One of the cornerstones of interior design is its adaptability, flexibility, and the incorporation of both aesthetics and function. Throughout history, we’ve seen design trends come and go, with the more prominent design aspects staying until today
Interior design is increasingly becoming popular, even among layfolk with no solid architectural or design background. And this is to the benefit of everyone, as with increased awareness and popularity comes more options to choose from and better accessibility.
And as the world around us continues to evolve, the trends will continuously change as well. Interior design trends are adapting to the current global demands, such as making space for a home office (because everyone’s working or studying from home), and sustainable furniture and design. However, if there’s anything we can learn from history, it’s that the trends of the past will come back and make a resurgence at some point down the line. But what are the most common trends design trends this 2020? Let’s look into it.
Sustainable Furniture and Design Philosophy
With the growing awareness around carbon footprint and climate change, more and more people are making efforts to keep their non-renewable resource consumption at a minimum. This has to lead to the rise of sustainable designs, utilizing furniture commonly made from recycled materials.
These pieces of furniture can either be created from old pallet wood, giving a rustic feel to your home. Or it can be up-cycled furniture of the past eras; creating a rather nostalgic feel. There isn’t a singular aesthetic theme towards sustainable designs as it’s more of a ‘how’ than a what. This sometimes reaches something as permanent as the materials used for making a house, as the development of environment-safe building materials such as reused plastic, recycled steel, and bamboo is continuously being developed.
From a rustic feel through wood pallet re-use, to a nostalgic 90s feel by using old and ‘trash-picked’ furniture, or even to a futuristic look by utilizing the latest in sustainable furniture and appliances- this eco-friendly design trend is becoming more popular by the day, and perhaps it’s for the better.
Modular and Portable Fixtures for an Eclectic Design
People are remodeling their kitchens, living rooms, and other rooms to make space for a home office. With the pandemic forcing to major industries to acknowledge that work-from-home is a feasible solution, more people are opting for modular and easy-to-arrange furniture that can be put and removed at a moment’s notice.
The eclectic design seems fitting for the pick-up-and-go nature of this new trend, and we’re seeing more people embrace that. The mixture of wood and plastic furniture, colorful and monochrome pallets are being explored as people in urban spaces negotiate the eclectic nature of the things they need and have.
Online shopping has also affected this design choice; purchasing modular appliances and equipment has never been this convenient. There’s also an influx of alternative options to traditional appliances- like a pedal-powered washing machine, more variations of the 3-in-1 breakfast machines, and much more.
Minimalism and ‘Keep Only What Sparks Joy’
As people acquire more stuff, losing track of the essentials becomes easier. This has to lead to growing discontent and dissatisfaction, feeling that consumerism has taken hold of us as a society, and we place more importance on material values.
Marie Kondo took the world by a storm took a few years ago, and people are still obsessed with her ‘MarieKon Method’ and tidying up their space. This is on top of a raging minimalism trend that has been going for a decade or so. Clean lines and white space are staples of this design philosophy, only keeping the bare essentials, and a monochromatic color palette, giving it a very clean look.
This clean look has lent itself to immense popularity as social media influencers, celebrities, and companies feature living spaces sporting a minimalist design. And even for regular people who simply want a clean and no-frills approach; minimalism is the way to go. Even in 2020 and onward, we can still expect minimalist design philosophy staying relevant.
Plants and Biophilic Design
One of the biggest surprises of recent times is the sudden popularity of decorative plants. Plants of all shapes and sizes now enjoy popularity as even young professionals join in the trend of using plants to add atmosphere to living and working spaces.
This new trend can be a gateway to another, more involved design trend called Biophilic design. This design concept extensively uses natural lighting, natural ventilation, and plants to create a healthier and more productive environment to live in.
Perhaps a good reason for this popularity of this trend is the fact that biophilic design can make people feel ‘more positive’. This may be the reason for the sudden influx of people buying decorative plants during times like these.
