2020 was a year filled with unexpected challenges and situations that have fundamentally changed how we live. The inception of the coronavirus pandemic coupled with the lockdown, forced many people to work from home, making the way we furnish and decorate our living spaces more important than ever.
This forced homeowners to reflect, dissect, and evaluate how they live in their homes, how it makes them feel, and how, ultimately, they want to change and improve upon their relationship with home. Our team of interior designers at Young Black Excellence LLC (YBE GHANA LLC) have come up with a list of top 5 design trends Ghanaians can expect to see more of in 2021.
1. Vintage In Vogue
One of the biggest 2021 decorating trends isn’t new at all. Design styles of the past, including Victorian-era, Art Deco aesthetics, are making a comeback as people turn to nostalgia for comfort and security.
This trend started coming up from late 2020, with more and more homeowners and decorators incorporating vintage items and furniture into interior spaces.
2. Easy to clean fabrics and countertops
COVID-19 put cleanliness as top priority for many homeowners. We predict that this trend will continue as more and more homeowners will opt for easy-to-clean materials as a way to curb the spread of germs indoors.
More and more Ghanaians have began to use non-porous materials such as glass and metal, which are less susceptible to bacteria growth and are easy to clean. On upholstery, rugs, and other soft surfaces, performance fabrics specially designed to resist stains and stand up well to daily wear will likely rise in popularity.
3. Warm and Earthy Colours
As for colors, expect shades to warm up in 2021. Ghanaians have a special love for neutral earth tone colors and as the new year began, more homeowners began to paint their homes with such tones because of the warmth it creates.
Warm neutrals and rich earth tones are a top 2021 color trend that adds warmth, comfort and coziness to the ambience of the room.
4. Wood and natural materials
We saw a renewed interest in rattan and cane furniture over the past year, and this trend isn’t going anywhere in 2021. Natural materials such as light-toned wood, jute, leather, ceramic, and live plants will continue to furnish homes in the new year, says Arnold Adrian, managing partner for YBE Ghana LLC .
He also suggests layering a variety of natural finishes within a space to create depth and texture. Top a large jute rug with a smaller wool one, for example, or accessorize with pillows and throws made with organic fibers.
5. Sustainable Designs
An increased focus on sustainability is a broader trend that impacts many aspects of our daily lives, including how we furnish our homes.
” We’re seeing a shift with shoppers increasingly turning away from cheaply made store furniture in favor of high-quality pieces that are friendlier on the environment ” says Rukie Agyeman, Head Designer for YBE Ghana LLC. “
When buying furniture and decor, he suggests seeking out materials that are sustainable and easy to recycle so you can feel good about the piece’s environmental impact.