December may be a time for reflection, but January is a time for looking forward. The new year brings new opportunities to reset, refresh, and live our best lives. It’s also the best time to set goals and make the changes you’ve always thought about, whether that means hitting the gym more often or finally painting your home office.
Giving your home’s interior decor a facelift is an easily achievable goal for 2020, and we encourage you to take some time to learn how decor trends will change this year. If you haven’t yet, take a look at our list of the Top 10 Design Trends for 2020 and read on to hear how experts forecast how interior design will change in the coming year.
Sustainability and Eco-Friendly Practices
In a recent article in Vogue, fashion designer Stella McCartney wrote about how she is doing her part to make her world more sustainable, from turning the ponds at her home into an independent sewage system to paper-mâché walls made out of shredded office papers in her London flagship store. It is increasingly difficult to ignore the need to reduce, reuse, and recycle in our everyday lives, and it’s easier than you think to incorporate eco-friendly decor into your design.
According to InteriorZine, many interior designers are expected to “create unusual and new materials based on recycling, alternative technologies, and a well-balanced approach” between the two. Chief among these efforts is to reduce the use of plastic in design and instead use natural materials like seagrass, bamboo, and corn.
Modern Urban vs. Luxury Living
It should come as no surprise that city living typically means having less space to work with. In this day and age, as modern urban living continues to evolve, the new middle class is looking for a space that is in tune with their everyday needs. The world has gone digital, with increasing numbers of people working from home and using their spaces in ways their parents may not have. Gone are the days of formal dining rooms; in are sleek spaces that can serve multiple functions, from rest to dining and dining. This has prompted a creative challenge for interior design professionals, who must design cost-effective spaces that can meet the needs of their clients.
Changes to Primary Living Spaces
There was once a day when kitchens, dining rooms, and living rooms were all compartmentalized—literally. But if you’ve ever seen a home renovation show, you know that primary living spaces that are open-concept are #1 on everybody’s list. The design of these spaces is constantly evolving, with InteriorZine reporting that an integrated kitchen-dining room “is a ‘must’ for modern life’s dynamic,” whether you’re entertaining business associates or keeping an eye on your kids while you prepare dinner. In addition to being downright useful, integrated spaces make your home look larger and make it easier to incorporate design elements across the board.
“Living” Kitchens
On average, how much time would you say you spend cooking in your kitchen? Conversely, how often do you use it primarily as a socialization space? As family dynamics change, so too do the ways we use our homes’ spaces. Fluid living spaces are a must, and “living” kitchens provide a stylish, comfortable, and functional space that works for your taste and lifestyle.
How many of these interior design elements do you think you can incorporate into your home in 2020? We challenge you to create a space that works for you—and the environment.