You’ve heard the saying more times than you can count – “new year, new me!” But have you ever stopped and thought about applying that to your personal environment? They say our home is a reflection of who we are – so to kick off a truly “new me”, let’s explore some of the design trends for 2021 and how they can translate into your own home.
For 2021, design experts are emphasizing the kitchen and bathroom as two rooms to put more thought into. These rooms are sources of comfort and relaxation, and in the case of kitchens, often have a lot of activity happening. Especially during the pandemic, we saw an increase in the utilization of the kitchen, with restaurants being shut down and popular trends, like baking bread, emerging. Bill Darcy, CEO of the NKBA, put it best: “The kitchen has long been the heart of the home. But especially during the pandemic, it has emerged as the most prominent, multitasking room as well. We see this continuing with more open-space concepts …and increased functionality and storage to allow homeowners to cook, eat, work, home-school, and play, all in the same vicinity.” For such a significant room, it’s important to consider how to combine style and viability in ways that won’t sacrifice each other.
One key trend that highlights this ideology is quartz countertops, which are perfect for both the kitchen and bathrooms. “As one of the hardest natural materials, quartz is resistant to scratching and staining, and is also easy to maintain,” says Massimo Ballucchi, executive director of marketing for Cosentino Americas. According to the NKBA 2021 bathroom trends report, 74% of designers chose quartz as their preferred countertop material. Honestly, we have to agree. For the kitchen especially, quartz has the durability for the most active households, while also maintaining the elegant look of natural stone. It’s also non-porous, meaning that stains are virtually impossible, and bacteria has pretty much no chance of survival on your countertops.
Light-colored quartz paired with earth tones seems to be leading the way in the rise of organic and natural styles in the home. This entails a more European style, which includes minimal detailing, the warmth and texture of natural finishes, and larger windows to bring the feeling of the outdoors inside. The popularity of this style has increased since a study done by the NKBA in 2019. Back then, it ranked 10th (out of 13+ styles), versus its place now in the top 3 design styles. “As we move into organic trends, we will soon see more mixing of elements, such as Silestone that imitates the look of marble or cement paired with natural wood,” says Ballucchi.
If you’re not in a position to change your entire kitchen or bathroom, don’t fret. A fresh coat of paint can do wonders for your home environment, as well! The top colors for 2021 offer a shade for everyone. If you’re interested in bold colors, go for shades like Satin Paprika by Rust-Oleum and Aqua Fiesta by Glidden. If you lean more towards neutral colors, opt for shades like Urbane Bronze by Sherwin-Williams and Maple Leaf by Valspar. Whichever color you choose, make sure to opt for a paint that’s been formulated to be stain-resistant and able to withstand increased cleaning.
Despite what the trends may be, it’s important to stick to who you are and where your preferences lie. Whatever direction you may be leaning towards, we can help guide you. Check out our website at www.stonecity.com to learn more about how we can bring your remodeling plans to life!
References:
https://www.bhg.com/bathroom/remodeling/planning/2021-bath-trends/
https://www.furniturelightingdecor.com/nkba-releases-2021-kitchen-bath-design-trends-report
https://www.bhg.com/decorating/color/paint/2021-color-of-the-year/
