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2021 Trends

If there’s anything 2020 has taught us, it’s that home really is where the heart is. With so many of us spending more time than usual at home due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it’s no surprise that many of us have invested money in improving our properties.  The lockdown due to the pandemic created "ideal conditions" for many homeowners to start or finish their renovation plans.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), the value of renovation works increased in August 2020, up by 7% to $748m. This was the highest level recorded since April 2016. And with the surge in home improvements expected to continue this year, here we look at some of the top interior design trends for 2021.

Pantone 2021

The Pantone Colour of the Year is usually an accurate indicator of the sorts of tones and design schemes we’ll start to see more and more of in the home. This year, Pantone surprised the industry by announcing not just one Colour of the Year, but two – Ultimate Gray teamed with an eye-catching yellow, Illuminating.

Commenting, Pantone said: “A message of happiness supported by fortitude, the combination of Ultimate Gray and Illuminating is aspirational and gives us hope.”

The grey provides a soft, neutral base for the yellow to stand out against. When decorating a room in these colours, you could choose to inject additional bright, spring shades of complementary colours such as pink, purple and blue, as seen in Pantone’s suggested Enlightenment colour scheme. Alternatively, you could opt for more earthy tones, including a darker, reddy-brown, as seen in Pantone’s Sun and Shadow palette. 

For the former, Miplank in Silver Birch would tie in well thanks to its grey undertones, while Carbon Teak from the same range would look great against the latter.

Dulux 2021

Dulux has announced its three nurturing palettes for 2021 that evoke familiarity and comfort: Retreat, Nourish and Reset.  

Nourish

Natural beauty with biophilic hues of mossy and sage greens, turmeric and citrus.

A natural, cool wood-effect flooring such as Superplank in Grey Gum would help to seamlessly bring this aesthetic together.

Reset

Uplifting hues of blue-green and energetic reds inspired by the 70s.

A contemporary range like Expona Commercial, with its collection of natural mineral designs and modern man-made materials works well with these uplifting tones. It features clean and rustic stone effects, strong slate designs and raw industrial surfaces. Extensively researched and developed, the collections cool neutral palette beautifully replicates the unpredictability of classic materials. Expona Commercial in India Ink Slate would balance out the Reset colours perfectly.

Retreat

Stormy blues channel tranquility, whilst essential whites and burgundy feed our sense of the familiar.

Team these colours with the timeless Camaro in Cambridge Parquet and you have created a striking, classic country look.

Julia Green, Greenhouse Interiors
“I always look forward to the annual Dulux Colour Forecast launch and learning about the latest themes and palettes. I’ve really enjoyed styling with these colours and demonstrating their flexibility when used in the home.”
Camaro Cambridge Parquet

LVTs give you total flexibility when it comes to laying the flooring out, so you’re not restricted to fitting them in straight lines. Herringbone is a popular and classic look to give your home an instant update.  

Bold Industrial

Although the industrial trend has been around for a while now, it’s slowly been evolving away from dull grey tones and raw materials to a look that’s a bit more sophisticated and bolder.

Yes, we’re still seeing Crittall windows, doors and partitions – those with the black steel frames – and concrete style worktops and flooring, such as the Expona Commercial in Industrial Steel or the darker Iron Ore. But to bring the industrial trend up to date, team these features with bold colours on the wall, such as a striking pink, burnt terracotta or lime green, and go overboard on your lighting and other fixtures, particularly in brass or dark coloured metal.

Dark accents, which are common as part of the industrial or warehouse style, are also being seen more now on staircases. Add a daring black or dark grey paint to your steps and banisters, and team with the timeless Camaro Cambridge Parquet (pictured above) flooring in your hallway to create a striking, modern industrial style.

Expona Commercial Industrial Steel

Multipurpose Spaces

From a more practical point of view, flexible spaces in the home are now a top priority for many. Whether that’s creating a home office, study space for children, or a snug that you can turn into a cinema room or open up to become part of the open-plan living area, flexibility in the home is a huge consideration.

But just because a space is practical, doesn’t mean it can’t look great too. Neutral tones can be brought to life with artwork and accessories, while different types of lighting can help to change the mood or look depending what the space is used for. A practical, easy to maintain flooring such as Camaro can be used throughout such spaces to keep a consistent feel and you can separate different zones using rugs, sliding doors or wall partitions.

Whichever home interiors trends you’re considering for your own home, we’re sure to have the best flooring to give it the perfect finishing look.

See what our flooring looks like in your own home using our flooring visualiser and order your free samples today.