For many people, 2020 couldn’t be over soon enough. But with hope on the horizon, a better year surely lies ahead. That doesn’t mean the previous year won’t leave its mark. Indeed, the pandemic has changed many things, especially how we think about and use our homes. It was a year during which we all leaned on our homes a little bit more, willing it to bend and conform more to work, school, exercise, safety and rejuvenation.
So we wanted to explore those home design trends we expect to be seeing more of in 2021. To do that, we browsed thousands of home design photos, spoke with dozens of home design professionals on Houzz, consulted the latest Houzz data and research and looked at past articles to arrive at a collection of home design trends we think will be big in the coming months. Perhaps we need a tagline to usher in the new year. More fun in 2021, anyone?
Kitchen Style
1. Dressed-up, tailored style. One kitchen style that keeps showing up is a custom look with a collected-over-time feel. This style usually features a mix of grays, creams and light woods with dark, moody accents for a soothing yet refined palette. A mix of textures, materials, cabinet styles and architectural details makes the style feel as if it was pieced together bit by bit over the years.
The Maine kitchen shown here by designer Tina Rodda of Eyder Curated Kitchens is a good example. A hutch-style paneled refrigerator and pantry cabinet on the left looks like it was added at a different time than the deep gray island (French Beret by Benjamin Moore) and creamy white cabinets (Ballet White by Benjamin Moore).
Brass sconces and a simple but prominent gray hood give the range area the feel of a sophisticated library desk. A sliding slab of polished Calacatta Bluette marble for the backsplash reveals an elegant walnut-lined storage area.
Morrison Interiors
This Southern California kitchen by is another good example.
A black steel-and-glass cabinet tower looks added on to the custom white oak cabinets at a different time. And a mix of light fixtures, countertop materials — marble on the perimeter, black honed granite on the island — and a limestone block entryway further the collected effect.
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Kelsey Leigh Design Co.
For this kitchen in Oklahoma City, designer Kelsey Leigh created dressed-up style with painted wall paneling and gilded-frame artwork beneath gallery-style light fixtures. A quartz slab backsplash that matches the countertop leads to a white range hood, resembling a white-tie tuxedo outfit.
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Nate Fischer Interiors
Kitchen Cabinets
2. Light wood cabinets. In a year that felt heavy, people seemed to yearn for interiors that exude lightness. And many people found that light wood mixed with other neutrals like whites and grays is a great way to create an airy palette with a dash of warmth. This is especially effective in a kitchen, as designer Nate Fischer’s own Southern California kitchen illustrates here.
Light gray-washed red oak blends beautifully with brass hardware, multitone 6-by-6-inch marble backsplash tile, a marble island countertop and a soapstone perimeter countertop. “Using wood instead of white on the cabinets let me bring in white tones with other materials in the room without it feeling too white,” Fischer says.
Savvy Interiors
Savvy Interiors used white oak cabinets, a wood island with a custom-stained pattern and waterproof light wood flooring by Shaw Floors to create a breezy, inviting kitchen.
Studio Dearborn
3. “Skinny Shaker” cabinet fronts. Shaker-style cabinets are by far the most popular style chosen by homeowners for their kitchens. In fact, more than 60% of renovating homeowners will go with Shaker-style cabinets, according to Houzz research. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for variation.
One subtle alteration to Shaker style we’ve seen this year is what’s referred to as “skinny,” “slim” or “thin” Shaker. Basically, the thickly profiled stiles and rails of a traditional Shaker cabinet front are slimmed down to ultrathin profiles, creating a style that’s not quite Shaker but not quite modern slab-front, either.
Designer Sarah Robertson’s kitchen shown here features both styles. The cabinet fronts more closely resemble classic Shaker style, while the drawer fronts embrace the skinny version.
JAC Interiors
This bathroom by JAC Interiors also features a skinny Shaker cabinet profile. Also notice the light wood, which, as mentioned above, is also trending in home design right now.
