switch textures with rugs and upholsteries of different fabrics.

Speaking of repetition, the idea that pink indicates femininity and blue is masculine is so out.

Angie Lee of FXCollaborative rightly points out in Elle Decor that “girly and macho color palettes and shapes reinforce hidden biases”. Lee says that for Living Coral, which would’ve been a feminine color, to be Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2019 is a sign of being “unapologetically joyous about a traditionally feminine hue”.

Disposable Furniture? Nah. We Want Keepers

Here’s another idea that will lead you to affordable furniture with just the look that you have been seeking.

Disposable furniture is a concept that gained popularity because of affordability. It also allows you easy access to trendy items. You know upfront that it is not meant to last long but you still have to compromise with quality. Instead, if you raid a few thrift shops, you will find secondhand furniture that is more durable than you would think because of its higher quality.

Don’t take my word for it. Iantha Carley of Iantha Carley Interiors tells Insider that each of these items has a lifespan that will keep you from dumping them in a landfill on your next move.

White, White Everywhere. Not a Pop of Color

Minimalist designs have propagated this color more than any other style. And yes, it works in many settings. But if it has started to look dull and unimaginative, you are not alone.

Many houses have seen a touch of accent colors sneak in, especially into kitchen cabinetry and countertops, precisely for this reason. For example, stain finishes for the spice cabinet will really brighten things up. Similarly, marble and granite countertops, which are now seen as commercial and impersonal, are being replaced with exotic marbles and natural stones.

That doesn’t mean you need to add a stroke of bold red. Two-tone kitchens are becoming quite popular, according to John McDonald, the CEO of Semihandmade. He says black bases and white uppers are beginning to grow in popularity.

You can also try blending wood with a pop of color to move away from what’s beginning to look a bit sterile. Even Nordic designs, which are big on minimalism, are inching towards bold colors and natural shapes.

So What Are You Left With? Plenty

If one of your favorite design elements didn’t make the cut – I know some of mine didn’t – don’t worry and have faith in the words of Barney Stinson (from ‘How I Met Your Mother’).

New is always better.

We’re not incorrigible trolls who are in the business of dissing trends and moving on. And to that end, here’s a look at 10 interior design trends that were predicted for 2020.

Less is More. But Classics Can Evolve

Many consumers are now thinking about personal style and eco-friendly settings when it comes to interior design. For a while now, it has been about more than affordability and access to different styles.

This has developed a certain sense of long-term vision leading them towards fewer objects of higher quality. The minimalist style guide has been popular for a while. It is likely to stick around but with a few add-ons.

A single stroke of color has found its way to kitchen spaces since they don’t have to feel like a spa. In fact, master bedrooms that were limited to neutral colors and resembled hotel beddings are on their way out. What used to feel like luxury hotel suites are now looking dull and lacking character. Even actual hotel suites are giving it up for a more residential feel.

Sustainable Raw Materials

A lot of change leads to exciting new prospects. Part of that change is the penchant for sustainability in indoor spaces. Customers are growing more aware and are incorporating eco-friendly ideas into their purchases. Ben Marshall of Hudson Valley Lighting Group tells Forbes that there is now an ethical component to these decisions.

That has done great things for design too since it has meant that earthy and warm color tones are in business. Items made of ground elements like clay and jute and rice paper are also being taken home a lot more than they were in the past. This trend will reflect even with fixtures that are made of acacia and rattan. 

Portable Lighting Fixtures

And speaking of fixtures, portability is no longer limited to just floor and table lamps. Renters are loving this idea of personalizing their homes with portable lighting fixtures. This means more adaptability, which in turn means a bigger market for these items thanks to the convenience. 

Lighting fixtures are a bold detail to add to an otherwise neutral room. We can already see wall sconces in more homes because of the optional wire guard. This is great for anyone who wants to brighten up the room without having to invest in hardwiring. And it looks great with accent colors.

You don’t have to compromise on looks anymore for the sake of portability. Neat, huh?

Color Is the New Neutral

Like our friend Lizzo says, “Black, white, ebony/All sound good to me/Two-tone recipe/Got good chemistry”. And she’s right.

