Top 10 Interior Trends for the Post-Pandemic World

Discover interior trends and home values of the post-pandemic world.

The world has changed tremendously since the last time we shared our yearly trend predictions. Despite a massive global economic crisis, the design industry keeps thriving and reinventing itself to cater to the changing home landscape.

And while the overall uncertainty made people more financially cautious, the trend was rather kind to the home remodeling industry.

Spending more time at home brought new habits and tastes, and encouraged householders to rethink their former interior preferences. The world is changing fast and so is interior design.

Use this top 10 interior trend report to stay ahead of the curve and build resilience.

Top Interior Design Trends for 2021

*Disclosure: I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are our own. This post may contain affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission.

Living with Nature and Natural Materials

Our housebound lives brought a desperate demand for maximizing any outdoor living potential of our properties.

Those lucky enough to have an outdoor space of any kind are investing both their efforts and funds to flip it into a second living room and a new place to socialize.

The urban jungle trend evolves and grows deep roots in households traumatized by lockdowns. Lush foliage and vegetable gardens are popping up even in the smallest of (both indoor and outdoor) spaces.

A need to reconnect with Nature goes beyond living with plants. Sustainability becomes a norm, reflected in prioritizing natural materials (like wool, rattan, sisal, stone, wood, cane, cork, bamboo, and seagrass…) in furniture, decor, and products.

Interior trends 2021: Living with Nature and natural materials
Image credit: House of Hawkes

Home detox, decluttering, and advanced organization

Rather than investing in ‘status’ symbols, we see householders prioritizing the products they use often. The focus is on the quality and small daily rituals like drinking coffee or family meals.

Getting rid of everything that doesn’t serve you or bring joy is seen almost as a form of spiritual practice.

The fascination with the Marie Kondo method remains strong as more and more people take on decluttering to help them organize their homes to be more functional and airy.

Image credit: Riad Tile

Biophilia

Biophilic design, which is the integration of nature into the built environment, is also gaining popularity in the post-pandemic world.

This trend focuses on creating spaces that are both aesthetically pleasing and promote well-being. By bringing nature indoors, we can create more calming, relaxing environments that can help us to de-stress and unwind.

Interior trends 2021: Living with Nature and natural materials
Image credit: Tanja Van Hoogdalem
Image credit: via Pinterest

Earthy Tones to Bring Nature Indoors

Warm earthy color schemes are used to further develop the bond with the natural world and create a sense of freedom presented exclusively by the great outdoors.

This can be achieved by painting walls in neutral shades, using natural materials like wood and stone, and adding plants and flowers throughout the space.

Earthy tones can be incorporated into any room in the home, from the living room to the bedroom. Beige, brown, terracotta, rust, amber, greige, beige, sands, and taupe are among the favorites as they promote well-being and a sense of tranquility and calm.

rust color interior trend
Earthy tones to bring Nature indoors

Soft Organic Shapes for Calm and Soothing Interior Spaces

Organic shapes rank high in the top ten interior trends for 2023.

Soft, flowing lines can be spotted in furniture, artwork, ceramics, decor, and beyond. Originating from the art deco design style, these modern, reimagined sumptuous lines cultivate a relaxed atmosphere and a natural flow inside the space.

curved furniture trend
Soft organic shapes for calm and soothing interior spaces

Image credit: Ignat

Soft organic shapes for calm and soothing interior spaces

Image credit: Folk Interiors

Soft organic shapes for calm and soothing interior spaces

Image credit: Roman Plyus

Fluted Furniture and Surfaces to Add Texture

As a result of the overall minimalistic tendencies across the interior design field, we will see more creativity in using texture and layering.

Fluted furniture and ribbed surfaces and architecture are becoming increasingly popular as high-end solutions for adding visual interest and warmth to minimalistic settings.

The most popular aesthetic includes smooth surfaces, natural tones, organic and curved and sculptural shapes with subtle mohair texture.

Interior trends: Fluted furniture and surfaces to add texture

Image credit: Daniel Valle Architects

Interior trends: Fluted furniture and surfaces to add texture

Image credit: CaiCai Handmade

Interior trends: Fluted furniture and surfaces to add texture

Image credit: Solebich

Interior trends: Fluted furniture and surfaces to add texture

Image credit: These Four Walls Blog

Interior trends: Fluted furniture and surfaces to add texture

Image credit: Danthree

Ethical Shopping and Support for Local and Handmade

Shopping habits have changed tremendously over the past year. Online shopping, hyper-essentialism, and quality over quantity mindset turn mainstream, but the shift goes much deeper to favor sustainability, accountability and ethics.

The focus is on the brand, its values, and its story.

Supporting artists and small, local manufacturers becomes imperative. Handmade decorative pieces and furniture produced nearby support the local economy while at the same time cutting transport emissions.

Interior trends: Ethical shopping and support for the local and handmade

Image credit: Milk Decoration

Interior trends: Ethical shopping and support for the local and handmade

Image credit: The Knot

Arches in Architecture, Furnishings, and Decor

The arch design trend is being manifested through architecture, mirrors, paintwork, kitchenware, and ceramics. The symbol of renewal and the ability to carry enormous weight, the arch motif feels perfectly fit for the evolving narrative.

It’s curvy and structural, playful and dignified, calming and meditative.

Arches in architecture, furnishings and decor

Image credit: Ferm Living

Arches in architecture, furnishings and decor

Image credit: Garmentory

Japandi - The Evolution of Scandinavian Modern Minimalism

It’s been a while since we predicted the rise of this mesmerizing design trend. Originating from the traditional Japanese philosophy of Wabi-sabi, the Japandi design style stands for the marriage of Japanese minimalism and Scandinavian modern.

The result is a clean, elegant, and functional style. Japandi interiors are characterized by clean lines, simple forms, and a focus on natural materials.

Wood, stone, and paper are often used in Japandi design. Japanese shoji screens are also a popular element in Japandi interiors.

These screens can be used to create privacy in open-plan spaces or to divide large rooms into smaller, more intimate areas.

The simplicity of this airy design concept promotes calm and introspection. The texture comes mostly from layering items from different time periods, natural materials, plants, and dried flowers.

Japandi - the evolution of Scandinavian modern minimalism

Image credit: Hobo

Japandi - the evolution of Scandinavian modern minimalism

Image credit: Design Milk

Japandi - the evolution of Scandinavian modern minimalism

Image credit: Nordiskakok

Dried Flowers for Added Texture

The trend of using dried flowers as decor is in full swing. Pampas is still relevant but pay attention also to Lunaria and all sorts of ikebana arrangements.

Dried flowers for added texture

Image credit: Coco Lapin

Dried flowers for added texture

Image credit: Decor8

Bold Wallpapers as a Statement

Panoramic murals, 3D texture, grasscloth and chintz, contemporary geometrics and tropical botanicals, and wallpapers go bold this season. Modern botanical and tropical prints embellish both walls and textiles.

Bold wallpapers as a statement

Image credit: Boras tapeter

Bold wallpapers as a statement

Image credit: Murals Wallpaper

Any interior trends for 2023 and beyond you would add to this list? Let us know.

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