4 INTERIOR
DESIGN TRENDS
FOR 2020
HOME IMPROVEMENT GUIDE
Don’t be caught with designs that were “so last decade.”
Enter 2020 in style with some trends and tips that
are leading the new decade, focused on comfort and
sustainability with a touch of modern technologies.
• TREND: Paint Colors of the Year – Each year, paint
companies release their picks for colors of the year.
Think pinks, greens, and blues for 2020, with rosy
shades to update neutral walls and navy blues to
create relaxing spaces.
TIP: Before painting an entire room, paint a small part of
the wall and watch how natural light falls during each part
of the day. The sunlight will affect the colors you choose.
• TREND: Sustainability in Design – Reusing materials
in new designs isn’t a novel idea, but this year,
designs are incorporating more materials that are
perceived as humble, such as rattan, plywood, and
jute. These types of materials can be recycled and are
biodegradable, maximizing positive environmental
impacts.
TIP: Incorporate sustainable design trends like Wabi-Sabi,
meaning perfectly imperfect, which encourages reimagining
and loving the existing pieces you have in your home.
Incorporating nature, something inherently imperfect,
through wood, natural stones, and plants is an easy way to
embrace Wabi-Sabi.
• TREND: Wallpapered Walls – You may find yourself
removing wallpaper, only to replace it with more
wallpaper! Bold-patterned designs can create a
statement wall, or busier patterns can be used to
decorate a half bath.
TIP: If you’re not sure you want to take the plunge into
committing long term to wallpaper, try removable
wallpaper. You can easily remove, reposition, and reuse it
throughout your home.
• TREND: Technology in the Home – Love it or hate
it, technology will be ever-present in our homes;
and with an increase in the opportunity for people
to work from home, housing our technology has
become a design opportunity. Large media consoles
are becoming a thing of the past as technologies get
smaller or completely digitized. Storage options are
turning more display friendly (think open shelving) to
act as another design element for your home.
TIP: Personalize your spaces to your needs. Have a dining
room but need a home office? Repurpose the space
according to your needs. Add in a desk and a relaxed
seating area, creating a comfortable, yet creative area for
you to work.
possible, and results in more productivity among workers and
a more positive attitude toward the work itself. Lighting can
have a profound effect on your mood and can even influence
your hormones.
If placing your home office in an area with windows is not
possible, try the soft lighting of a lamp instead and try to avoid harsh
fluorescents. Adding a silk plant or two, along with a picture of the
outdoors, will help to transform a windowless area into a more
inviting space. Warm colors such as reds, yellows and orange will
also help warm up an otherwise dark office area such as a basement.
Next, you’ll want to design your workspace with cabinetry where
office supplies and files can be tucked neatly out of sight. Shelving
that is custom-designed for the way you work can transform even a
tiny space into an efficient work area. Having cabinets and shelves
that are suited to your exact purpose will eliminate a great deal
of frustration and overwhelming feelings of disorganization. A
designer and expert carpenter can help you get the most from
your workspace.
Just because you don’t have an entire room in your house
to dedicate to your home office doesn’t mean that you can’t have
a dedicated workspace. Even a closet can be transformed into a
workspace with the right planning, and the whole office can be put
away at day’s end by simply closing the closet door.
If you have even less space to work with, try a wall-mounted desk
that can be extended when in use and can collapse flush with the
wall when it’s not. Cubby holes built into the interior wall area can
also provide places for storage in a tight space. A creative builder can
help you make the most of your available space.
If your office is not separated from the rest of your home and
building a wall is not an option, there are still attractive ways to
define your workspace. For example, tall wooden shutters can be
linked together with hinges and painted to any color to create a
private area. Though not soundproof, they can create an intimate
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