Top Interior Design Trends for 2020
We've studied hundreds of designers and listen to find out which looks they’ll be gravitating toward in the new year. Here's what they had to say.
Girl bedroom by Leonor Moreira Romba Arquitecturas in Lisbon.
The word trend isn’t much favored by designers. After all, trends, by definition, are temporary and often viewed in hindsight as aberrations from good taste (think: avocado kitchens). Great designers strive to create timeless interiors. Still, even if designers don’t want their interiors to be too closely identified with a specific year, that doesn’t mean they don’t want them to feel fresh. That is to say, the trend doesn’t have to be a dirty word. So, we again research more than 700 designers to get the lowdown on currents to come. Read on to find out which looks will make the biggest impact in the year ahead.
Deep Blues
In the living room of a historic Watch Hill, Rhode Island, house, Studio Giancarlo Valle clad the walls in a rich blue. Photo by Stephen Kent Johnson
Pantone’s color of the year for 2020 is Classic Blue, a choice that aligns neatly with designers’ preferences concerning hues. In our research, 29 percent of designers said they would use blue, compared with 15 percent the year before. Likewise, navy doubled in popularity over the same time span. Expect to see a blue wave in the months ahead.
Wild Patterns
The Pearwood Collection celebrates Cole & Son’s rich design history,
When it comes to patterns, nature will be a major inspiration for designers, who indicated a move toward animal prints and floral motifs. Geometric designs, a favorite last year, will continue to be strong in 2020.
Natural Materials
The Coolandvintage house designed by architect José Alberto Charrua the aesthetic is contemporary and eco-friendly with a neutral palette anchored by earthy tones and natural highlights, with a focus on the surrounding landscape.
Nature’s influence extended to favored materials, with 35 percent of respondents predicting that we’ll see more wood in the year ahead. From light to grayed to cerused, the material was a popular choice among designers, who foresaw it being used to “warm-up” interiors.
Artisan Creations
Designed by Oito em ponto, a hymn to timeless luxury adding custom pieces like the sofas along with the bespoke artisan Matilde Chairs a touch of glamour.
Creating custom works remains a priority for designers, 55 percent of whom said they would source more artisanal and one-of-a-kind items in the year ahead. As for the artisans themselves, designers tend to work with local makers, seeking individuality in their projects.
More Vintage & Antique
In an New Orleans. Studio Ace combined original architectural elements such as ornate staircase banisters, marble walls, moldings and fireplaces are enhanced with antiques, chandeliers, custom fabrics and vintage pieces.
When it comes to creating a nuanced, layered space, designers aren’t looking to a particular style or era but to an artful mix of vintage and antique pieces with the best of today. Over the past year, the portion of projects including predominantly vintage and antique items rose from 26 to 32 percent. Modern styles (mid-century, American and Scandinavian) and Art Deco are likely to continue to trend in the year ahead, with savvy designers combining items from a variety of eras to craft interiors that feel collected.