Noble Johnson Architects
4. The multizone kitchen. A traditional three-zone “work triangle” in the kitchen creates an efficient connection between the refrigerator, sink and range. But many homeowners want their kitchens to emphasize other tasks and allow for other cooks as well. In response, homeowners are working with designers on Houzz to add more touch points to that triangle shape and create additional work zones. This “work trapezoid” might include dedicated areas for baking, prepping and chopping, or separate stations for snacks, drinks or homework.
In the Tennessee kitchen shown here by Noble Johnson Architects, the homeowners have a dedicated baking station to the left of the ovens.
Arielle Mizrahi Design
Kitchen Backsplashes
5. Zellige tile. Every now and then a simple material seems to come out of nowhere and begin showing up almost everywhere. That’s the case for handmade square tiles in a glossy finish, known as zellige tile, like those seen in this New York kitchen by Arielle Mizrahi Design.
The square tile is enough of a departure from the popular 3-by-6-inch subway tile to feel different, yet it’s similar enough to not come off as too jarring. The glossy finish and handmade look offer color variations, shimmer and subtle imperfections that give the simple shape tons of character.
Here, yellow square tiles in a crackle glaze finish bring a sunny punch to a kitchen by . The texture joins shiplap-style cabinet fronts to create a layered, dynamic space.
M House Development
This Chicago kitchen by M House Development features a slightly larger tile dimension that complements the hefty volumes of the cabinetry and range hood.
Flemming Interiors
6. Small-scale rectangular tile patterns. If you’re looking for something with more movement in a backsplash, consider small tiles set in a herringbone or chevron pattern.
Carrara marble tile in a herringbone pattern makes for an elegant backsplash in this Chicago kitchen by Honsen + Flemming Interiors.
Model Remodel
Small-scale rectangular tile can sometimes read like a pointillism painting — a continuous image from far away and a more nuanced, detailed image up close. In this Seattle kitchen by Model Remodel, small charcoal tile in a herringbone pattern with dark grout looks almost like a solid plane of color from afar.
Model Remodel
Up close, the texture, pattern and reflection reveal a much more complex surface.
JMH Designs
You can play around with the size of the pieces and the shapes and patterns to create varying effects. Here, marble tile in a chevron pattern offers peppy movement and coloring.
Kitchen Countertops
7. Shades of charcoal and gray. While Houzz research shows that white remains the most popular color for kitchen countertops, many manufacturers are betting on interest in darker colors. In October, Silestone by Cosentino launched its Loft series, which features shades of charcoal and grays, as in the Corktown style shown here.
Camden, also from the Loft series, is a light gray speckled with white and black.
See more countertop trends
Kitchen Design Gallery
Kitchen Sinks and Faucets
8. Hardworking sink stations. As kitchens expand into multiple zones, the kitchen sink zone is following suit with what’s known as a workstation. Though relatively new to the market, workstations are quickly catching on. Built-in ledges support movable components such as a cutting board, colander and racks for draining and drying. It combines functions you might perform elsewhere in the kitchen, limiting the need to move back and forth between those areas.
9. Hands-free faucets. Handwashing was on everyone’s minds in 2020, and many faucet manufacturers ramped up focus on offerings that promote hands-free interaction that decreases the spread of germs to surfaces.
Grohe’s Ladylux L2 SmartControl faucet, shown here, features a push button on the end to turn the water on and off, operated with the bump of an elbow.
Kohler says it saw a 160% increase in touchless-faucet sales in its showrooms in 2020. It recently launched an update with its Kohler Konnect voice-assisted software line that allows a user to ask Google Home or Amazon Alexa to “tell Kohler to wash my hands.” The voice assistant then walks a user through the handwashing guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
10. Matte white finish. At the 2020 , we saw matte white slowly making its way into bathroom design. Now the finish is catching on in the kitchen. Brizo recently launched its Jason Wu collection of kitchen faucets in a matte white finish, shown here.
The line also offers options such as a wood-and-brass handle, shown here, highlighting another trend we’re seeing more of: mixed finishes on kitchen faucets.
