There’s no doubt about it. People have adapted to new ways of living in the last year, and these lifestyle changes will have a lasting impact on home design trends moving forward. As a changing modern family life takes shape, homeowners have been busy making improvements to their homes centered around making their homes better serve their lifestyle and habits. In fact, 70% of Americans tackled a home renovation project in 2020, and any others say they plan to do so in 2021!
So, what home design trends are on the rise? Below, we take a look at some of the biggest trends we’re seeing. You’ll find many of the trends listed below center around functionality, something that simply never goes out of style; however, we touch on a few noteworthy interior design trends as well.
Who knows? The next idea for your own home might be waiting below!
Kitchens for the Home Chef
With fewer options to eat out in 2020, people turned en masse to home-cooked meals, combing Pinterest for new recipes and expanding their cooking skills. With a passion for the culinary arts awakened, many homeowners are seeking features once requested by only the most serious home chefs. Added extras like a second prep sink, pot filler faucets, plenty of countertop space for prep, and professional-grade gas ranges are making their way into the mainstream of home kitchens. The result? Kitchens that elevate the kitchen experience by making prep, cooking, and clean-up more enjoyable!
And speaking of ease, there’s something else we are seeing a lot of – tech-savvy appliances designed to help home chefs keep their kitchens cleaner and more organized. While they’ve been on the market for a while now, tech-enhanced appliances like touchless faucets and smart fridges are enjoying a surge of popularity thanks to their role in making kitchens easier to use and keep clean.
–>Designed with cooking and entertaining in mind, this beautiful kitchen remodel of a century-old farmhouse included a professional-grade range, extra prep sink, and a host of other features for a couple who love to cook and entertain. Click to view the full kitchen remodel.
Kitchens That Work Smarter, Not Harder
Pantries and smart storage features have long been a priority when it comes to kitchen design and planning, but 2021 will move both even further into the limelight. More meals at home, paired with less trips for groceries, mean storage is needed more than ever before. 2021 is bringing a focus on additional shelving and more sophisticated pantry spaces, paired with features like in-drawer inserts and under-sink storage as homeowners seek to prevent clutter and keep everything highly organized. Alongside a boost in storage, we’re also seeing a push across the industry for kitchens that work smarter, not harder, with added elements that transform traditional kitchen components. This includes:
- Sink systems with a sliding cutting board, baskets, and integrated colander
- Drawers with built-in charging stations
- Two-tiered drawer inserts
- Lift-up mixing stands
The result? A hefty charge of functionality to our kitchens.
–>After finding their forever home, a family with young children dreamed of a kitchen and dining space remodeled just for them that included a host of storage features that allowed them to maximize their kitchen storage and functionality. Click to view the entire kitchen remodeling project.
Flexible and Quiet Spaces
If we could assign one word to 2021, it would be “flexibility.” A rise in families working, schooling, and living from home has led to homeowners looking to use the rooms in their homes for multiple purposes, often on the same day! Guest rooms with a built-in home office, more expansive eat-in kitchen space, and living spaces designed to entertain family and, when needed, guests are all examples of ways to incorporate flexibility into a home.
Another need for the modern family? Quiet spaces. While the past 10-15 years have been all about open floor spans and wide-open spaces, we’re seeing more requests for quiet spaces within a home. While this doesn’t mean a return to a closed-off floor plan, it does mean the incorporation of a small nook or room off of the great room for work or simply to get away and enjoy some quiet!
–>As part of a Minneapolis Riverview Condo remodel project, this large eat-in kitchen space was designed to provide our homeowners with a flexible, casual eating space that could also serve as extra seating space for guests. Click to view this full condo remodel project.
Focus on Comfort and Entertainment
Now, more than ever, homeowners are turning to design ideas that allow us to find enjoyment in our homes. What does this look like? It includes:
- Bathrooms with spa-like features like rain showers and heated flooring
- Family rooms designed for enjoying a family game night or the perfect moving viewing experience
- Larger windows designed to allow for more natural light and better views of the outdoors
Color and interior design trends are also following suit. Behr, Sherwin Williams, and Pantone have all incorporated warmer, comforting color palettes for 2021 designed to create a relaxed atmosphere. We’re also seeing the incorporation of natural and organic elements, both within the kitchen and bath space and throughout the home. This includes live plants, matte finishes for a softer appearance, and warmer tones in terms of décor, wall color, and even cabinetry.
Sawhill — Your Home Design Trends and Home Remodeling Resource in the Minneapolis & St. Paul Area
Considering making improvements to your home? With over 50 years of experience in luxury home design, planning, and remodeling services in the Twin Cities metro, Sawhill is one of the premier design/build/remodel companies in our area. Frankly speaking, we’ve been around to see trends come and go and we understand how to implement them in a way that is timeless, and most importantly, best suited to your needs and aesthetic. Contact us today to begin a conversation about your home and your project. We can’t wait to hear from you.