Interior Design Trends of 2021

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Texture

The biggest interior design trends going into Fall and Winter 2021 is adding in layers of texture! Although, this does NOT mean you should be adding pointless clutter into your space. Make your texture purposeful and intentional. For example, think about adding in a sherpa ottoman or a faux fur throw. As a styling tip, if you are buying faux fur make sure it does not look cheap. Think about the color ACTUAL fur would be – focus on layering in brown tones to enhance the look of your space. To add in additional texture elements, add an accent chair in boucle or sherpa – these textures look stunning paired with a linen sofa. If you don’t have the space for a chair or sofa, add in a variety of pillows in the same tonal colors that have different textures and fabrics.

Remember to style your pillows into groups of 2 or 3, you want to ensure people can still sit down comfortably. Pottery barn has exquisite examples for tonal groupings of pillows (1 // 2 // 3).

Tonal Living

Tonal or a monochromatic living makes for a relaxing and serene space. Having like colors in a space calms the mind and does not have the eye bounce around the room. When you look at Architectural Digest, furniture store catalogs, or on Pinterest the most interesting rooms to look at play up the texture, NOT the color. Personally, in my home I stuck with a handful of colors being, tan, cream, white, olive green, and accents of black. Having a handful of colors allows your entire home to be cohesive. In addition, you won’t have to change your furniture if you stick to neutrals. If you want to play with pops of color, use faux florals or a fun vase.  

Ensure you are decorating for YOUR LIFESTYLE! I cannot tell you how many times I have made this mistake – if you have a, “less careful” significant other who likes to eat chocolate on the sofa, get crypton fabric (stain-resistant). I would recommend to not get the cheap fabric that pills easily and is not stain-proof. Trust me, it may be expensive up front to buy performance fabric but in the long run it is worth it.

Pleated Lamp Shades (Coolie or Empire style)

You may have heard of Japandi design over the last year but it is a huge interior design trend of 2021. Japanese influence in design with a hint of Scandinavian is here to stay. Most of us are not going to throw away all of our possessions away to achieve true “Japandi” design, which is minimal and strives for imperfection. One way to incorporate this design style is through lighting. Pleated lamp shades in a more coolie or empire style shade are all the rage. I suggest you hit up your local goodwill or antique stores, I personally got a pleated lampshade at goodwill for $2, versus $180 on Etsy. I can’t say I paid $2 for my bedroom nightstand lamps (pictured), but these lamps are neutral and will fit with any future design style, so I felt fine about making this splurge.

Faux Florals

Just like I said up above about faux fur, you should think about faux florals the exact same way. Focus on the color of the leaves and flowers – if you don’t see these colors in nature, then put the flower DOWN. Remember, we are going for an upscale and neutral look, so try to focus on large olive branches, bunny tails, or pampas grass instead of wild flowers. If you really have the urge to be more fun, I suggest you look at pottery barn for some inspiration, as their faux florals have even faked me out a couple of times! Now, if you are on a strict budget, then go outside and cut some branches on your own trees — just make sure to shake them before you bring them inside, BUGS. The biggest trend right now is OVERSIZED branches that reach 3 to 4 feet out of the vase.

Mix of Vintage

There is nothing more fun than going to an antique mall or Goodwill to find furniture that would be unique to your home. However, you really need to know what you are looking for so try to find some inspiration pictures before you go on the hunt! Mixing modern or traditional furniture with antique really elevates the look of your home. To start, you could search for vintage benches to either put in your entry way or the end of your bed. Some other items to look out for are antique vessels, over-sized lamps with pleated shades, or elm benches. If you are not into antiquing– I would suggest you search for antique-looking items. For example, I’ve included a vases from Pottery Barn, as well as a vintage-looking bench. Start small, add a single antique piece to a room to start, and build on it as you go.