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The 8 home interior trends to embrace in 2021

Headshot of Jade Jurewicz
Jade JurewiczThe West Australian
With technology advancing furniture could be made from waste, bacteria and fungi in 2021.
Camera IconWith technology advancing furniture could be made from waste, bacteria and fungi in 2021. Credit: Rikki Snyder/Houzz

If there is anything 2020 has taught about our homes it is that this space needs to balance comfort, style and practicality... and that we should have a back-up stockpile of toilet paper.

The way we use our homes was turned on its head as lines were blurred between living and working spaces.

We suddenly were aware of the best lighting in the home for Zoom calls, that snacks won’t suddenly appear in the fridge even if you check 20 times a day and that our stylish dining room table chairs weren’t all that comfortable eight hours in.

So when Houzz, a global hub for interior designers, renovators, architects and homeowners, were putting together their annual list of home design predictions based on their most popular photos, search terms and professional insights, it is fair to say the list looked a little different following the rollercoaster that was 2020.

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Here is what their very fittingly dubbed A Brave New World 2021 predictions look like.

1. The rise in antibacterial materials

Expect to see more automatic washbasins, such as this striking black one, in the home.
Camera IconExpect to see more automatic washbasins, such as this striking black one, in the home. Credit: Mia Mortensen/Houzz

Taking it one step further than having hand sanitizer scattered across every space in the home, Houzz say there will be a rise in automatic washbasins, touch-less flushing, and infrared sensors in bathrooms to meet the desire to reduce unnecessary touching.

The focus on hygiene will also extend to surface coatings that are bacteriostatic — materials capable of inhibiting the growth or reproduction of bacteria — and antimicrobial metals, which include copper, brass and bronze.

2. Artistic tiles

Tiles are expected to make a bold statement in 2021.
Camera IconTiles are expected to make a bold statement in 2021. Credit: Lauren Andersen/Houzz

Fans of The Block will know a striking tile can make or break a room, and that it can be a tedious task finding the perfect design and for it to be delivered on time. According to Houzz, in 2021 we’ll see more international artists working with manufacturers to put their unique spin on tiles. Also, keep your eye out for zellige tiles, which are handmade in Morocco, as experts say we’ll see a rise in them in everywhere from the kitchen to the bathroom.

3. Bricks

Bricks are back both inside and outside of the home.
Camera IconBricks are back both inside and outside of the home. Credit: Houzz

Plenty of people attempted a bit of DIY in isolation to jazz up their home, which included a fresh lick of paint in living spaces. Houzz predict homeowners will be taking these revamps one step further in 2021 by introducing brick features into the space to add texture and warmth.

4. Clever small home design

Small and awkward spaces will be utilised more using clever design techniques.
Camera IconSmall and awkward spaces will be utilised more using clever design techniques. Credit: Renotech Building

With some of the most-searched terms on Houzz being small apartment and U-shaped kitchen, it makes sense that homeowners are getting space-savvy by utilising the limited area available to them. This has resulted in a demand in study nooks and clever joinery to maximise smaller spaces.

5. Adaptive large-home layouts

Larger spaces will be used as a living space, library, study and more.
Camera IconLarger spaces will be used as a living space, library, study and more. Credit: Paolo Fusco/Houzz

Another term that was highly searched for on Houzz was modular, with more homeowners seeking to make the larger spaces in their home more flexible. Whether done through non-permanent walls that can be shifted or inventive ways to allow parts of rooms to be opened or shut off when needed, this trend reflects the way families worked in 2020 — in happy (or at times, not so joyous) unison.

6. Nature of saviour

Embracing greenery inside the home, for example through indoor courtyards, will be big.
Camera IconEmbracing greenery inside the home, for example through indoor courtyards, will be big. Credit: CplusC Architectural Workshop/Murray Fredericks

Likely coming as no surprise, a 2020 Houzz survey revealed an outdoor area was the most desired home improvement. This desire also translated into work for architects and interior designers who said there has been a demand for designs that connect the indoors with the outdoors through elements such as green roofs, internal courtyards and garden walls. Or if all else fails, the indoor plant trend shows no sign of slowing down either.

7. Biodesign

With technology advancing furniture could be made from waste, bacteria and fungi in 2021.
Camera IconWith technology advancing furniture could be made from waste, bacteria and fungi in 2021. Credit: Rikki Snyder/Houzz

If you’re wondering what this futuristic term means, you’re not the only one. According to Fast Company “put simply, biodesign is the intersection between biology and design: It’s a growing movement (literally) of scientists, artists, and designers that integrates organic processes and materials into the creation of our buildings, our products, and even our clothing.”.

Their example is growing a chair out of mycelium, the mushroom fungus that makes for a surprisingly durable material for furniture. And while the regular Australian home may not have a mushroom-made chair in it anytime soon, Houzz said science is beginning to innovate design in Australia — stay tuned.

8. Natural and rich colour palettes

Colour palettes inspired by nature are expected to used in every space of the home in 2021.
Camera IconColour palettes inspired by nature are expected to used in every space of the home in 2021. Credit: Jordi Folch/Houzz

In addition to fungus chairs and green walls, Houzz experts said nature inspired tones will be making their way into the home too, with sand, soft greens, warm browns and terracottas being the colours of choice.

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