This summer, we’re spending more time indulging ourselves and expressing our personality. From cottagecore to maximalism, these are the interior design trends we’re excited about.

1. Multi-functional spaces

One of the major interior design trends to come out of 2020, multi-functional spaces have become the norm. Kitchens have doubled up as classrooms, living rooms as pilates studios and bedrooms as boardrooms. In 2021, with as many as 26% of Brits planning to continue working from home, we’re upping the ante and focusing our interior design on multi-functional spaces with intelligent storage solutions (and dressed-for-success Zoom backgrounds). 

Read more: How to Feng Shui Your Home Office

2. Kitchen revival

The saying “there’s no place like home” has never rung more true. The past year has not only seen us reinvent our living spaces to accommodate new requirements, but it’s forced us to become more mindful of our habits – like replacing ordering in with home cooking. This has seen us congregating in the kitchen. And, in summer 2021, one of the biggest interior design trends will be reinventing the kitchen as the heart of the home.

Read more: A Brief History of Kitchen Trends

3. Bold colours

This summer, it’s all about shrinking off the shy to indulge in what makes you happy. This means shades of coral orange, yellow or coastal blue. Earthy hues have been a favourite for some time, and they’re not going anywhere in 2021. Accent bold colours with wood finishes, copper accessories and tan leather armchairs. 

4. Outdoor entertaining

Just as our homes have had to accommodate different requirements over the past year, so too have our gardens become multi-functional spaces. We’re entertaining from home, soaking up the sun from our garden gazebos, transforming pool houses into outdoor living spaces, conversing around fire pits, and cooking al-fresco meals in our backyard kitchens.  

Read more: How to Host a Classic Garden Party


5. Bring nature indoors

Houseplants have never been more fashionable than in 2021. With so many of us adjusting to a new era of working from home, it’s no wonder we’re seeing a push towards bringing the outdoors in. Transforming the home into a haven and a relaxing sanctuary is one of the reasons why houseplants have become so popular. According to terrarium gurus, The Botanical Boys, caring for our leafy greens brings us closer to nature and nurtures our wellness. 

Read more: How to Choose Houseplants for Your Home


6. Botanical prints

The closer we come to summer, the more we’re welcoming nature into our homes. Of course, plants are the obvious place to start, but if you’re not up to becoming a plant parent just yet, you can “green” your space with botanical prints. While physical plants release oxygen and clean the air, botanical prints and plant motifs refresh mental clarity, making you more productive. 

Read more: Botanical Prints Mood Board

 

 

7. Terrariums

Alongside our newfound love for plants, we’re exploring our green-figured creativity with terrariums. These glass gardens are enjoying a huge resurgence, with companies like the Botanical Boys leading the charge through their online terrarium kits and fun terrarium building workshops. 

Shop terrariums

8. Cane and Rattan

Cane is still very much enjoying its moment in the sun, and while this classic seventies staple has made its major comeback in predominantly coastal-inspired decór, it’s popping up everywhere, in modern, mid-century and eclectic spaces. Besides its pleasing open-weave aesthetic, which brings a subtle element of nature to a space, cane is an eco-friendly choice for consumers looking to make more earth-conscious purchasing decisions. 

Read more: How to Bring the Cane Trend into Your Home

9. Cottagecore

We’re going back to our roots and doing life like our 18th-century forebears. Cottagecore – or “rustic vogue” – has captured our hearts and imaginations. We’re decluttering our minds by bringing nature’s harmony into our homes. It’s about decorating with sustainable, handcrafted art, serving as a distraction from the modern world. 

Read more: What is Cottagecore and How to Get the Look

 

10. Maximalism

We’re turning our backs on minimalism and choosing comfortable, curated decor that expresses our personalities. Maximalism is about surrounding ourselves with what we love… and we’re loving it! It’s all about mix-and-match colours, patterns and prints, and contrasting large-scale wall décor with accessories that create playful layers or have a conversation-starting backstory. 

