Animal print is out, and bold colour accents are here to stay – those are among the findings of a recent interior design trends 2021 survey* carried out by My Home Move Conveyancing.
As the UK has spent so much more time at home over the last year, we’ve all had plenty of time to review our interior choices and it will come as no surprise that 19 percent of 16-29-year-olds’ most coveted interior wish is a home office.
Animal print décor and floral wallpaper came top in the UK’s least-liked interior trends, with 40 percent of the 1,000 British homeowners surveyed giving it the big thumbs down. So, if that tiger print throw is out and people hark after a space to work where they can retreat from the rest of the household, what else does the interior design trends 2021 survey tell us?
A big ‘YES’ to en-suite bathrooms and kitchen islands
The interior design trends for 2021 ticking the boxes for most householders are:
- 46 percent of respondents said that an en-suite bathroom was a must have
- An island workspace was the most desirable feature in kitchens, appealing to 24 percent of householders
- French doors in the kitchen came in second place with 16 percent saying yes, yes, yes
- Natural light is the hands down winner for the master bedroom, with 52 percent stating that it was what they most craved
- 19 percent of 16-29’s want a home office in their house.
While people like the idea of an open plan kitchen/dining area, 44 percent of them do not want that to spill over into the living room, and the traditional ‘closed plan’ layout of these rooms is still most people’s preference (40 percent).
And as people’s belongings have increased in number over the years, we’re all on the lookout for clever storage, with 47 percent of people saying it was an essential in the bedroom.
Thumbs down to floral wallpaper and concrete flooring
What’s fallen out of fashion, design-wise? The most disliked interior design trends 2021 are:
- Animal print décor is out for 40 percent of UK homeowners
- For 32 percent of people, floral print wallpaper is totally off-limits
- Concrete flooring is disliked by a solid 29 percent (higher in the older age bracket with 39 percent of the over 60’s showing disdain)
- And industrial chic, once the beloved darling of the design world, has fallen from grace, with 36 percent of the over 60’s saying that they would never have it in their homes (although other age groups were not quite as vehement).
Carpets triumph over wooden flooring
Some of My Home Move Conveyancing’s discoveries are hardly surprising. Neutral colours with bolder accents are still trending, appealing to 43 percent of those surveyed, though only 12 percent would favour either grey or white, and 22 percent opt for soft shades. However other findings may be less predictable. For example, 41 percent wanted a carpet, rather than wooden flooring (29 percent).
Design ideas come from a wealth of sources. Overall, homeowners are most likely to get interior-related inspiration from their friends and families (18 percent). Perhaps all those Zoom calls of the last year have given us unprecedented access to other peoples’ homes too. Interiors TV programmes are also used for inspiration by 17 percent, however don’t forget the important influence of social media, and in particular Pinterest, with 19 percent of female homeowners and 32 percent of younger homeowners aged 29 and below scouring other people’s boards for ideas.
For the over 60’s, 26 percent of them go window-shopping or visit showrooms when they’re in the mood for ideas to help improve their homes.
Property extension
Another important aspect of interior design trends in 2021 for homeowners is extending their property. Just over a quarter of householders (26 percent) plan to extend their property in 2021, with 60 percent of this cohort aged 29 and below. The main areas for extension are kitchens (23 percent), loft conversions (21 percent) and bedrooms (14 percent).
Dev Malle, Chief Business Development Officer at My Home Move Conveyancing, says: “Whilst the home is always a personal choice, what stood out most from the findings was that people want their homes to be calming – the kind of effect you get from neutral colours, natural light and more space, rather than wallpaper that’s too busy or animal print décor.
“As we’ve had to spend so much time at home, it is little wonder that’s what people feel most comfortable with. And we’ve also had plenty of time to work out exactly what we want in our home environment. DIY, decorating and crafts are all hobbies that have grown hugely in popularity over the last 12 months and people seem more aware of their surroundings.
“Getting the right décor in your home can make it that much more welcoming and a place where you love spending time. And don’t forget, with all those Zoom meetings, more people than ever are probably getting a glimpse of it too.”
Further coverage was gained in The Express and DailyWaffle
*Survey was completed in March 2021
