Newsletters
Real Estate
Sophia Mitrokostas
Updated
2021-05-05T16:05:41Z
- Insider asked interior designers about the fading and emerging home-decorating trends for 2021.
- Certain rustic features, like shiplap and barn doors, are starting to date themselves.
- Designers also said peel-and-stick wallpaper and plaster walls are coming back in style.
- Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.
Advertisem*nt
Shiplap is falling out of fashion.
Interior designer Rachel Street, host of DIY Network's "Philly Revival," told Insider that shiplap is one of the fastest fading trends.
Once used to waterproof boats, shiplap siding became a trendy way to decorate interior walls in the 2010s.
"Shiplap appears in nearly every TV home-makeover show, but there are so many other emerging ways of bringing texture into a space," she said.
Street added that tile, plaster, rattan, or living walls of plants are becoming more popular this year, instead.
Advertisem*nt
Gray kitchen interiors may become less popular.
Dennese Guadeloupe Rojas of Interiors by Design told Insider that the trend of having all-gray kitchen cabinets and walls is fading.
"Gray kitchen interiors can look cold and lack distinction," she said. "Instead, I foresee bolder colors gaining popularity."
Rojas mentioned that indigo blue may be a particularly trendy kitchen color this year.
Advertisem*nt
All-white interiors may start to date themselves.
Street predicted that the age of minimalistic, all-white interiors may be coming to an end.
"For a few years now, we've been making everything from walls to countertops bright white," she told Insider. "Next year, I predict people will return to creating visual interest through color."
Those looking to give their all-white interiors more pizzazz without adding bright colors can try combining different light-colored patterns and textures.
Advertisem*nt
The mid-century modern furniture trend may finally be over.
Mid-century modern design borrows from style elements that were popular in the 1950s and 1960s, and it's been everywhere in recent years.
Heather Goerzen, interior designer with Havenly, told Insider that this trend may finally be fading away.
"We're shifting away from the 'Mad Men' look and spaces dominated by walnut wood, spindle legs, and geometric prints," she said.
Advertisem*nt
Barn doors could be replaced by other types of statement entryways.
Barn doors exploded onto the interior design scene in the early 2010s, but they may not retain their popularity as we head further into the 2020s.
"The trend for barn doors, often painted in drab brown, will be replaced by pocket doors or classic French doors," Rojas told Insider.
Pocket doors slide directly into the adjacent wall, and French doors normally open outward and feature large panes of glass.
Advertisem*nt
Accent walls likely won't be as trendy this year.
An accent wall is one that's painted or wallpapered differently than the others in a room.
The trend started as a way to make a space more interesting, but Rojas said that the age of the accent wall is drawing to a close.
"Accent walls can look childish and be too distracting," she told Insider. "We'll hopefully be returning to monochromatic walls that blend seamlessly with the decor without the startling drama of an accent wall."
Advertisem*nt
Matching furniture sets may start to look dated.
Kobi Karp, principal designer at Kobi Karp Architecture and Interior Design, told Insider that matching furniture sets may soon be considered unfashionable.
"Identical furniture and matching sets don't showcase personal style," he said. "I believe matching sets will soon be seen as a design flaw."
Instead of coordinating all your furniture or buying a complete set from a showroom, consider selecting nonmatching pieces with complementary colors or designs.
Advertisem*nt
On the other hand, the "grandmillennial" or "granny chic" style is rising in popularity.
Goerzen described the rising "grandmillennial" trend as a modern revival of homey design elements that you might find in your grandparents' home.
She told Insider that the style is meant to evoke comfort, nostalgia, and tradition.
"Think floral wallpaper, antique paintings, delicate china, crocheted throws, and vintage touches with whimsical flair," she said. "This trend will certainly be one to watch in 2021."
Advertisem*nt
Peel-and-stick wallpaper will likely be trendy this year.
Self-adhesive, removable wallpaper is gaining popularity with people who rent or are looking for a low-commitment way to upgrade their living space.
"Peel-and-stick wallpaper is perfect for an easy and dramatic room change," Rojas said. "You can get creative and simply peel it off when you get tired of it."
