It may not have happened by choice, but in 2020, interiors became the focal points of our lives. Whether it’s because we needed an effective space in which to work or just a project to stave off the pandemic’s potent cocktail of anxiety and boredom, many took the opportunity to reenvision and redesign their homes, motivated by both form and function.
And while it might be tempting to think that we’ve collectively gotten the redecorating out of our systems now that the calendar has flipped to 2021, data from a survey of 2,000 Americans collected by OnePoll and Puffy suggests that the redecorating party is just getting started. While 55% said they undertook home design shakeups in 2020, a full 71% are committed to such an effort in 2021.
Alongside the seemingly increased interest, the motivation for such projects could be shifting over time as well. With many now adapted to the “new normal” of working remotely, only 12% of respondents cite function as the impetus for the redesign. Likewise, a desire to change scenery was cited in only 11% of responses.
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Instead, the prevailing reasons for redesign draw inspiration from our current circumstances and the desire for something more timeless. Twenty-eight percent want a home with more luxurious items, and a similar number (25%) indicated a hope to turn their residence into a sanctuary. That desire for a dwelling that provides calm certainly registered with 2021 trend forecasts, including Sherwin-Williams’ decision to name Urbane Bronze as its color of the year.
Interestingly, 40% of respondents cited Scandinavian design as a source of inspiration. That tracks with the majority of respondents who mentioned coziness as a priority with their decor. Other motivations appeared more eclectic. About 35% of those who redid a room last year chose modern design, while traditional style (22%) and midcentury modern (12%) also influenced thinking. Perhaps inspired by the time we’ve had to take a full inventory of our living spaces, minimalism (9%) also garnered interest in 2020 that should carry over to 2021.
