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Interior Design Trends for 2021

The article discusses interior design trends for 2021, moving beyond superficial aesthetics to focus on functionality, health, safety, and carbon footprint. While many mainstream predictions suggest a return to 'grandmillennial' or 'granny chic' styles, characterized by clutter, floral wallpaper, wicker, rattan, and antique items, the author challenges these ideas by highlighting their practical drawbacks, such as difficulty in cleaning and potential for harboring bacteria or mold. The author, who teaches sustainable design, advocates for trends rooted in public health and environmental considerations, drawing parallels to design shifts that occurred after pandemics and health crises a century ago. The article proposes several key interior design trends for 2021. Firstly, it emphasizes the importance of reintroducing vestibules and mudrooms. These transitional spaces serve multiple practical purposes, including preventing the tracking of dirt indoors, facilitating handwashing before entering the main living areas, improving thermal efficiency by acting as airlocks, and providing secure spots for package deliveries. Examples of innovative uses, such as converting entry halls into combined bathrooms and laundry areas, are cited to illustrate the versatility of these spaces. Secondly, the article declares the end of the open-plan living concept. With a significant portion of the workforce expected to continue working from home post-pandemic, there is a renewed need for privacy and dedicated spaces for work or quiet reflection. The open-plan layout, popular for decades, is seen as incompatible with the demands of simultaneous remote work, online meetings, and domestic life, leading to a shift towards more subdivided spaces and the re-establishment of 'rooms' with doors for acoustic and visual separation. Thirdly, the article advocates for flexible and multipurpose rooms and furnishings. It notes that modern living requires spaces to adapt to various activities, from sleeping and working out to serving as home offices. This concept is supported by historical precedents, where rooms and furniture were designed to be adaptable and movable to meet changing needs throughout the day. The article references historical furniture designs, such as easily transportable chests and light, portable tables, highlighting how flexibility was once a cornerstone of home design. The argument is made that light, movable furniture also promotes cleanliness, echoing the principles of modernist design movements. Fourthly, the piece calls for the return of the 'country kitchen' or a closed kitchen model. The pandemic has led to an increase in home cooking, and the article suggests that the open kitchen, especially those with large, multipurpose islands, is often impractical and even unhealthy. It critiques the idea of children doing homework on surfaces used for food preparation and advocates for a kitchen design that allows for separation between cooking zones and dining/work areas, similar to Julia Child's kitchen, which featured a central table separate from the working surfaces. The ideal kitchen is described as being large, a focal point, and integrated with outdoor access for ventilation. Finally, the article stresses the importance of making all surfaces washable and, if possible, antibacterial. It highlights materials like Marmoleum, which are natural, easy to clean, and possess natural bacteria-killing properties, as ideal choices. The emphasis is on selecting materials that do not harbor germs or mold, suggesting alternatives to paper-faced drywall. The author also strongly criticizes hazardous bathtub designs, particularly freestanding tubs without grab bars, deeming them a safety hazard and a design malpractice. The article concludes by urging designers and homeowners to prioritize function, health, safety, and environmental impact over superficial aesthetics, quoting an expert who reinforces the importance of indoor air quality, biophilia, and better-designed, rather than just bigger, spaces, as timeless principles applicable beyond the pandemic context. #InteriorDesign #HomeTrends #SustainableDesign #PostPandemicLiving #HealthInDesign #FlexibleSpaces #KitchenDesign #HomeSafety #InteriorDesign #HomeTrends #SustainableDesign #PostPandemicLiving #HealthInDesign #FlexibleSpaces #KitchenDesign #HomeSafety
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