Design Shop Interiors
Kitchen Lighting
11. Swing-arm and other sconce lighting. Lighting can be like jewelry in a kitchen, and homeowners on Houzz are showing interest in swing-arm and other sconce fixtures, which can add some adornment while providing needed task lighting around a sink or range. A sconce also adds a sculptural element above eye level and a bit of shimmer via its metal finish, two details that can help break up walls of cabinets or tile. Plus, a swing-arm sconce is a good solution for adding accent lighting to open shelves to highlight objects on display.
Two brass swing-arm sconces help illuminate the sink area at night in this kitchen by Design Shop Interiors. During the day, their shape and finish help draw the eye up to rest on a bit of glamour amid the otherwise soft, calming palette.
Jordan Design-Build Group
Shaded sconces illuminate the range area in this kitchen by Jordan Design-Build Group while giving a bit of punctuation to the large expanse of white tile.
KSDesigns LLC
Bathrooms
12. Curbless showers. A curbless, or barrier-free, entrance to a shower has been around for a while now, but the design is more popular than ever. This setup allows you to run tile through the entire bathroom, creating a seamless look that also gives the feeling of more space. Or you can use the shower enclosure as a natural demarcation line to switch up the flooring material, as was done in this bathroom by KSDesigns.
Katie Grace Designs
13. Larger showers. While most renovating homeowners choose to keep their bathroom size unchanged, a majority are making their showers bigger, according to the 2020 Houzz Bathroom Trends Study. And why not? Two in 5 homeowners (41%) who renovated a master bathroom say they rely on their new space for rest and relaxation, according to the study. And 54% say taking a long shower helps them relax. A larger shower increases the comfort level.
14. Relaxing features. Beyond a soak in the tub or a long, hot shower, some homeowners are rejuvenating with steam showers, aromatherapy shower heads and bathtub fillers that can hold a cup of tea or glass of wine, like the Kintsu floor-mount tub filler by Brizo shown here.
M Prevost Design
Bathroom Tile
15. Zellige tile. Increasingly popular for kitchen backsplashes, zellige tile is showing up in bathrooms as well.
In this San Diego bathroom by M Prevost Design, square tiles in varying shades create a pleasing accent wall behind the tub and play off the streaks of blue and white in the view of the Southern California sky.
Nina ji*zhar
Designer Nina ji*zhar created a similar look by using small zellige tiles in a diagonal herringbone pattern in this richly textured shower. Notice all the undulations in the tile that give each piece a unique look.
7th House Interiors
16. Oversize rectangular tile. There are a lot of reasons to consider large rectangular tiles in a bathroom. Fewer grout lines mean less cleaning and less visual clutter. Plus, the large-format tile can help visually expand a small space. We’re seeing large tiles used in a variety of classic patterns, such as herringbone, stacked and brick. If you’re considering large rectangular tiles for the bathroom floor, professionals on Houzz recommend going with a matte finish, which provides some slip resistance.
In this Tampa, Florida, bathroom by designer Kelly Pedersen of 7th House Interiors, 8-by-36-inch matte porcelain floor tiles with a wood grain finish make the 50-square-foot space feel larger than it is.
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Lane Williams Architects
In this Seattle wet room by Lane Williams Architects, large rectangular wall tile in a brick pattern works better proportionally than a smaller tile would in the expansive space.
Craft and Trade Renovations LLC
Designer Laura Anderson of Craft and Trade Renovations used porcelain 12-by-24-inch tiles that mimic the look of Carrara marble for this North Carolina bathroom. The size of the tile and subtle grout lines give the appearance of slab surfaces.
17. Slab quartz and porcelain showers. Engineered materials aren’t just for countertops and backsplashes. Cambria’s quartz product, for example, can now be cut as thin as 6 millimeters and be used to clad fireplaces and shower walls, as seen here with its new Colton color.
Design for Living
In this Sacramento, California, bathroom by Design for Living, 10-foot-tall porcelain panels line an open shower, creating a clean, luxurious look.
