Review: 1stdibs Design Trends That Will Dominate 2021

Welcome to the first blog post! What better way to kickstart this blog than by looking ahead to some key trends we can expect to emerge this year. Of course for this, I looked at what the experts had to say.

A month back 1stDibs released its annual designer survey results for the industry and consumers. For those who don’t know, 1stDibs is the leading marketplace for extraordinary design, and this was the fourth annual Interior Designer Trends Survey that they had conducted. The survey was completed by hundreds of interior designers around the world and the data reflects the tastes of design experts, and the interiors trends we will likely see in 2021.

[1stdibs] This Paris living room by Fabrizio Casiraghi features furniture in burnt orange and mustard yellow, two colors predicted by designers to be on the rise next year. Photo © Romain Laprade

1. 1970s Colors Are Back

As in fashion, trends in interior design are often cyclical, with references to past eras. Designers expect to see a rise in robust jewel tones, with 24 percent reporting emerald green as their top colour choice and 23 percent choosing dark blue. Burnt orange and mustard yellow have made significant gains, with 22 percent of designers selecting each of them as the top color for 2021.

2. Flexible Living Spaces Are a Must

The pandemic turned our lives upside-down, and the need for flexible interiors quickly emerged as the shift to full-time remote work started to rise.

There was a renewed interest in home offices and flexible workspaces over 2020 with sixty-six percent of designers surveyed also reported home offices as the dominant expected project in 2021, up 38 percentage points from last year’s report. In addition, 1stdibs reports that there was a 16 percentage point increase in projected interest in home gym design for 2021 as people continue to prioritise at-home wellness.

3. Bringing Nature Indoors

On the question about patterns and motifs expected to be on-trend in 2021, Florals/Plants and Organic were tied for first place, with both receiving 25% of the vote.

As we spend more of our time in one place, designers are reporting a desire to bring natural aesthetics into the home. Especially during the winter, these motifs remind us of the wider world outside our walls and create a peaceful, soothing atmosphere. Wood is the top predicted material for 2021, at 34 percent, and natural, organic and floral patterns are expected to be the most popular motifs.

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4. Increased Interest in Artisan Work

Designers are increasingly favouring one-of-a-kind looks to create unique living spaces.

Just as custom work is becoming more attractive, so too are designs from small-scale artisans, as opposed to big brand names. Sixty-one percent of interior designers stated that they plan to purchase more items from artisan makers in 2021, up 6 percentage points from last year.

It’s interesting to note that no one furniture designer was chosen at any meaningful level, indicating that consumers may be more interested in quality than name recognition.

5. Refined Finishes Are on the Rise

Last but not least, the interior design trend to note is that, in addition to wood and natural materials, refined, colder finishes are also predicted to be on the rise in 2021. When designers were asked which materials and finishes we are likely to see more of next year, top results included stone (16 percent), metal (15 percent) and brass (12 percent).

To Read the Full Survey Results Read Here

About the Survey
1stDibs commissioned researchers with Surveys & Forecasts, LLC, to conduct more than 600 online interviews between September 1 and October 31, 2020, with interior designers who are part of the 1stDibs Trade 1st Program, which consists of 50,000 registered designers.

About 1stDibs
1stDibs is the world's leading marketplace for extraordinary design. Since 2001, we have captured the magic of the Paris flea markets online and continue to set the standard for those seeking the most beautiful things on earth. By bringing together the best sellers and makers in vintage, antique and contemporary furniture, home decor, fine jewelry, watches, art, fashion, and more from 600 cities around the globe, 1stDibs offers a curated inventory that is not available anywhere else.