Big Renovation Plans for 2021? See What Trends Are In and What's Out

The pandemic and a year of lockdown life have impacted every part of our lives. Especially our homes. 

As businesses and schools sent employees and students home, the bedroom became a conference room and the kitchen table became a homeschooling space. 

After a few weeks of working from the couch in our pajamas, reality set it. We realized that our homes weren’t designed for all the roles they would play during the shutdown. So ever industrious, we made changes to our homes to fit our new reality. These changes are resulting in new trends that are pushing out some old staples of design. 

With stimulus checks flowing into Americans’ bank accounts, many homeowners are planning renovations. If you’re considering a home renovation--big or small--you’ll want to check out what 2021 renovation and design trends are in. 

You might be surprised to see what trends are out. 

More than anything else, Americans are looking for a balanced and functional live-work space. We want a home where we can be hyper-productive when working and find Zen calmness when relaxing. 

It’s not an easy balance to hit. But these tips will help you find it.

Single-purpose rooms are out. Multi-purpose spaces are in. 

This year, people are getting creative with their spaces. A spare bedroom your in-laws use once a year no longer makes sense. It could be a workspace, a playroom, a yoga studio, or a homeschooling room. 

Or maybe it could be all of the above. But designing a room that accommodates so many activities presents its own issues.

Minimalist open floor plans are out. Maximalist closed layouts are in. 

There has been a premium on creative storage because...well, Amazon. It turns out when you’re sitting in a Zoom meeting, you can find lots of time to scroll through Amazon and buy, buy, buy. 

And when you’re not spending money on eating out and social events, it’s easy to justify lots of Amazon purchases.

As we amass more stuff, we have to find more places to store it. So again, we go look to Amazon. It’s a self-perpetuating cycle.

As you can imagine, this kind of lifestyle doesn’t lend itself well to minimalism. And that’s ok because the austere feel of minimalism doesn’t lend itself well to lockdown life. We don’t want cold and clinical. We want warm and welcoming.

So styles are trending toward maximalism, collection, and variety. It’s more stimulating to our senses.  

But sometimes, we need to block out stimulation. That’s one reason open floor plans are also heading out. Open floor plans were great for hosting and for keeping an eye on children. But they’re not great for completing work.

Sure, open floor plans make a home feel large and spacious, but they aren’t conducive to concentration. When your spouse is on a conference call, your children are (supposed to be) doing homework, and you’re struggling to find a place to concentrate, open floor plans don’t deliver.

So in 2021, closed layouts are becoming more standard. We’re seeing a move toward closed-off spaces that can function in multiple ways.   

Neutral colors are out. Bold and experimental are in.

Something was calming about leaving the chaos of work and returning home to a nice neutral home. However, when you’re limited to one space all day, seeing the same bland colors can get old. 

So instead of playing it safe, we’re seeing a move toward more daring self-expression. Homeowners want to design spaces that reflect their personalities and that set the desired mood. Bright, energized colors for workspaces and fitness areas. Soothing, calming colors for relaxing areas. 

With that in mind, it’s no surprise that the appeal of the all-white kitchen is fading. People want color and functionality.

Recreation, relaxation, and entertainment are in.

More than any other type of renovation, we’re seeing more homes adding spaces and features to make their homes more enjoyable and relaxing. 

As sales of home fitness equipment skyrocket, we’re seeing more spaces dedicated to workout activities. Basements, garages, and even living rooms now hold dumbbells, yoga mats, and Pelotons. 

With theaters closed and wide access to movies through streaming services, many are adding home theaters to abodes. It beats the high prices of movie tickets!

Though spas closed down for a time, people still need to relax. It might surprise you to know where they’re going--the bathroom. 

It’s the one place where you’re almost guaranteed privacy. So to make those precious minutes of alone time even better, many people are installing big tubs for soaking, steam showers, heated floors, specialty toilets, and bidets. 

There isn’t a specific design philosophy to follow in 2021. It’s all about making your space work for all of your needs, especially your mental health. Be honest with yourself about what you need, and be creative with your design solutions. The pandemic might have imprisoned us to our houses, but it has freed us to see a variety of possibilities in home décor.