interiorstyling

Interior Trends for 2021

Trend

It will be hard to follow a year of pandemic but there’s always hope with fresh new ideas and designs to give our homes a well needed face lift for Spring. Here are my top picks of the Interior Trends of 2021.

Background image by Paweł Czerwiński

Background image by Paweł Czerwiński

2021 is all about texture. From fluted cabinets to rippled tiles to boucle headboards. If it makes you want to run your hands across the surface then it’s doing it’s job. Bringing texture into our homes can instantly transform a room, whether it’s your favourite blanket or plaster effect paint - it has the power to envelope and create the cosiest of spaces. It also adds interest to the blandest of decor schemes.

One of my favourite ways to add texture at the moment is through tiles in the bathroom. Reena from Hygge for Home is currently doing the most epic renovation on a bungalow and her bathroom is so dreamy. She has combined Zellige tiles with Tadelakt walls. Both hailing from Morocco, Tadelakt is a traditional waterproof and decorative plaster and Zellige are handmade tiles which give an uneven, authentic feel to any wall.

Other ways to add texture into your home can come in the form of T&G fluted panelling to frame a bed or ribbed cabinets in the kitchen. Fabrics like Boucle, Cord and Velvet are great additions in big or small amounts.

And if you just want to start small, then these candles from Norsu Interiors are a really quick and easy way to introduce this trend.

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2020 shook everything up and it feels like 2021 is probably going to continue some of the habits learnt from the year before. It’s no secret that our homes have had to work harder recently - they have become offices, schools, retreats and restaurants 24/7. Most of the surveys suggest that workers, where possible, would like to continue a work from home balance of some sort so look out for clever home office as more ingenious ideas come through.

The most important thing is here to zone the space if you can. The ideal scenario would be a separate room where you can close the door behind you at the end of the day but, if like me, you are not lucky enough to have a room dedicated to an office then just simply designating a corner can help you distinguish where the working the day ends and the home life starts.

This spare room office design below by Luke Arthur Wells is a fab example of zoning the space by using an alcove corner and some simple panelling to frame the desk. The room is still a spare bedroom when needed, but functions as a home office perfectly.

And Medina from Grillo Designs is the Queen of making spaces would hard to accommodate her family’s needs like this workstation she designed under the stairs for her son to do school work. It’s compact, neat and in keeping with the rest of the room. Notice the framing idea is used here too and it really works.

Image by Atelier Ellis

Image by Atelier Ellis

Every year we see colour trends come through from various paint companies and 2021 is no different. Dulux and Pantone are the leading experts on colour but there are many different colours to choose from if these particular colours aren’t your flavour. One thing is for sure, we are getting braver in our homes and I urge you to pick colours that make you happy rather than following the trends. If it’s something you don’t particularly like - don’t force it to work.

One colour that scares the hell out of me but also weirdly makes me happy is Lilac. If any of you grew up in the 90s you’ll probably remember the classic half and half lilac/turquoise combinations that adorned teenage bedrooms. Border wallpaper anyone? All those hideous memories aside, when teamed with moody blues and dusky tones, Lilac becomes sophisticated and works particularly well in small amounts - headboards, accent chairs…that kind of thing.

Elle Decoration by Crown Paints.

Elle Decoration by Crown Paints.

Green is also growing in popularity, some people are even saying it’s the new grey. Using green as a neutral is a brilliant way of installing tranquillity into any home and adding lots of plants is a perfect combination.

On the deeper scale of Green is Emerald Green which works as a brilliant colour pop. I particularly like it on Casa Curated’s art deco inspired bed.

And finally I am still in love with the warmer tones whenever I see them. Here is a brilliant pairing of Desert Rose and Caddie by Paint and Paper Library. The thin splash of black on the dado rail grounds the colours and adds just the right amount of contrast.

Paint and Paper Library

Paint and Paper Library

So that’s my top picks for 2021. I would love to know your favourite and if any have inspired you to use them in your home. Let me know in the comments below or my DMs are always open on Instagram.

Have a fab January!

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5 Micro Trends for Summer

I’m writing this on a dreary Monday afternoon as the winds howls and the rain lashes down so it’s hard to believe that we’re in Summer and not in Winter like it feels. It still is British Summertime technically so I thought I’d share some of the mini trends that are flying around in the interiors world at the moment. These are all trends designed to make you smile and spark joy, which is something we all need after the dismal start to 2020. So without further ado…

STAYCATION TREND 2020. NORTHERN STYLING INTERIOR STYLING

Corona Virus cancelled all plans for 2020 from just meeting your friend for a coffee to going on holiday. The Staycation trend is all about bringing the holiday to your home instead. Think Mallorca vibes as you liven up the dreary living room with a candy coloured cushion. Channel your inner Ibizan with a rattan shade over the breakfast bar. Bring the tropical inside through prints and colours - make that holiday feel last all year round. Below are some of my top picks for this trend which won’t look out of place mixing in with your current decor.

