Interior Design Trends of the 2020s – The 15 Most Important Home Trends and Furnishing Styles

It's no secret that a skillful arrangement of furniture , furnishings , garnished with tasteful decorations and an atmospheric color palette can transform a room into a personal paradise.

It doesn't really matter whether you opt for a unique, highly individual creation, keep it simple with stylish options from a retailer, or place your trust in a professional interior designer.

Essentially, it's about finding a style that suits your own unique design aesthetic.

To avoid starting completely from scratch, you can find plenty of inspiration and motivation in established or emerging interior design styles and home trends.

Even in the years 2020 and 2021, which were battered by the Corona pandemic, numerous furnishing trends and interior design styles emerged, creatively beautifying homes around the globe.

The way we live and work is currently changing at a breathtaking pace. We are experiencing a time full of changes, challenges, and fundamental shifts in our societies. This is also reflected in how we design our living spaces .

Traditional and proven elements blend skillfully with exciting new products and numerous creative interior design concepts. Many things that were already hinted at in the past, or that have already found their way into our living rooms, reappear this year in a further developed form.

The interior design landscape demonstrates not only a return to tradition but also, and above all, diversity and vibrancy. More than ever, one's own four walls are becoming a personal oasis of well-being, reflecting highly individual ideas and desires.

Transforming one's own space into an island of comfort has become paramount. In a hectic world filled with numerous challenges and uncertainty, we yearn for a retreat to enjoy life and pamper ourselves.

This basic sensory need is the most influential force behind most interior design trends of recent years.

We have compiled a selection of top trends for the coming years from various sources, as perceived and postulated by interior experts, Home & Living trade fair participants and leading interior designers.

If one theme unites the different trends, it is probably the desire for an increasingly sustainable lifestyle , under subtle influences of a playful sensibility, as well as the need for comfort and individual expression in the design of one's own realm.

Numbers 3, 8 and 14 in particular were real surprises for us.

1) Natural Materials & Green Living

Statement from the expert

"The use of new, advanced, natural and organic materials is something that people have increasingly demanded in our designs. We see this shift as the next wave of environmentally conscious proactivity."

– Alexis Cogul of Doo Architecture –

Green Living

Not least through the Fridays for Future movement and the debates about the EU's Green Deal, it is clear how strongly the issues of sustainability, the more responsible use of our limited resources and the protection of our environment have returned to the public consciousness.

We understand that only a drastic reduction in environmental pollution can preserve our beloved planet.

This shift in thinking is also evident in the area of ​​furniture and design. People are increasingly demanding select, high-quality, and sustainably produced pieces .

Numerous designers and major furniture manufacturers are therefore increasingly focusing on sustainable concepts, fabrics from renewable sources, and recycled materials. The aim is to keep the ecological footprint as small as possible.

Upcycling , low-waste lifestyle and green living practically unavoidable.

on Emil & Paula's blog also show how multifaceted and, above all, natural this year's home trends are .

Besides the still prevalent minimalism in modern home furnishings, the authors wonderfully demonstrate how many different faces sustainable product design can have.

Furthermore, they demonstrate, using Scandinavian examples , how Green Living home accessories can be appropriately complemented with textiles and tableware.

Biophilic design

In a world where technology is advancing at a dizzying pace, we yearn for our primal roots, for a connection to the earth. The immense benefits that nature offers for our overall well-being are undeniable.

In “Biophilic Design” – first mentioned conceptually in 1984 by a Harvard biologist – Becky Shea of ​​Becky Shea Design, for example, sees a great opportunity to improve our connectivity to nature with far-reaching, positive effects on our psyche and health.

Comfort meets modern elegance

Using natural materials such as wood, bamboo, velvet, glass, cork, stone or metal is a wonderful way to create a cozy look that has a wonderfully calming effect, exudes a homely and cozy atmosphere, and radiates peace and elegance.

In combination with subtle colors, earthy natural tones exude a cozy warmth, convey a feeling of security and thus complete the Modern Living trend .

Natural wood, in particular, skillfully plays with light and shadow and interacts superbly with other materials such as metal. No wonder that lamps and lights made of wood are enjoying such a triumphant success.

Many years after the "rustic oak" era, solid wood furniture remains very popular. Whether as a seating group in the kitchen or as a natural wood top for the coffee table in the living room – furniture made of solid wood is a striking focal point and lasts practically a lifetime.

Beautiful, real houseplants can add another touch of green to a room.

Rattan, raffia, and wicker are also experiencing a revival as natural materials. They inevitably remind us of our childhood. Their use has evolved in fresh and exciting ways, and they are primarily employed in chairs, tables, and lighting.

A perfect choice to combine modern and traditional styles.

Find inspiration and recommendations for green living in our Pinterest collection

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2) Boho Chic / Bohemian Design

In recent years, the bohemian style – also known as boho chic or bohemian design – has become a global trend. People in various parts of the world are not only choosing clothing , but are also looking for ideas, suggestions, and inspiration to give the interiors of their apartments and houses a bohemian finish.