Eisenmann Architecture
18. Stacked tile patterns. While brick patterns remain popular, we’re seeing more stacked tile patterns, especially in relatively small bathrooms. That’s because stacking tile creates a more continuous run of surface, which helps visually expand a room in the direction of the tile. Here, Eisenmann Architecture vertically stacked a beautiful blue handmade tile to accentuate the height of the room rather than its narrow width.
Collective Design + Build
K Design used the method in this Phoenix bathroom.
Studio Blu
Here, Studio Blu installed rectangular tile in a horizontal stacked pattern to help visually widen a tight shower-tub combo.
Delineations, Inc.
19. Metallic tile accents. One way to jazz up bathroom tile is with a punch of shiny metal. Several tile companies offer tile in silver, bronze and other metallic finishes. And while covering an entire wall in gold tile might not be the way to go, integrating just a few metallic tiles can have a captivating effect.
In this bathroom in Marble Falls, Texas, a mix of gunmetal and champagne bronze hexagonal tiles from Marazzi’s GeoMmetal line create a unique shower design.
EVOKE
Outdoors
20. The year of the pergola. If you want to create an inviting outdoor living space, you’ll probably need some shade to do it. A pergola is a relatively quick and affordable solution. These simple shade structures, which can be built and installed in a day or two, provide adequate shade for dining, lounging and other outdoor activities.
KD Landscape
This pergola by KD Landscape features a rough-sawn cedar structure on bases covered and capped in Wisconsin limestone.
Shelter Solutions LLC - ADU Specialist
21. Rise of the backyard cottage. Many people who found themselves in households of competing video meetings and school activities desperately sought private space in which to work, exercise or relax. In fact, a recent Houzz study found that 1 in 8 homeowners felt their home lacked a dedicated workspace or exercise area (13% and 12%, respectively). A backyard cottage or accessory dwelling unit (ADU) is a great solution for adding that kind of dedicated space. These standalone structures are used as home offices, gyms, meditation areas or as extended living spaces to house relatives or kids who’ve had to stay home from college because of the pandemic.
22. Pass-throughs. If your layout provides the opportunity, a pass-through between a kitchen and outdoor area is a convenient way to transfer food, drinks and other supplies quickly to the center of the action. If bugs are a concern, consider a window line that includes separate sliding screens (such as the Marvin Ultimate Glider). Another option is to position a pass-through that connects your kitchen to a screened-in porch.
LandCrafters, LLC
23. Peaceful gardens. While many people are looking to their outdoor areas to create more space for dining, lounging and playing, others are seeking quiet space that provides a tranquil break from work, school and a stressful news cycle. That’s why a peaceful garden might be a good investment for your available outdoor space.
9 Peaceful Garden Scenes to Bring a Moment of Serenity
Tim Perry Photography
24. Swimming pools. We heard from many landscape pros in 2020 that swimming pools were the top requested project from homeowners and that pool installers were incredibly busy. If you’ve got plans in 2021 to add a pool, now’s the time to find a pro.
Home Glow Design
Home Offices
25. Dedicated space inside or outside the home. Many of us discovered just how functional our homes really are as family members of all ages sought out productive spaces for remote work, video meetings, schoolwork and other tasks that previously took place away from home. This trend of remote work will continue in 2021 and homeowners will double down on creating efficient dedicated offices, work nooks and backyard cottages.
As mentioned earlier, backyard cottages and ADUs are having a moment. One big reason is the need for dedicated office space away from other family members working or attending school at home. And these standalone structures make sense because their assembly is more straightforward, quicker and less expensive than an addition to the existing home. Plus, many people find the short “commute” to the structure psychologically helpful in transitioning from home life to work mode.
Here, designer Amy Mitchell of Home Glow Design created her own “she shed” studio to support her growing interior design business.
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Studio Dearborn
26. Work nooks. For others, a compact and efficient work nook like this one by Studio Dearborn provides all the function needed for working on a laptop, participating in video meetings and managing the household.
