Home design trends of 2021

Minimalism became popular this year, as exemplified by this interior work by Rogue Design Group. —ZACHARY STAINES/UNSPLASH

The year 2021 appears to be the Golden Age of home redesign in our country.

Because of the numerous quarantines and restrictions imposed on us, a lot of families were forced to stay at home for days. This has resulted in many moms (and dads!) scavenging the internet for design inspirations and purchasing so-called “budol” items. Different online communities became popular and propagated ideas, one of which is the Home Buddies group by Frances Lim Cabatuando. It has also given birth to the different teams of thematic design—Team Kahoy, Team Puti, and Team DENR, to name just a few.

Despite the challenges, 2021 has been an interesting year because home redesign became a solace of many. Let’s take a look at the different trends that filled this year with much innovation and improvement—giving us hope for the future that lies ahead.

A proposed design by Prismatic Architecture shows a coffee nook included in a domestic kitchen.

Home Buddies

With approximately 3 million followers at the time of this writing, the Facebook Group Home Buddies certainly shaped the rise of home makeovers this year. The group’s creator, Frances Lim Cabatuando, formed the group to encourage people to declutter in accordance with the 30-Day Minimalism Game of American authors Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus. Her Instagram account, Nobi Home, also serves as a source of design ideas for many at the height of the lockdown.

While influenced by foreign ideas, Home Buddies is very Filipino in its concept. Conceptually thought of as a “barangay,” the group is made up of kapitbahays (members), tanods (group moderators), and headed by Mayora Frances. Home Buddies mostly features Nordic and minimalist aesthetics. It welcomes all members to pose questions, share ideas and “budol” (steal) finds from e-commerce websites.

Home Buddies consequently gave rise to the different teams that influence home makeovers this year.

Team Puti features furnishings which appear clean, bright and cheery.

#TeamDesign

Subgroups were eventually formed among the followers of Home Buddies depending on the design aesthetics they adhered to.

In a nutshell, #TeamPuti gathered those who loved white-colored home items and minimalist furniture, #TeamKahoy are the fans of wooden furnishings, and #TeamDENR, the plant enthusiasts. #Teamitim also attracted lovers of black home items and #Teamgrey encapsulated grey-colored finds. The list goes on and on, but all of these teams agree on a common denominator: themed interiors were the way to go this year.

Online sellers caught on this trend and began to sell their wares following the thematic distinctions. Even retail giants such as SM and Robinsons Department Store followed these groupings. The rise of these #teams consequently helped local craftsmen such as rattan weavers and basket makers to sustain their industries despite the pandemic.

Organizers of different shapes came in native rattan, white plastic, and transparent acrylic. —ZACHARY STAINES/UNSPLASH

Personalized storage spaces

With the newfound popularity of home items came the rise of new stuff we never knew we needed.

Egg baskets, water gallon covers, and stackable flap boxes became suddenly all the rage. Organizers of different shapes and sizes came in native rattan, white plastic, and transparent acrylic. Filipinos became somewhat obsessed in finding the perfect containers that both hid their clutter and elevated their homes to a #Team themed design.

These items allowed online selling to flourish, providing Filipinos a new way to earn money despite the widespread loss of jobs during the pandemic. Suppliers from Divisoria, Dapitan Arcade, Dangwa and other well-known shopping havens eventually became active on social media, especially during the lockdown period. This helped small businesses to stay afloat and even prosper.

#TeamDENR for the plant enthusiasts —LIANA MIKAH/UNSPLASH

Coffee nooks and mobile carts

As many Filipinos were forced to work or study from home during the lockdowns, the business of coffee shops was also severely affected. Many cafés were forced to close down.

Fortunately, former employees and other enterprising Filipinos found a way to continue serving cups of Joe to the caffeine-deprived public. Mobile coffee shops became widespread, providing the average Filipino’s regular caffeine fix via van, bike or jeep.

At home, many Filipinos also began to develop their own coffee nooks. Ranging from a kitchen corner to an actual room, these nooks varied in sizes. Most of them, however, offered at least the basic necessities to create the daily cup of coffee. Coffee machines, labeled jars, uniform mugs and matching utensils filled these areas, often featuring aesthetics that still adhered to the #Team themes.

These nooks allowed Filipinos who were used to working out at coffee shops to stay safe at home while still enjoying their daily fix of caffeine.

What lies ahead

Overall, 2021 was a year full of hope, group effort and Filipino innovation. Community pantries were also born this year and while not related to home design, these neighborhood initiatives perfectly capture Filipinos’ strong will to help others and survive as a whole.

As we continue to fight the COVID-19 virus, may our experiences this 2021 remind us that there are still many things to be thankful for despite our challenges. The year 2022 continues to shine very brightly for trendsetters and home design lovers, as we continue to look for the best opportunities to transform our homes and upgrade our lifestyles amid the pandemic.