2021 Decor Trends Perfect For First Time Home Owners

Interior design trends come and go at the drop of a hat, so it can be hard for even the most on-trend first-time buyers to make their home feel contemporary.

When you buy a home you don’t want to leave it as it is. You want to add your own style, influenced by popular trends that bring your home into the 21st century — whether it’s a new build or restoration project.

With endless white spaces and faux furniture set to be on its way out in 2021, here are some modern decor trends perfect for first-time home buyers.

Cottagecore

Taylor Swift’s transformation into a log cabin-loving folk singer was about more than just the tunes. Cottagecore was one of the stand out trends of late 2020, as locked-down homeowners started to dream about a simpler life away from their metropolitan homes and endless Zoom calls.

In 2021, Cottagecore is set to continue its evolution and go mainstream.

Cottagecore is about more than buying somewhere quaint in the English countryside and growing your own veg. It’s about making your home one with nature, bringing outside elements indoors with creative furnishings and turning your growing houseplant collection into a centrepiece of your new home.

While the popularity of Cottagecore’s aesthetics can make some furniture a little pricy for first-time buyers, upscaling reclaimed furniture into beautiful vintage adornments can give your home a decidedly rural and classic feel.

If you live miles from the nearest field and don’t own a single hand-crafted dress, you can still live the Cottagecore dream with rural, nature-focused wall patterns on beautiful quality wallpaper.

Perfect for: autumnal Sunday mornings baking by the window.

Industrial styling

In contrast to the Cottagecore boom, some buyers and home interior designers are finding themself drawn to the pull of New York lofts and open-plan offices, bringing industrial stylings into their home decor.

While grey kitchens marked by Apple products and endless appliances might be heading out the trend window in 2021, there is still a certain charm about more traditional industrial elements. Rather than flawless space grey finishes, exposed stonework, high ceilings, metalwork and varnished wood is in. Fuss-free and modern, industrial stylings are more adaptable and achievable in the home than you might have previously thought.

The thing about this trend is how well it works with modern furniture. High-gloss, modern tables and chairs contrast wonderfully with exposed brick for a decidedly different dining experience. While the minimalistic style and bold colours found on affordable Ikea furniture can complement the exposed elements left behind after a rebuild project.

If you’re looking to blend your modern lifestyle with an industrial aesthetic, this is the trend for you.

Perfect for: making the most of your adventure in the big city.

Japandi furniture

Scandi and Japanese designs are two of the most popular themes in interior design, so it makes sense a melding of the two would be so popular among first-time buyers in 2021.

The perhaps awkwardly-named Japandi trend elegantly combines the neat, minimalistic lines of Japanese design with rustic Scandinavian craftsmanship.

Are you looking to give your living areas that beautiful coffee shop aesthetic or fill your home with organically crafted furniture from locally-sourced wood? Japandi is the trend for you.

Simplicity in decor is a wonderful way to make up for a lack of budget. Japandi isn’t about compromising on quality, but finding the beauty in design that doesn’t overcomplicate things.

Playing into all the modern favourites among 20-something first-time buyers, Japandi is set to take over interior design in 2021. This guide is a great place to start when bringing natural colours and subtle designs into your new home.

Perfect for: wowing guests at soft summer evening dinner parties.

Prioritising home offices and snugs

Now that remote working is a part of so many of our lives, creating spaces where you can both get in the zone and separate yourself from your job is crucial for any homeowner.

A home office and little snugs to step away from the world are big trends building on the stuck-at-home year that was 2020. These spaces are designed to spark creativity, encourage focus and provide comfort.

This trend will look to develop contemporary home offices featuring classic, multi-purpose furniture and plenty of:

• Comfort focused seating
• Crisp, clear and ordered lines
• Natural lighting and airflow

Snugs, on the other hand, are a moment to step away from everything and put your mind at ease. Home libraries and mini-theatres that makes use of awkward spaces could be the trend for post-COVID homeowners looking to do something different with the four walls they’ve had a year to stare at. Some creative ideas include:

• Bean bags that replace traditional chairs
• Warm, fun colours that invite kids to share the space
• Grand leather armchairs and fireplaces for that sitting room aura

These rooms provide homes with a texture and warmth perfect for the Winter months as they are relaxing in Spring and Summer heat.

Perfect for: parent buyers looking to both embolden their careers and build a space all to themselves.

So there we have it: four distinctly different trends sure to grab your attention and inspire you to bring your new home into the 21st century.

Contemporary with traditional flourishes, these are trends that suit the moment perfect for people who live for beautiful craftsmanship and originality in their decor.

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