“A well-designed space can lead to a happier life”. While we don’t know who first said it, we do know that they were right. Now more than ever, feeling calm, happy and safe at home is key. And given the fact that we’re 18 months into a pandemic, most of us have been spending more time than ever at home.
A house isn’t just a place to live anymore – your home is also your office, your classroom, your gym, your yoga studio, and much more. That’s why people are now looking to create living spaces which embrace and reflect this.
There’s no denying that the pandemic has forced us to make lifestyle changes – whether that’s the way we work, the way we socialise, the way we approach our health or even the way we decorate our homes. Many of us have spent the majority of the last 18 months at home, and this has had a knock-on effect when it comes to interior design – and here’s how.
Colour and patterns are back
With white and neutral colours a firm favourite, this isn’t a trend we ever expect to completely go out of style. However, with so many now working fully from home or embracing a home/office combination, there’s been a definite shift towards colours and patterns.
Staying home and staring at the same walls all day can take its toll, especially if there’s nothing to really break up your focus – many are now craving something a little more fun and lively. From colourful kitchens to creatively painted lounges and bold bedrooms, it seems that people are embracing colour and pattern again.
However, earthy colours still win for home offices
With so many now working from home, opening the laptop and perching on a chair at the end of the dining room table just isn’t cutting it anymore. As we mentioned earlier, homes are now multi-functional living spaces and as such there’s been a shift away from open plan designs.
The idea, it seems, is encouraging people to create purposefully designed places in their homes that suit requirements – such as a home office, area for home schooling, space to work out etc.
With this in mind, we’ve noticed that earthy, calming colours are still a winner when it comes to home offices. For example, beiges, greys, biscuits and oatmeal colours are all tones which can easily transcend mindsets, and offer a soothing and calming feel – which we’d say is necessary for a home workspace where there’s likely to be a certain level of stress of pressure as we all continue to adapt to this new way of working.
Decorating brings happiness and mindfulness
It’s no surprise that many are trying to create uplifting, positive vibes at home right now – and this is especially true when it comes to colours, wallpapers and general interior décor. This also touches on what we’ve spoken about earlier in this article; whether it’s a wallpaper with a particularly funky pattern, retro paint colours that take us back to a safe place and foster a sense of nostalgia, or some soft furnishings or ornaments that simply make us smile. All of these are pointing toward a new trend, which tells us that many people have embarked upon projects that bring them joy, or even a few mindful moments.
There’s certainly something soothing about taking in every aspect of a room, visualising what could be, and getting started on a new project. And in times as trying and challenging as the past 18 months have been, we could also use a little mindfulness to help reset our frazzled brains!
Ultimately, the general trend seems to be that we’re all ready to mix it up a little when it comes to painting and decorating. A pop of colour or a vibrant pattern can help to create a positive, uplifting feel – and can also give people the variety that’s needed at home.
Where we once went to work and came home at the end of the day ready to crash and relax, our homes have now almost become the centre of our worlds – it’s where we eat, sleep, work, learn, exercise, destress and try to relax. It’s only natural that with some homes more full of people than ever before (children off school, adult children moved back home to isolate or simply have company), we’re now looking to step away from the open plan way of living, opting instead for rooms structured to suit a variety of needs, where that’s for work, relaxing, exercising or cooking.
If you’re about to take on your own redecoration project, let us take on the hassle for you. You can choose your new décor, and let us deal with the painting and decorating. To speak with one of our talented painters or decorators near you, you can get in touch via our website.
