The Biggest Home Decor Trends Of 2021

2020 forced everyone to spend a whole lot more time at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Once everyone realized they would be confined to both working and living in their home, they inevitably started to rethink their spaces. Some attempted to tweak and redefine their surroundings in order to be more comfortable and functional. For example, if you aren't fortunate enough to have an extra room for an office, now may be the time to create a designated work area in your home.

This desire for rethinking and revamping living spaces has created an explosion of new home decor trends which range from nature-inspired, to nostalgic, to high-tech options. With everyone so hyper-focused on their home environments, creativity flourished, and the interior decorating landscape has been forever changed. While some of these trends first appeared in 2020, others are brand new. These are the aesthetics that'll shape the rest of the year and will likely continue to inspire well into 2022.

The more relaxed and personalized your space is, the more inspired and productive you will be on the daily. So if you have not made changes, you may want to consider incorporating some fresh, new ideas into your living area. To get started, read on for all the hottest trends that should be on your radar this year to ensure your home looks just as stylish and up-to-date as your wardrobe. Not only will these changes step up the look, they will also make you feel so great.

One of the biggest trends of 2020 is undoubtedly carrying into 2021. Last year's decor saw an explosion of natural textures such as rattan, wicker, and caning in furniture and home accessories. QE Home designer Ross Thompson told Insider, "Rattan and wicker details are on their way in," and added, "these natural materials add warmth and lightness to home decor." Consider adding this style to your home in large pieces like headboards and cabinets or with smaller accents like baskets and trinkets. Pick up a rattan mat instead of an area rug for a great touch.

There was also a renewed interest in natural shades for every room of the house. Warm natural colors like terracotta, beige, camel, and the full spectrum of brown shades are much more on-trend than their cooler neutral counterparts. Design experts at Houzz said, "A trend that came up again and again was a renewed interest in shades of brown. Warm taupes, beiges, sands—basically any earth tone is surging in popularity" (via Real Simple). The great advantage about staying in a neutral family for your decorating project is you can add any color you'd like to your table settings and floral arrangements to switch things up for each season or holiday.

In 2020, when so many people around the world found themselves spending an extended period of time at their homes, many attempted to bring nature indoors through houseplants. It looks like in 2021 — and beyond — being a plant person will continue to be on trend. Hilton Carter, a plant stylist, gave some pretty great advice on decorating your space in lush greenery (via Veranda). Some of Carter's favorite indoor plants include the philodendron 'Xanadu' and Australian tree fern.

Not only do plants freshen up the air in your home, but they also have been proven to reduce stress levels, help you focus, and even aid in recovering from illness. Whether you live in a poorly lit apartment or a bright and sunny home, there are a number of houseplant options that are sure to absolutely thrive in your particular space. Plants will definitely liven up your space and give it an overall cheerful look and feel. Just make absolutely sure you do proper research before bringing houseplants into your space if you have pets, as some can be toxic to cats and dogs.

While light, bright, and airy interiors have been popular for years now, 2021 is seeing a return of darker hues. Some of the year's hottest paint colors are dark and moody, bringing a sense of drama and dimension to any space. After spending so much time at home in 2020, people wanted to make their homes feel cozy and inviting, which is easily achieved through painting the walls darker colors like charcoal, burgundy, navy, forest green, or even black. 

According to Insider, although light and neutral paint colors have been trending more recently, dark colors for walls are all the rage. Even HGTV's Ben and Erin Napier from "Home Town" told Insider, "People are less afraid of dark rooms now. I think it's exciting to see more of a return to color on the wall — dark, saturated, moody color." In fact, one of the more recent episodes of "Home Town," Erin expressed her excitement of dark paint colors, explaining that they really make a room pop. It's definitely a bold move to paint your walls black or charcoal, but a dark, striking room really creates a "wow" look.

While this trend isn't brand new, it's important to know that it isn't going anywhere any time soon. Blush — also known now as millennial pink—has been popular in interiors as well as fashion and graphic design for the past few years. My Domain called blush the "new black", suggesting it could be used for accent walls, upholstery, and in bright prints. 

The color adds a soft, modern touch to any space. Blush can vary greatly from extremely pale hues which are barely identifiable as being pink to punchier tones that make more of a statement. It can be used for walls in any room of the house but is also a great accent color for those who aren't quite ready to commit to an entirely pink room. It is a very easy color to blend with other colors you'd like to bring into the room.

While minimalist interior design has been popular in years past, 2021 is all about cozy maximalism. If you feel as though you accumulated a lot more stuff in 2020, you're not alone. With everyone spending so much time confined to their homes, many found themselves collecting things that brought them joy. Rather than hiding away all of the knickknacks and accessories that show of your personality, put them on display so that the rooms of your home reflect your passions and interests. 

Don't be afraid to mix colors, patterns, and textures in order to create visual layering. According to Apartment Therapy, designer and owner of Right Meets Left Interior Design, Courtney McLeod told the outlet, "Maximalist design is all about expressing your individuality and unique perspective." McLeod continued to say, "Maximalists don't care what the 'Joneses' will think; they design for their own joy, incorporating well-considered and bold color palettes, interesting prints, statement lighting, and curated accessories. For me, it's not about too much stuff in a space — it's about creating a bold and interesting mix for the eye to enjoy."

In order to kept things look cohesive, consider painting the walls white to provide a neutral backdrop or sticking to a color scheme so that the end result looks polished rather than purely chaotic. Your end result will be an eclectic masterpiece, a space that you will truly enjoy spending time in. A minimalistic approach seems to be fading out, and maximalism is in.