Happy New Year and what a crazy full on start of the year it’s been already. As always, a new year brings new trends so I thought I would share some of my design predictions for 2021, focusing on the importance of wellness in our homes and how it can have a huge impact on us.

Biophilic Design

I attended a fascinating lecture on Biophilic design a few years ago and I was very impressed with the results from the research around this.

Biophilia (meaning love of nature) focuses on our innate attraction to nature and natural processes. Now bear with me as this is when it gets interesting. It suggests that we all have a genetic connection to the natural world and uses these ideas as principles to create a human centred approach that when applied has benefits to our health and well-being. Sound too good to be true? Well the research shows otherwise. Broadly speaking the design principle incorporates elements of nature (either directly or indirectly) into our environment and the results have shown that our stress levels, blood pressure levels and heart rates reduce, whilst productivity, creativity and our well-being increase.

So, who doesn’t want some of that in their home? I was particularly interested to learn about these benefits with hospital patients and office workers however, I have since seen more of the benefits it can have on our homes and the increased need for this design over the last year.

Japandi

‘Two heads are better than one’ and Japandi is a perfect example of this. A blend of Japanese minimalism and pared back Scandinavian style results in a design centred on simplicity. What’s not to love? Taking aspects of beauty in the imperfect ( ‘wabi-sabi’) and cosiness and comfort (‘hygge’) this creates a simplistic yet highly functional space which pays homage to natural beauty. This merging of design aesthetics helps to create a feeling of wellness and contentment.

Eco-friendly Design

We are all re-evaluating our impact on the world and eco-friendly design plays a huge part in this. Good design allows for endless reuse. This can sometimes come with a higher price tag, so a more purse friendly option is up-cycling, repairing and buying second hand and with this has come a drive for people wanting to learn new skills.

Learning a craft where you use your hands allows us to get back to who we are. Our senses engage and with a need for productivity and focus on a single task we feel enlivened with the results. The talented Leonor Macramaker is a perfect example of this. Leonor started macramé by chance using its creativity as a mental health support and now she designs and creates eco-fibre art for homes and business interiors.

Cocooning Furniture

Those curvaceous shaped sofas with snuggly fabrics have been exploding all over Instagram over the last few years and with our increased need for a comfortable and homely environment they are not going anywhere. If you don’t have space for a deliciously curvaceous sofa, consider an armchair or textured fabric which you can cosy into.

Wellness

We all want somewhere to escape to after a long day and with lockdown and home working it is so important to be able to switch off from the working day. Bathrooms have always been a place for relaxation, and I have found that clients are lusting after luxurious bathtubs even more so now. Don’t get me wrong there is still that want for a shower but there is a greater desire to have a more spa like bathroom and statement bathtubs are a great way to achieve this.

*Images: Drummonds & Clare Marie Design*

Colour Green

The colour green, in particular tones of sage green, is a big colour trend for kitchens. It is all about that need of bringing the outside inside and immersing yourself in nature. Green is a soothing and timeless colour, but by all means it doesn’t have to be kept to just the kitchen.

So, that’s my little snapshot into the design future… Have you spotted the same trends? Take it or leave them, I believe a few of these are here to stay for a good few years. Here’s to a healthy and happy 2021!

January Hot List