Rachel Loewen Photography
Layouts
27. Rethinking the open plan. Perhaps no other design element was put under the microscope this year more than the open plan. Anyone who had multiple family members attempting to participate in video meetings in an open layout quickly saw the disadvantages to a lack of walls. The open plan isn’t going away, but many people are considering sliding doors or partitions that can close off rooms for much-needed privacy.
Split Level Construction, Inc
Laundry Rooms
28. Soothing style. The laundry room isn’t a space that guests often see. (Or, for that matter, anyone who isn’t a launderer in the household.) For that reason, many homeowners and designers see this space as an opportunity to create something bright, bold and playful. While that option remains, we’re seeing many homeowners gravitating to calmer, more restful laundry spaces like this one in Coral Gables, Florida, by designer Patricia Calasich of KasaMia Interiors and general contractor Alfredo Jaramillo of Split Level Construction.
Meadowlark Design+Build
29. Laundry basket storage. Sometimes it’s the small things that make all the difference. And a dedicated place to store laundry baskets while the clothes wash is a simple feature that vastly increases function. That feature is what made this Detroit laundry room by Meadowlark Design+Build the most-saved laundry room photo of 2020 on Houzz.
If you’re renovating or building a laundry room, don’t forget to consider where your baskets will go.
Focus on Sanitation
30. Hands-free lighting. As we mentioned earlier with hands-free kitchen faucets, a focus on germ-free features is something we’ll continue to see in the coming years. The hands-free Wave Switch from Legrand can help reduce virus spread in any area of the home by allowing the user to simply wave a hand in front of a sensor to turn lights on and off.
31. Cleanable materials. Many manufacturers are getting behind materials that are easy to clean and sanitize. York Performance from York Wallcoverings, for example, includes vinyl surfaces that the company says can be scrubbed and cleaned with bleach according to CDC guidelines.
Raychel Wade Design
Bedrooms
32. Channel-tufted headboards. A headboard offers an opportunity to introduce something interesting in the design of your bedroom. Because most walls that beds sit against are flat, plain surfaces, it makes sense to use the headboard to bring in a bit of texture. The channel-tufted option seems to be taking off.
The design offers the look of shiplap or wood slats, but its subtle curvature and fabric give it the softness you want for a bedroom.
Designer Raychel Wade used one in the New York bedroom seen here. Its rich brown color also adds a dose of warmth to the mostly gray scheme.
Here, a soft pink channel-tufted headboard recalls the comforting support of gentle hands.
Kaminski + Pew
Kaminski + Pew used a custom channel-tufted headboard in green velvet in this Philadelphia bedroom, giving the space texture and dimension.
Raychel Wade Design
Colors
33. Browns and beiges bounce back. In conversations with designers and builders on Houzz, a trend that came up again and again was a renewed interest in shades of brown. Warm taupes, beiges, sands — basically any earth tone is surging in popularity. Some designers say the trend is an evolution from the whites and grays popular in recent years and that brown as an accent color works well to bring warmth to a palette heavy with those colors.
Winsome Construction
Exteriors
34. Stylish front doors. While a lot of emphasis gets put on the color of a front door, its style shouldn’t be ignored. There are countless details to consider when choosing a front door — material, windows, opening mechanism — but it’s worth the extra effort, since the front door often makes the first impression on someone visiting your home.
Shop for a front door
Black and Milk | Interior Design | London
Interiors
35. Zoom-worthy backgrounds. This year, many people found themselves crafting aesthetically pleasing backgrounds for video meetings. Through the help of Houzz inspiration photos and pros from the Houzz community, homeowners have discovered the art of a good vignette. Well-hung artwork, pops of color, good lighting, a little greenery and objects of different sizes can create a stylish backdrop for a meeting, not to mention make our homes more enjoyable to be in.
Chango
36. Clean air and a nourishing home. Between an airborne virus and record wildfires, this was a year that put air quality at the top of many homeowners’ minds. Air purifiers and HEPA filters became part of regular conversation practically overnight.
It’s all in keeping with the need for our homes to be places of nourishment, safety, rejuvenation and health. And that’s a concept that many people are hoping will define the world in 2021.
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