The New Hygge

"2021 will be about creating connections to each other, to ourselves, to nature," says Etsy's trend expert Dayna Isom Johnson. "We're embracing friluftsliv, the Norweigan concept of getting outdoors – think of it as the new hygge." That means turning your home into a nature haven, with indoor plants that clear the air, provide peace of mind, and hint to the great outdoors, especially giving us a boost during grey winter days.

Spaces Reimagined

"We added workspaces to our living rooms, classrooms into our kitchens, and gyms to our bedrooms," says Isom Johnson.This year, she says we're reimagining our homes and incorporate pieces that help restore balance to our multi-functional spaces. (On Etsy, there has been a 399 percent increase in searches for wall or foldable desks, a 159 percent increase in searches for Murphy beds, and a 134 percent increase in searches for room dividers.)

"Halls and entrances now have a new function: sanitize ourselves before entering the rest of the house, plus a place to store loose items we don't want to bring into our clean areas," says Alexa Backal, head of design forCasai, a boutique travel rental company, which brings us to a new Covid-era of design.

SHOP FOR THE HOME

Grandmillennial

From cottage-core to crochet to neoclassical design, millennials are feeling nostalgia for (and coveting) their granny's decor in what some are calling Grandmillennial style. "I think Grandmillennials and sustainability actually go hand in hand. This trend is all about younger generations who love design and decor that we might culturally view as "old lady" or grandma-ish," says Alessandra Wood, VP of Style at online interior design service Modsy. That means ruffles, Victorian wallpaper like William Morris prints and antiques, anything you'll find at a flea market or your grandma's garage!

Art Deco 

"Art deco is here to stay in 2021," says Alexander Doherty, interior designer based in NYC and Paris. "Art deco design works very well in contemporary decors because of its sleek minimalism and the quality that comes from the pureness of lines. It is the mixture of what is old and new that gives a space character." After all, it is the roaring '20s!

Joyful Botanicals

Get ready to embrace blooms in winter and beyond. Botanical walls, bedding, upholstery and more are making a big comeback. Barbara Karpf, founder and president of DecoratorsBest, says wallpaper like this York Garden Party Mural ($128) are an affordable way to add drama to your home. "Murals are art in their own right. They cover the wall and provide unique art at the same time," she says.

Flexible Design

"I am seeing a lot of enclosed kitchen spaces as opposed to large family room/ kitchen areas that are open to the rest of the home," says CEO and cabinet designer Christopher Peacock. But within the closed kitchens are more open plans and less built-in cabinetry. "An eclectic organic feel of mixed textures and materials is very welcoming and bistro like, and this is certainly popular," says Peacock.

SHOP FOR THE HOME

Complex Neutrals

"Homeowners are not shying away from showcasing complexity or drama," says Nancy Epstein, founder and president of Artistic Tile. "Stone slabs are dominating backsplashes from countertop to ceiling, are cascading to the floor in waterfall edges, and wrapping around islands." Epstein also notes that colorful mosaics and textured stone tile with mixed finishes, like AT's gold-leaf embossed Textura D'Oro, are having a moment in kitchens and baths.

Classic Wovens

"Rattan, wicker, and grasscloth furniture will always remain classic," says Roxy Te Owens, founder and creative director of Society Social. "Woven furniture is stylistically versatile and full of texture and warmth, which makes it an easy design go-to." Look for it in shelving, chairs, headboards and more.

Bold Minimalism

"We're now focused on essential items that make our life better and lighter, and feel more free," says Backal of Casai. "On the other hand, there's a need for boldness, color and expression, and color has the power to change emotions, especially while we continue to lock down." So go wild and paint a wall or room in a rich hue, like emerald green or Pantone's Illuminating Yellow, while you continue to or prefer to shelter in 2021.

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