2021 Home Decor Trends: 5 Top New Trends

2021 Home Decor Trends are unique, exciting and inspiring. With people spending so much time at home for the past year and a half, it's no surprise that tastes have evolved and requirements have changed. From balancing style and practicality to the battle between broken and open plan room layouts, we're fascinated by the 2021 home decor trends. These modern interior design ideas are inspiring and refreshing. Keep reading to discover what's making interior designers tick this year. You may be surprised...

2021 Home Decor Trends

1. Maximalism

It's no secret that minimalism has long been a favourite among interior designers. Celebrated in homes, from Scandi style pads to New York lofts, minimalism embodies "less is more". At Raft, we've always interpreted this trend with a sprinkle of warmth, rejecting any living space that doesn't feel lived in. However, we cannot deny our affinity with simple silhouettes, neutral colour schemes and stylish storage solutions.

Despite this, we must admit we have been tempted by features of the maximalist trend. Channeling self-expression, free-spirit and playful layering, maximalism has skyrocketed in popularity in the past year. Want to know how to approach maximalism with a Raft twist?

Manhattan Sofa with Chaise, Teak Root Side Table, Sling Chair

In the photo above, we show our take on the maximalist trend, cultivating calm despite quirky interiors.

Feature walls such as painted exposed bricks and sage green cabinetry, embellished with pendant lighting and gold accents are a fantastic place to start for a room that bursts with vibrancy without being overwhelming. We also encourage adding indoor foliage for colour and organic shapes.

From here, a true maximalist might add a printed sofa but in true Raft style we opted for earthy tones so we have the option to rotate seasonal throws and cushions.

2. Broken Plan

The shift from open to broken plan was an unexpected albeit necessary transition in 2021. At the dawn of the first lockdown, home owners were yearning for open plan designs that maximised spaciousness, light and air. Open plan living means eliminating the divide between functional rooms to give a fluid feel. However, since working from home, home-schooling, hosting and "stay inside" orders dominated the messages of 2020, 2021 called for a shift towards broken plan.

Neve Bench, Neve Dining Table, Sol Chairs

Broken-plan living is about using the different sections to provide different themes, moods and purposes. Cultivating different sections in your home with oversized plants, corner units, partitions and bookcases is the trick. The power of broken plan living is in the way it protects your peace. Since Covid-19 lockdowns forced families to stay at home, we've all began to cherish the importance of privacy. Dining spaces in particular have seen a transformation. The traditional dining room has long been a thing of the past, with contemporary trends leaning towards an open plan kitchen diner. However, 2021 home decor trends suggest a statement wooden partition could help you strike the perfect balance.

3. Beige is the new black 

Beige is just one of those trends that keeps coming back. This warm neutral stands for comfort and nature, demonstrating how bringing the outside in is dominating 2021 home decor trends. The organic charm of beige has taken over interior design Instagram and Pinterest, showing a notable shift away from more rigid monochrome palettes.

Seattle Sofa

In fact, PPG named their colour of the year as beige shade "Transcend". The choice (and name) sings to us at Raft, as major champions of neutrals lending to timelessness. Dee Schlotter, PPG senior color marketing manager, architectural and industrial coatings, said in a statement:

“This organic and hopeful palette represents what we have been longing for after decades of overstimulation and overconsumption – simplicity and restfulness.”

4. Curvy Sofas 

For years, straight lines and structured furniture were leading trends. With Scandi minimalism and clean silhouettes at the forefront of European interior design, sofas with square arms were the popular choice. However, since stay at home orders, we've seen a shift towards true home comforts. We're welcoming the return of soft edges, curved lines and furniture that oozes comfort. We've even seen puffy furniture trending in interior design magazines and Pinterest.

Lincoln Corner Unit

For us, this shift in tastes has meant the rise of the Lincoln. Our Lincoln Sofa is luxury epitomised. The soft and sensual curve of the arms creates an irresistibly tactile experience, while the deep seat invites you to get lost in comfort. Incorporating the gentle flow of rounded edges and plush cushions offers the perfect softening touch to your interiors. Available as a corner unit, sofa, armchair or loveseat.

5. 2021 Home Decor Must-Have: Dedicated Home Office 

At first, stay at home orders meant working from bed, the sofa... anywhere that was comfortable. Then, as we discovered we'd be working from home for over three weeks, most people set up camp at the kitchen table. However, by this point it seems to be the general consensus that a home office is a necessary staple. For the homeowners who have found themselves working from home for the foreseeable future, this is an absolute necessity in terms of 2021 home decor trends.

Hudson Office Desk, Hudson Cabinet, Adelaide Chair, Domme Lamp, Large Concrete Pot

We love the idea of giving your home office an individual theme to ensure it's easy to compartmentalise. That's why we chose to style our Home Office with charcoal walls for maximum impact. The contrast between the earthiness of the teak and the deep, charcoal walls is the perfect set-up for a creative home office; inspiring and rich in style. In the words of Andrew Martin's Martin Waller: "A home office must be designed as a space to induce thought".