Design pivots in 2021
Charm of biophilia—indoor plants, handpainted mural walls and a soft warm palette of greens help soothe and bring the outdoors in.
1 As the pandemic forced many of us to stay at home and work from home, there are many behavioral changes that arose from this unexpected pivot. For instance, we realized how important it is to have nicer interior surroundings as we became homebound.
What were our quick fixes? Most of us became plantitos and plantitas. Indoor plants became our first go to. Biophilia went into overdrive. We could not surround ourselves with enough indoor plants, to bring the outdoors in and to improve our air quality. Thus, the first trend identified for 2021 is the continuation of biophilia.
A second home, where one can breathe unlimited amount of fresh air
2 There will be a splurge on “Do-It-Yourself” and home improvement hacks. Interior designers and architects will also be tapped when a more intensive renovation is required.
The lucky ones among us will buy property outside the city, by the sea or the mountains to build second homes that give unlimited access to fresh air, sunlight and unhampered views of nature.
The ultimate cheat for small space: mirrors with modular metal units for storage display.
3 Bringing the outdoors in may have influenced our color choices. Our color palettes will gravitate towards warm and rich earth tones as opposed to the industrial greys that were popular recently because we want colors that will comfort us and soothe us.
Repainting four walls or just an accent wall is an instant and quick refresh—so is the addition of mirrored walls to double the volume of a space or to open up a view. Wall to wall mirror is quiet and affordable way to create a huge impact on a living space.
Invest in the right mattress and beautiful bedsheets, splurge on thread count, and add the last touch: scented diffuser to lace one’s dreams with notes of vanilla and lavender.
4 Sales of kitchen appliances and devices, baking equipment, portable bars and coffee machines will steadily increase, as everybody discovers their inner kitchen goddess and barista alter egos. Probably, bed mattress sales will also go up as everybody upgrades the quality of their sleep by investing in new beds, beddings and pillows. Aroma therapy and diffusers will be part of this spree, as an inviting bed is more compelling with the perfect accompaniment of lavender mists from a scented diffuser.
5 Space, too, has become layered. We now have to carve out an area for our designated office, an area for the children to have online classes, an area for the more health-conscious ones among us to do floor exercises. This can be quite challenging, especially in situations where the space is already tight. This is where concealed storage and book cases and open shelves for storage bins come in handy. The goal is for the mess to be managed, curated and concealed. So retail furniture sellers and makers should design a bevy of modular storage systems that are affordable and easy to install.