If you're wary of covering an entire room in wallpaper, try adding it above the chair rail in dining rooms, above the molding in bathrooms, or even in closets.
Advertisem*nt
Rustic ceramics may edge out smooth tiling in the kitchen.
Kitchen designs may swap smooth, uniform backsplashes for colorful, handcrafted ceramic tiling.
"Gone are the days of smooth porcelain or glass subway tile," Street told Insider. "I'm starting to see a lot of hand-thrown ceramic tiling that shows some natural variation, like Moroccan zellige tile."
You can use ceramic tiling to create backsplashes or cover entire walls. But handmade tiles are often more expensive than manufactured ones, so individual pieces can also be added as accents to cut costs.
Advertisem*nt
Green cabinets could be one of the biggest kitchen trends of the year.
Anyone looking to add drama to their kitchens may want to consider painting their cabinets green. Street told Insider that both lighter and deeper shades will be popping up in kitchens everywhere.
"Because green is a mix of blue and yellow colors, it works with both cool color palettes and warm, cozier kitchen designs," she said.
The designer added that pairing green cabinets with Carrara-marble counters can help highlight the gray veining in the stone.
Advertisem*nt
Industrial styling may be the next big trend.
Industrial interior style often incorporates elements such as exposed stonework, high ceilings, wood and metal elements, and neutral colors.
Karp explained that this fuss-free style may be a rising trend as people continue to spend more time at home.
"Industrial style has a mix of modern and traditional design and works for interiors that have to serve as places to live, work, and play," he said.
Advertisem*nt
Plaster walls may make a comeback.
Before the invention of drywall, interior walls were often created by layering plaster over wooden strips called laths.
"Drywall is quicker to install and provides a more uniform surface, but the depth and texture of plaster is making a comeback," Street told Insider.
To explore this trend without ripping out your walls, she suggested coating your drywall with a thin layer of plaster.
Advertisem*nt
Wicker and rattan furniture will likely be trending.
Ross Thompson, interior designer at QE Home, told Insider that woven furniture styles will gain popularity this year.
"Rattan and wicker details are on their way in," he said. "These natural materials add warmth and lightness to home decor."
Rattan furniture is made from woven palm stems, and wicker pieces are typically made of woven willow twigs.Both styles are lightweight and can work indoors and outdoors.
Advertisem*nt
Natural fabrics may gain popularity over synthetics.
Synthetic fabrics such as polyester, nylon, and rayon may lose ground to natural and recycled textiles.
"With the growing awareness of environmental issues, I foresee a trend for using more sustainable materials and natural fabrics in the home," Thompson said.
He singled out textiles like organic cotton, recycled polyester, and low-impact linen as prime candidates for new trends.
Read More:
- Interior designers reveal 17 trends they wish would disappear
- Interior designers reveal the 12 things in your home you should get rid of
- Popular interior design trends to stop following, and what to do instead
- How to make your home into an office, classroom, and more without sacrificing a calm living space
Read next
Advertisem*nt
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As an expert and enthusiast, I have access to a vast amount of information and can provide insights on various topics. While I have personal experiences or opinions, I can provide factual information based on search results. Here is some information related to the concepts mentioned in this article:
Shiplap:
- Shiplap is a type of wooden board commonly used for exterior siding on barns, sheds, and other rustic structures.
- In recent years, shiplap has become a popular interior design trend, often used to create a rustic or farmhouse look on walls.
- However, according to interior designer Rachel Street, shiplap is one of the fading trends in home decor, and other ways of bringing texture into a space, such as tile, plaster, rattan, or living walls of plants, are becoming more popular [[1]].
Gray Kitchen Interiors:
- The trend of having all-gray kitchen cabinets and walls is said to be fading, according to interior designer Dennese Guadeloupe Rojas.
- Rojas suggests that bolder colors may gain popularity in kitchen design, with indigo blue mentioned as a particularly trendy color for kitchens [[2]].
All-White Interiors:
- The age of minimalistic, all-white interiors may be coming to an end, according to interior designer Rachel Street.
