By Imma Sansone of MAC Interiors
Most of us have spent more time at home in the past year than ever before, the importance of well-designed and carefully thought through interiors have never been so crucial. This has definitely set the tone for 2021 Interior Trends in New Homes.
Warm Earthy Textures, Natural Elements and Reclaimed Timbers
Goodbye clinical clean white and hello bold and creative. In 2021 we see the avoidance of your typical all-white kitchen and bathroom and we welcome warm neutrals, earthy tones and pops of colour to create more playful spaces. Natural oaks and reclaimed timbers are still on-trend but we start moving away from stark Carrara marble colours and pair these lighter timbers with travertines and mineral stone colours.
Feature walls and splashbacks continue to be stone or tiles rather than glass and there is a big push towards handmade and intricate shapes that add character. We also see a big shift in flooring to more earthy, rustic and raw materials such as terrazzo and slate. Bringing external applications in such as textured rendered walls, painted bricks, concrete benchtops and wooden beams are also a continued trend for 2021.
Rust, Oatmeal, Terracotta and Tan hues are fleshly energetic and colourful, yet calm and are a big trend in interiors from linens through to artwork. The colours are warm and safe yet also connect us to natural elements. We also see these hues working well with blues and greens which draw from global inspiration whilst at the same time pay homage to ‘Australiana’.
Cane and rattan in furniture is also a big trend this year and pairing it with crisp clean linens is making an intensely modern comeback.
Curves, Arches & Irregular Shapes
For thousands of years, the arch has formed the basic structural support for many buildings and became the ultimate visual reference. Gothic cathedrals, ancient Roman viaducts and European castles, the arch contributed to some of the world’s greatest architectural moments. And its back! More seductive than ever and being used across different design features. Joinery design, kitchen islands, windows, doors, mirrors, floor rugs. We also see the arch translate to curves and irregular shapes in furniture and homewares. We see hard, sharp edges start to fade and the curve helping us retreat to the familiar sense of comfort. We start to see rounded organic plumbing fixtures and tapware and low comfortable lounges and armchairs. We also see matt, brushed and stone finishes (such as brushed nickel) take precedence over bright chrome and glossy white in tapware and plumbing, hardware (such as handles) and light fittings and textured upholstery fabrics like boucle and velvet take popularity over vinyl.
Work Hard, Holiday Hard (Lockdown Mode)
If there is one thing the pandemic has taught us over the past year, it’s the importance of dedicated spaces in the home. Incorporating a home office or workspace into the design layout of any new home will become a must-have trend, but we will also see trends for dedicated hobby spaces, such as exercise, yoga, meditation etc. These spaces will also become focal points to induce creativity and mimic sanctuaries in their own right.
And, with the uncertainty of when we are able to jump on a plane for a European Summer in Lake Como, a weekend trip to Bali or a visit to the Greek Islands, we have started to see a push in whole “home holiday vibe” and the hunger for resort-style feels in the home has never been greater. The biggest trend we see here is the seamless integration of indoor-outdoor areas with visibility to outside spaces from inside. Having some form of outdoor interaction from each internal space will be a favourable design asset moving forward. We will also continue to see lots of alfresco dining, outdoor bars, pools and firepits.