Decorating & Design
20 Design Trends We’re Excited About For 2020
Published on December 16, 2019
Whether it’s the latest runway looks or Pantone’s Color of the Year (everyone on board with Classic Blue?), we can’t resist the voyeuristic appeal of finding out what’s new and buzzy. Click through to see some of the trends House & Home’s design editors are predicting will be popping up in a room near you. Plus, see more 2020 trends in our January issue, on newsstands now.
Arches
There is something balletic — if not outright grand — about an arched doorway. If a room needs some grace, add an arch (it doesn’t always have to be architectural — arched mirrors are also having a renaissance). It echoes a host of heady architectural styles such as Spanish Revival, Moroccan and other faraway destinations.
Pattern Play
The age of “grandmillennial” style — better known as “grandma chic” — is influenced by classic taste makers like Billy Baldwin and Sister Parish (and is currently getting major play in the lush Santa Barbara sets of Netflix’s The Politician). It’s all about mixing florals and stripes in a array of scales. Not sure how to pull it off? Start with coordinating drapery and toss cushions.
Niches
Custom built-in details transforms dead space into dedicated storage space. In this white and wood kitchen, a handy cooktop adjacent niche keeps essential oils and tools within reach.
Brushstroke Patterns
This freewheeling stroke of genius mimics a hand-drawn look, even when mass produced. Look for this trend to continue strong in 2020 as brushstroke patterns lend a unique personal signature to a room. Kelly Wearstler’s Channels wallpaper looks like it was painted with a generous brush and an artist’s assured hand.
Earthy Pastels
Cut the sweetness of millennial pink and its candy-hued confrères with a hit of brown. Farrow & Ball’s Setting Plaster Pink perfectly encapsulates the new earthy pastels for livable spaces with a grown up, historic look.
Window Seats
“Everyone loves a window seat,” says designer Brian Gluckstein, giving his celeb endorsement of a breezy perch he designed for the 2018 Princess Margaret Showhome‘s kitchen. This quaint feature saves space and gets up close and personal with a lovely garden view.
Colorful Marble
The reigning triumvirate of marble: Statuario, Calacatta and Carrara, may have their crowns toppled in 2020 — or at least pushed off kilter. There’s a thirst for more chromatic marble that aligns with the greater desire for more color everywhere in the home.
Small Living
Tiny houses, container boxes, petite trailers and all sorts of small housing alternatives are big news for their sustainability. These alternatives prove you don’t need a lot to live well, and make a compelling case for leaving a lighter environmental footprint. For those who need just a bit more breathing room, Canadian firm DROP Structures‘ prefab structures function as cabins, studios or guest suites, and can be customized with small washrooms and micro kitchens.
Scattered Tiles
This approach to tiling — inspired by Spanish architect Patricia Urquiola — isn’t about staying inside the lines, so skip the prescribed repeats and mix tiles with abandon for a spontaneous feel.
Caning
We’ve moved beyond chair seats to explore a new place for cane embellishment. It gives furniture worldly, well-traveled flair that recalls beach houses and upscale tropical hotels. Cane brings dimension and interest to the cabinet doors (left).
Chunky Pedestal Dining Tables
Tables are getting grounded with substantial bases, and the benefit is clear: it’s a sculptural way to support the top. A pedestal base also means that diners’ limbs won’t need to jostle for space between the table legs.
Creature Comforts
Spurred by the popularity of Jean Royère’s Polar Bear sofa and the Brazilian Campana Brothers, whose furnishings look like animal hybrids or fish, there is a major interest in pieces that resemble fantastical beasts. We predict many homeowners will be adopting from a menagerie of whimsical influences in 2020.
Mesh & Perforations
Black Lacquer Furniture
We love the glossy depth imparted by black lacquer, and the fact that everything this finish touches (including these Chippendale chairs) looks instantly more high end.
Plaster Wall Finishes
This delicately detailed plaster wall is a one-off work of art, but we’ve noted the trend towards a suede-like effect from paint finishes that mimic the chalky, matte and hand-applied texture of plaster.
A Single Standout Sconce
Sconces are often found in pairs, balancing a handsome mirror or a bed. Now we are seeing them break up and strike out on their own; they just need to have plenty of presence so they don’t become wallflowers. Here’s to the single life.
Dried Florals
We know they got a bad rap for looking dusty and desiccated, but the new dried florals are bolder and less about preserving memories than celebrating the unique properties of plant matter at every stage in its life cycle. In this breezy arrangement, branches of eucalyptus retain their fragrance while branches add a sculptural note.
Bulbous Shapes
It’s time for a round up. Curved, puffy and bulbous shapes are rolling out in a big way in 2020. Look for chubby sofas, chair and ottomans that look so full they are about to burst: no one is willing to take a hard line here.
Amber Glass
Smoky and warm as a glass of whiskey, amber glass lights are a mellow alternative to clear. The Dark Emperor marble base in this special edition glass light designed by Established & Sons for Twentieth sets off the amber Venetian glass for a luscious medley of natural materials.
’70s Ceramics
The grooviness of the 1970s lives on with artisanal ceramics — think loopy illustrations with an emphasis on flowers and flourishes. To capture the vibe of vintage pieces, look for a palette of glazes pulled from nature, leaning heavily on grass greens, daffodil yellows and rich blues, plus harvest golds, brown and orange.