- Street predicts that people will return to creating visual interest through color, suggesting that different light-colored patterns and textures can be combined to add pizzazz to all-white interiors [[3]].
Mid-Century Modern Furniture:
- Mid-century modern design refers to a style that emerged in the mid-20th century, characterized by clean lines, organic shapes, and a focus on functionality.
- This design trend has been popular in recent years, but according to interior designer Heather Goerzen, it may be fading away.
- Goerzen suggests that spaces dominated by walnut wood, spindle legs, and geometric prints may be shifting away from the mid-century modern look [[4]].
Barn Doors:
- Barn doors became a popular interior design trend in the early 2010s.
- However, according to interior designer Dennese Guadeloupe Rojas, the trend for barn doors may be replaced by other types of statement entryways, such as pocket doors or classic French doors [[5]].
Accent Walls:
- An accent wall is a wall that is painted or wallpapered differently than the others in a room, often used to create visual interest.
- According to Rojas, the age of the accent wall is drawing to a close, as they can look childish and be too distracting.
- Rojas suggests a return to monochromatic walls that blend seamlessly with the decor without the startling drama of an accent wall [[6]].
Matching Furniture Sets:
- Matching furniture sets may soon be considered unfashionable, according to Kobi Karp, a principal designer at Kobi Karp Architecture and Interior Design.
- Karp believes that identical furniture and matching sets don't showcase personal style, and suggests selecting nonmatching pieces with complementary colors or designs instead [[7]].
"Grandmillennial" or "Granny Chic" Style:
- The rising trend of "grandmillennial" or "granny chic" style is described as a modern revival of homey design elements found in grandparents' homes.
- This style aims to evoke comfort, nostalgia, and tradition, with features such as floral wallpaper, antique paintings, delicate china, crocheted throws, and vintage touches with whimsical flair [[8]].
Peel-and-Stick Wallpaper:
- Peel-and-stick wallpaper is a self-adhesive, removable wallpaper that is gaining popularity.
- It is particularly popular with people who rent or are looking for a low-commitment way to upgrade their living space.
- According to Dennese Guadeloupe Rojas, peel-and-stick wallpaper is perfect for an easy and dramatic room change, as it can be peeled off when you get tired of it [[9]].
Rustic Ceramics:
- Kitchen designs may be swapping smooth, uniform backsplashes for colorful, handcrafted ceramic tiling.
- Interior designer Rachel Street suggests that hand-thrown ceramic tiling with natural variation, like Moroccan zellige tile, is becoming more popular [[10]].
Green Cabinets:
- Green cabinets, both lighter and deeper shades, may be popping up in kitchens as a trendy choice.
- Interior designer Rachel Street suggests that green cabinets work well with both cool color palettes and warm, cozier kitchen designs, and can be paired with Carrara-marble counters to highlight the gray veining in the stone [[11]].
Industrial Styling:
- Industrial interior style incorporates elements such as exposed stonework, high ceilings, wood and metal elements, and neutral colors.
- According to Kobi Karp, industrial style may be a rising trend as people continue to spend more time at home, as it offers a mix of modern and traditional design and works for interiors that have to serve as places to live, work, and play [[12]].
Plaster Walls:
- Plaster walls, which were commonly used before the invention of drywall, are making a comeback in interior design.
- Interior designer Rachel Street suggests that the depth and texture of plaster are becoming popular again, and suggests coating drywall with a thin layer of plaster to explore this trend without removing existing walls [[13]].
Wicker and Rattan Furniture:
- Woven furniture styles, such as rattan and wicker, are expected to gain popularity in home decor.
- Ross Thompson, an interior designer, suggests that these natural materials add warmth and lightness to home decor [[14]].
Natural Fabrics:
- With growing awareness of environmental issues, there may be a trend towards using more sustainable materials and natural fabrics in home decor.
- Ross Thompson suggests that synthetic fabrics like polyester, nylon, and rayon may lose ground to natural and recycled textiles, such as organic cotton, recycled polyester, and low-impact linen [[15]].
Please note that the information provided above is based on the search results and snippets available at the time of writing.
