Top Home Design Trends IN and OUT for 2020

As we enter both a new year and a new decade, it’s time to consider what recent home design trends lie on the horizon and which ones are going out. To find out, we’ve taken a look at what new designs are causing the most buzz and which trends many people are saying goodbye to. Whether you’re planning a home renovation this year or buying a new home, your home mustn’t look like it belongs another time. So, sit back, get out some pen and paper, and read on for some inspiration on home design trends for 2020.

Design Trends that are IN…

Sustainable Natural Materials

With each passing year, sustainability becomes a more pressing issue. So much so that it’s now no longer a trend but an expected part of any home design. Buyers and homeowners are increasingly aware of the need for eco-friendliness in home design. They want to see energy-saving appliances and the use of natural, sustainable materials. But this desire for more eco-friendly designs doesn’t just stop at the practical. Increasingly, homeowners want to see it reflected in the décor of their homes.

It translates into pared-back minimalism that makes people feel more connected to nature. Expect to see more home designs that include fixtures and fittings made from natural wood, undyed yarns, and warm terra-cotta earthenware. As more people begin thinking long-term, there is an increased desire for materials and furnishings of a high quality that will last. Something that this trend plays perfectly.

Japanese Influences

With this trend of natural minimalism taking over, it’s hardly surprising to hear that the Japanese aesthetic will be making a comeback. This trend has always been around, but we can expect to see more of it this year. A sense of elegance combined with simplicity and purity is at the core of this style. The idea of finding beauty in Imperfection, known as Wabi-Sabi, is also central to this.

Expect to see more designers looking to Japan for home décor inspiration this year. Beyond bonsai trees and bamboo, expect to see more unique designs from the Japanese homeland. For instance, the wood-charring technique, Shou Sugi Ban, is becoming a popular texture for furnishings. This fits perfectly with the desire for eco-friendly materials.

Authenticity

The idea of home-as-sanctuary will grow this year as more people look for ways to design their homes to reflect their tastes and passions. Millennial homeowners are increasingly saying no to cookie-cutter home designs that you can pick out of a catalog. Instead, they want an “uber-unique” décor that sets them apart as individuals. Expect to see more individual home designs with hand-crafted materials in furnishings and architecture. But don’t think this is just about having a one-of-a-kind sofa or a uniquely handcrafted glass bowl. This is about authenticity and creating a décor that tells their story.

Earthy Vibrant Colors are the New Neutrals

Say goodbye to cool tones because now it’s all about earthy, vibrant color schemes. Expect to see more warm colors and saturated hues in tiles, cabinetry, and walls. Think natural, earthy tones that create a sense of the great outdoors—for example, tinted grays, tactile beiges, yellow ochre, and dusty greens. Subdued colors like this have usually been regulated to the background, but we expected them to rise to the fore in 2020.

Design Trends that are OUT… 

Cool Color Tones

With vibrant earthy colors now becoming the new trend, it stands to reason that cool neutral tones are out. Cool neutrals give off an institutional feeling and don’t gel with the desire to create spaces showing a homeowner’s personality. So if you’re thinking of redoing your all-white kitchen or replacing your grey sofa set with something more vibrant, don’t think twice. If you need some replacement ideas, look for colored cabinetry, dynamic stone counters, and patterned flooring.

The Faux Look

With the desire for authenticity being all the rage now, you can bet that faux-anything will be out. This relates to things like faux plants, faux finishes, and anything else that looks like something it’s not. As people look for more quality and authenticity in their home décor, they’ll start replacing their faux fixtures and fittings with the real thing. However, don’t expect faux to go away entirely. Faux fur throws will still be around since real fur, while still beautiful, isn’t ethical in this day and age. The difference is between faux that knows it’s faux and faux that’s trying to be something it’s not.

Accent Walls

Whether it’s wallpaper, a bright paint color, or a photo gallery, accent walls are going further out of style this year. While wallpapered accent walls can still work when made to serve as a significant art piece, we’ll likely see less of them this year. Having all four walls wallpapered or painted the same color will be more common.

Singular Design Schemes

People seek to create unique home designs that speak to their personalities so that fewer design schemes will be based on a unique look or trend. You could say that this is a trend of not having a trend, at least not an overall one. In keeping with the Japanese design principle of Wabi-Sabi, there will be a growing desire for less perfection in home design. This means a slight mix of two or more styles, like a modern style with vintage. So, if you’re planning a home renovation or new interior design, try to think a bit outside the box.

Single-Use Spaces

With the open-floor plan apartment becoming more common, how it’s being used is also evolving. Building on the desire for more sustainability, homeowners look for more practicality and less formality in their home design. It’s now a lot more common to see multi-use spaces, like a home office that doubles as a guest room or a home gym that doubles as a walk-in closet or reading room. Expect to see fewer single-use spaces this year as more homeowners look for ways to make every square inch of space count.