Statement Vases

Statement Vases

Vases are no longer just an after thought for the bunch of flowers you impulsively bought out and about. They no longer live at the back of the cupboard only to be brought out on birthdays. Vase are a decorative item in their own right and can be displayed with or without flowers. I constantly have vases on display long after the flowers have died. They can add to that perfect shelfie or be a centre piece on the table all on their own. The trend for statement vases is all about going bold. Pick vases that represent your personality and are ornaments in their own right.

Dried Flowers

Dried Flowers

The following bouquets were loaned from The Flower Lounge for this blog. See my Instagram for a chance to win one of these bunches.

Once banished to your Nan’s parlour to collect dust, dried flower bouquets are having a bit of a renaissance at the moment. And for good reason too; they are low-maintenance (just need a bit of dusting every now and then), they are also eco-friendly as they last longer than cut flowers plus aren’t made of plastic like the faux varieties.

For this summer, it’s time get bold - the bolder the better in my opinion. Mixing bright, clashing colours in a variety of shapes gives an instant focal point to any room. The long stemmed dried grasses can add height and fill those statement vases which is sometimes hard to do with fresh flowers.

DRIED FLOWERS TREND 2020. NORTHERN STYLING DINING ROOM

There’s also room for the lovely neutral grasses which would love fab in any Scandi environment and The Flower Lounge also have a vast array of those too. They are now offering UK wide delivery so it’s no longer just us Manchester folks who get to shop the beautiful creations Sian and the team make.

Arches

Arches

Arch shapes are nothing new but they became very prominent at the Salone Del Mobile in 2019 and have since ventured into all aspects of homeware. With the popularity of the NHS rainbow symbol that swept the world, Arches are now popping up in prints, vases and even lights. The softness of the curve adds a sense of playfulness to the home and this trend shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon. I have linked some quirky items which are the epitome of the trend in my eyes.

Home Comforts

Home Comforts

It will come as no surprise that Home has a more important meaning than ever. This trend is all about making home feel comfortable for you. Whether that’s a treasured teapot or a chunky throw, home comforts are personal and should bring you joy. It’s all about the senses, touch, smell, sight…anything to bring happiness into your space is perfect.

So that’s it. 5 micro trends I predict will be big over the summer months. Which one is your favourite? Will you be trying any of these ideas out in your homes? Let me know in the comments below :)

Also don’t forget to pin this graphic below in case you want to come back at a later stage! Have a good day!

5 MICRO TRENDS FOR SUMMER 2020. NORTHERN STYLING INTERIOR DESIGN

Image Creds

1: https://www.facebook.com/tellemeretellefillefr/photos/a.193602790771717/1950101751788470

2: https://www.rockettstgeorge.co.uk/girl-power-vase.html

3. Northern Styling Image

4: http://inagblog.com/2019/07/simon-kaempfer/

5: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/672866000557411838/feedback/?invite_code=a87f1325945a4861b4f8df062e28f6ef&sender_id=299067368913528949

Quick & Easy Shelf Update

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Full disclosure that this was done as part of a collaboration with Dulux using previously gifted paint but I wanted to share as it can be done with literally any paint you have lying around. 

We bought these Ikea picture shelves when we first moved in 4 years ago. They went up on the walls before we even bought any furniture. Slowly slowly, I am changing up the living room and introducing more colour so the Spiced Honey paint seemed to be the perfect choice. I have a few cushions and prints in similar tones so I knew it wouldn't look out of place.

If in doubt, paint a bit of card and hold it up against the wall colour you already have to check if it works together. 

Proof that the shelves were up before the furniture - Jan 2016

Proof that the shelves were up before the furniture - Jan 2016

The paint was Dulux Quick Dry Satinwood which can also be used on metal - hello radiators! I didn't need a primer, I just gave them a good clean and a little sand where they had chipped. It only took two coats for full coverage so it was all done and dusted within an afternoon.

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Once dry and rehung, it's my time to style them. As most of you know by now, I love to style these shelves with a mixture of objects and prints, and changing the items up is a sure fire way to make a room look refreshed without spending a penny. 
I bought in some of the warmer toned prints to sit alongside a few objects. The prints I have removed have all been re-homed around the house, updating many rooms at once without even realising it. 

So that’s it! A quick and easy way to instantly update shelves using things you already have lying around the house. I’d love to know what you’re planning to upcycle in your home. Comment here or DM me on Instagram :)

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