Unmistakable character

Boho interiors look unusual and imaginative. They combine extraordinary designs characterized by wonderful, rich room colors with vintage style, eco style, gypsy decor and glamorous bohemian details.

Boho-style interior design is a unique style: highly original, bold, colorful, cosmopolitan, and at the same time cozy and inviting. Often, its distinctive hippie flair with an adventurous spirit evokes a sense of wanderlust and awakens curiosity about foreign, exotic cultures.

He celebrates inner freedom, breaks with traditional rules for interior design, shows personality and creativity in room decoration, and creates homes that are very comfortable and tailored to the owner's unique lifestyle.

What does Boho mean?

The term was derived from the French expression "La Bohème ," which means Gypsy. Bohemia was a region that historically had a large Gypsy population.

It was assumed at the time that the people of Bohemia originated the style. The Roma had their own rules, which they followed for centuries. These people had unique solutions, passed down through generations, for situations that people face in their daily lives.

This resulted in a colorful and warm mix of colors, full of natural materials such as rattan, bamboo & Co., hand-carved wooden pieces with a unique character and unconventional art objects.

Self-expression is the goal of modern interior design in the boho style. It's a great style for anyone who enjoys collecting unique items or is creatively inclined and designs artistic objects themselves.

How can you combine boho styles?

Oriental and ethnic patterns, tassels and pom-poms, and materials with a used look are prevalent features of Boho Chic.

Simple and inexpensive furnishings can be combined with antiques and vintage furniture, handmade home accessories, and recycled and upcycled items in a spectacular and comfortable way to create a very personal interior design composition.

Straw hats and souvenirs brought back from trips to different countries, old ties, porcelain and wooden figurines, glass vases and paintings, unusual objects and objects with intricate patterns are also excellent for modern interior design in this style.

Retro posters, wall decorations from India, Asia and Africa , creative garlands, crystal pendants and globe lanterns, various textures and light curtains, floor carpets and window curtains, fur and cotton, tapestries and decorative cushions made of silk fabrics are further elements of this interior design trend, which is also, and perhaps even more importantly, a way of life.

Modern interpretation

While in the last decades of the past century people preferred to display various achievements and souvenirs from their travels in their own homes and combine them with existing interiors, the modern trend is something new.

The new Bohemian interior design is no longer reserved solely for a wealthy, well-traveled, and cosmopolitan social elite. The key pieces of this modern adaptation are no longer necessarily expensive, but rather uncomplicated, adaptable eye-catchers.

A multitude of furniture stores and online shops have jumped on the boho bandwagon bandwagon bandwagon. Add to that the international shops and offers from all over the world – which are just a click away thanks to the internet – and you have a virtually inexhaustible selection in all price categories. Fantastic!

What's also new is that boho elements can be seamlessly integrated into neutral, basic furniture, enhancing it perfectly. The playful, colorful bohemian textiles and patterns harmonize particularly well with the ever-popular, minimalist Ikea furniture.

You can then decide on the dose yourself.

Large Boho Design Fairs

The Ambiente presents boho designs from various manufacturers every February under the motto “Artistical + Diverse” .

At the French fair Maison et Objet, many exhibits also make the heart of the Boho lover beat faster.

Boho interior design styles on Pinterest

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3) Sculptural Design / Sculptural Furniture

Cheryl Eisen of the Interior Marketing Group confirms: “There is a growing trend towards the use of unusual, unique pieces of furniture that create a sculptural moment. […]” .

This trend, which largely takes place outside of mass consumption, will continue to grow in the 2020s and will become increasingly accessible to a wider segment of the population.

Sculptural furniture and home furnishings are made from structured, organic materials such as bouclé, boiled wool, linen, sisal hemp and natural wood.

People want something unique, but they also pay attention to product quality, environmental friendliness and sustainability.

Those with the necessary funds will never tire of the extraordinary furniture designs by Fernando Mastrangelo, Michael Beitz, Vincent Poscik, Elissa Lacoste, Jinsik Kim, Stéphanie Marin, Michal Coffey, Warren Platner, Sabrina Möllers, Camiel Weijenberg and Talenia Phua Gajardo.

We ordinary consumers can hope that in the coming years there will be more affordable pieces with sculptural beauty.

Great curves

Sharp edges are a thing of the past. Today, soft curves set the tone for furniture and decorative items. This was strikingly evident at all the major trade fairs for home and modern living.

Round seating, upholstered furniture, and wave-shaped sofas bring coziness to the room and create a touch of 60s retro flair. Tables, chairs, vases, lamps, lights, and sideboards also feature organic shapes.

The soft, feminine design language blends seamlessly into almost any interior, fitting both minimalist , modern furnishings and nostalgic retro chic .

Sculptural Furniture on Pinterest

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On to part 2 of this series: Interior design trends of the 2020s: Part 2 – DIY and vintage, garden rooms and Art Deco