Read more: Maximalism, How to Maximise the Trend

11. Let your home tell your story

Speaking of stories... one of our favourite elements of maximalism is that it’s personal. This year, we’re treating our homes as memory boxes and showcasing furniture and objects as souvenirs of our lives – layering old with new and making personal statements about what matters to us.  

12. Regencycore

In 2020, the Netflix mega-hit Bridgerton took the world by storm, not only with its steamy romance between Daphne Bridgerton and the Duke of Hastings but also with its palatial and ornate production design. So, it’s not surprising that Bridgerton has launched Regencycore, a 2021 interior design trend that is so decadent, you’ll be reaching for your heirloom porcelain tea set in no time. 

The extravagant aesthetic is typified by powder-pastel hues contrasted with deep, rich colours, decorative elements like upholstery motifs, carved furniture, and ornate trimmings. With regencycore, more is more. Think four-poster beds, flowing drapery, classic chandeliers and candelabras, marquetry tables, plaster mouldings, damask wallpaper, gilded chairs, antique mirrors, brass fittings… and more. 


13. Dress up your bed

Along with Regencycore comes statement headboards and canopies. Luxe up the look even more by using bold colours and patterns and coordinating your headboard with your wallpaper. 

 


14. Responsible consumerism

In 2021, we’re being more mindful about what we buy and from where. We’re getting pickier about the brands we support and what they stand for. And we’re measuring the environmental impact of our purchasing decision. In sync with the shift to conscious luxury comes the desire for furniture that offers longevity – pieces with provenance that meet our need for connection and community. We’re buying pre-loved, handmade, and local, and we’re loving it. 

Read more: How to Practise Responsible Consumerism


15. Pre-loved vintage chic

Vintage is a style you’ll find on every interior design trends list. In 2021, it’s no different. We’re going for a less-is-more approach and choosing antique, repurposed, salvaged and retro pieces that have personal meaning and then dressing them up with rich fabrics and statement lighting to add a modern note. 


16. Going global 

A massive trend for interiors in 2021, we’re going global in our spaces with safari-inspired earthy colour palettes and natural textures and pairing them with wooden, woven and rattan home accessories. The goal? To capture the aesthetic of global styles and express our deep desire to be able to travel again. 


17. Wanderlust murals  

If a subtle global aesthetic is not enough to slake your wanderlust in 2021, opt for maximum escapism with hyper-real photo wall murals that will instantly transport you to the destination of your dreams. Interiors inspired by our longing for travel are just what we need until we can hit the Book Now button.  

18. Create calm with a coastal colour palette 

As summer rolls around, so follows its favourite interior design trend, coastal. As we prepare to flock to the sandy shores for a weekend of vitamin sea, we’re bringing the coast into our homes to create a wave of seaside inspiration.

Read more: Coastal Mood Board


19. Carpet trends

Alongside the top interior design trends for 2021, our focus on eco-friendly design choices has taken carpets from underfoot to under the spotlight. Eco-focused materials and natural fibres, like coir, seagrass, sisal and jute, are de rigeuer. So too is an entirely sustainable supply chain that supports the artisans and makers throughout the process. 

Read more: Meet Cecilia Setterdahl from Carpets CC


20. Let the light shine in

This summer, we’re opening up our windows and packing away any heavy curtains. One of 2021’s biggest trends will be bringing as much natural light as possible into your home. Because we’re not venturing out as often due to social distancing, filling your home with sunlight has never been more important. This is because natural light increases serotonin, your body’s feel-good hormone. 

21. Face line art

One of the most surprising interior design trends to emerge in 2021 is decorating with face line art. Maybe because we’re paying more attention to how artwork can tie a room together, or perhaps in the face of an increasingly confusing time, we’re naturally drawn to simplistic forms. Whatever the reason, face line graphic art is everywhere, from wallpaper to vases. 


Shop the Summer Collection