If there is one thing you can say about design trends, it’s that oftentimes what’s old is new again. RealtorMagazine lists a few design trends for 2021 that also prove the adage about necessity being the mother of invention based on the past pandemic year.

Open floor plans, all the rage for years, are now being considered too open for households who seek privacy for work and school while everyone is at home. Home offices are now necessities instead of luxuries, with homebuyers searching for homes that contain them in larger and larger numbers. The idea is to create nooks or pockets for Zoom calls, lounging, exercising, and e-learning, design experts say. “New buyers are asking for homes with more separation, as sometimes multigenerational families share a home and need space and privacy amongst themselves,” Yorgos Tsibiridis, a broker at Douglas Elliman in the Hamptons, told realtor.com®.

Another trend includes bringing nature inside once again, as homeowners crave nature and are bringing in more houseplants and indoor gardens. The desire for more natural and organic elements also include a trend toward wood-grain kitchen cabinets and counters. National Kitchen & Bath Association’s Bill Darcy, told realtor.com® this may be another sign of tying home design elements to nature. Perhaps because of this that all-white kitchen will be reserved for the smallest of spaces.

Solitude has become more precious than ever, with fireplaces, fire pits, patios and decks, screened-in porches, and outdoor kitchens all having gained popularity during the pandemic. Outdoor kitchens with outdoor refrigerators and dining areas in their backyards are becoming elaborate spaces, giving families an alternative setting after spending days on end talking into computer screens.

Whatever you can say about 2020, it only proves that American families are continuously adapting to their surroundings. And it would not be surprising if these pandemic-caused trends don’t persist long after the last COVID-19 vaccination is administered.

Source: RealtorMagazine | TBWS