It is safe to say that 2020 flipped every aspect of life upside down throughout the tumultuous year. Holiday celebrations required social distancing, hand sanitizer sales were at an all-time high, and restaurants were forced to focus on take out. Even less affected markets like interior design still underwent radical changes and saw the introduction of various trends. These various trends were mostly a response to the increase in individuals working from home during the pandemic, but those quarantined at home and not working also frequently used the time to change certain aspects of their homes. Below the trends that had the biggest impact on the interior design world in 2020 are discussed and explored.
1. Home Offices
Yes, home offices were by far the largest trend to sweep across the interior design world this year. At first, when the initial wave of the pandemic hit, many workers opted to transform a particular area of their house into a temporary workspace. However, as the year progressed and many workers realized the advantages of working from home and the likelihood that they would continue to do so for at least several months, these workers started to long for their own home office.
Home office’s in 2020 were often designed with productivity, efficiency, and comfort in mind. Office designs drew upon natural lighting, particular colors, and a range of natural scents to increase productivity, while technology was introduced into the office to improve efficiency. In 2020, workers realized they no longer needed their fancy work office.
2. Wallpaper
It seems silly to suggest that wallpaper is not popular every year. But in recent years, the trajectory of the trend has been down. Enter 2020. During 2020, more and more individuals were inside their homes for extended periods of time, and as they spent time in their homes some notice elements they wished to change. Wallpaper was a popular trend because not only is it highly versatile and customizable, but also anyone with patience can successfully install it.
So, where engineered hardwood flooring would require a whole installation team to enter a home, wallpaper only required free time; something people had an excess of in 2020.
During 2020, floral, bohemian, and geometric patterned wallpaper experienced the most excitement. Individuals purchasing wallpaper seemed to either overtly or subconsciously be trying to bring the outside world into their homes through their wallpaper.
3. Millwork Details
Just as floral and natural patterns of wallpaper gave homeowners a way to bring the outdoor world into their home in 2020, millwork did the same. Drawing upon earthy tones and wooden hues, millwork flooded the home in a variety of ways. More and more design specialists opted for exposed wood beams, handrails, and large wooden front doors in 2020.
Though millwork with natural wood tones and hues was popular in 2020, the year also saw interior designers experimenting with bold new color palettes.
4. Resurgence of Traditional
While some design trends in 2020 looked forward, quite a few look to the past for inspiration. More so than in past years, the 2020 interior design world saw a resurgence of traditional design elements. While it was never quite out of vogue, mid-century modern design experienced a considerable increase in popularity in 2020. Other traditional trends like these various farmhouse molding ideas also saw a resurgence in 2020.
It seems as more and more designers and homeowners began to contemplate their situation during quarantine, they realized parts of their past that they would like to reclaim. This trend is expected to continue, especially as the end of the covid-19 pandemic is still up in the air.
Predictions for 2021
The year 2020 introduced some familiar faces and new ideas to the interior design world. In 2021, one can expect these elements of nostalgia and ambition to continue to coexist. Particular trends like home offices, will also most likely continue to see an increase as more and more companies are realizing the benefits of having their workers work from home.
Matt Lee is the owner of the Innovative Building Materials blog and a content writer for the building materials industry. He is focused on helping fellow homeowners, contractors, and architects discover materials and methods of construction that save money, improve energy efficiency, and increase property value.