We are all hankering for warm colors and jewel tones in the place of muted tones and neutral colors. Whether it is calls or cabinets or tiles, color is the way to go. Some designers believe newer versions of millennial pinks are on their way to possibly define this whole generation. That’s the most exciting color conversation in 2020.

And you can still keep it classy with peachy corals and golden yellow tones. We will even get to see this incorporated with fabrics like velvets and caramel leathers.   

Patterns (If You Don’t Repeat ‘Em)

The problem with patterns (as mentioned earlier) is the repetition. That can be fixed with a little creativity by introducing layers. The answer is also in breaking rules which can be seen on designs for tabletops.

Statement or graphic tiles, for example, are replacing white subway tiles because they are big on patterns. Tiles with bold patterns are being used from floor to ceiling, especially in bathrooms and kitchens which used to largely be monochromatic. It could be abstract, floral or chintz. Pop and punch is the way to go in 2020. Designers see this as a natural swing of the pendulum.

High Contrast Design: Walls and Ceilings

Walls and ceilings are places that are typically left alone. But contrasting colors make a big splash and these spaces are not immune to them either. With every passing year, the definition of neutral colors is changing. And that is leading to rather bold interpretations of black and white combinations. It is graphic, fresh and still quite classic.

A monotone space can look fashionable when used the right way. And for many designers, moldings and trims are the way to do it. Using high gloss paint for entire walls instead of just trims has resonated with customers. 

Another way to do it is to get wallpapered ceilings. There is minimal damage with the advantage of adding drama to the room. This is sometimes done in powder rooms but expect it to take over bedrooms too. It’s a sign of demand for drama and adventure.

Fat and Fabulous

The F(at) word is hardly ever used positively. Well, we found a way to change that. Sofas, divans and even chairs are being reimagined as curvy and bulky. This is why oversized nightstands are returning to the fore to match large headboards. And who doesn’t like a little extra storage?

Some of these pieces of furniture are also asymmetrical which means they can be modern or retro. This change in structure makes it suitable for a range of interior designs. Can’t demonize rounded shapes anymore. Not even in architecture.

Botanical Indoors with a Twist

Indoor plants have been quite the rage for a while. But it’s the way in which they are incorporated in designs that’s taking this concept to the next level. Bringing the outdoors in has never been more fun with the added benefit of communing with nature. This also gives us a chance to take a break from machines and the technology that we surround ourselves with. Plus, there is a certain joy to watching a living thing grow in front of your eyes.

And what better way to do it than to give containers colors, abstract forms and mix it up with faces and figures. This has also given a push to organic materials like wood floors and daylight. Custom millwork and crafted materials will only rise in popularity thanks to this trend.

Retro. But Like Memphis Design

There isn’t much to stay about this style since it is the return of a great idea. The Memphis design movement is a chapter from the 1980s. It started in *drum roll* Milan in Italy, not Tennessee. This is a takeover of mid-century modern furnishings and colors. Primary colors and graphic shapes will make a grand return for the first time since the 80s as we walk away from furniture lines and embrace enveloping tub chairs.

This also gives you the opportunity to try multiple bright colors and give the space sort of a retro look. Smile, because not all design revolutions favor the minimalists.

Natural Textiles

Another piece of good news for maximalists is the return of sustainability and natural textiles. Design ideas are now bringing wool, cotton and alpaca back into the game. When they are coupled with marble finishes and accent colors, the accessories in the room will get a luxurious look and feel. This also means more jewel tones and polished edges.

Many are realizing that woven materials like rattan furniture and jute rugs paired with seagrass pendant lights are a fantastic look for any space. It is considered the second act for cane decor.

Parting Words

The future holds a lot of promise. Especially when you consider trends like open cabinets being traded for sustainable designs. They made everything easily accessible but to keep it practical, exchange them with a few small, open shelves next to the stove. The rest can be shut and out of public view.

And that’s all you need to do with the rest of your stuff too. In 2020, redecorating doesn’t mean tearing the whole place down and spending a ton of money. A little creativity goes a long way in personalizing your spaces.



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Ben

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