Build.com for Pros: Home Decor Trends

Home trends change from year to year, and what was in last season is old news today. If you work in the interior design business, it's your job to keep up on these ever-changing home trends so you can steer your clients toward what's fashionable today and timeless tomorrow.

Use this guide to incorporate 2020 home design trends into your work this year. From large furniture pieces to smaller accessories like rugs and wall decor, this quick primer will help you stay abreast of the home design trends that matter most in the coming year.

Colorful Kitchens

Over the last few years we've seen all-white kitchens in traditional and more modern spaces. In 2020, one of the major home trends is going to be a move away from that bright white design scheme that's been popular for the last few seasons.

What's taking the place of bright white? Bold colors and creative dark designs that add a sense of drama to the kitchen. Favorite colors this season include rich, saturated blues and greens paired with brass and ink-black iron hardware.

One way these colors are being incorporated is through cabinetry. Matte styles tend to look more modern and current this season, but glossy styles are popular as well. They also have the added benefit of being easy to clean if you use an eggshell, semi-gloss, or high-gloss paint, which can be very helpful in busy cook's kitchens and homes with kids and pets.

Another option is to showcase these colors via backsplash or wall tile. Updating a backsplash can give a kitchen an entirely new feel.

Kitchens that don't need major renovation work can still add some of this year's home design trends. Look for accessories and home accents like vases, trays, baskets, and boxes in brass and iron. They can bring the high-style drama of the season to a mostly white kitchen with ease.

Floral Prints

Floral prints are a big, bold player this year when it comes to home trends and design ideas. One major way florals are making an impact is in the form of wallpaper. Ideal for smaller spaces like powder rooms, floral prints can make a powerful statement that imbues a simple room with vibrant color.

Floral print rugs are another way to bring sophisticated style or playful, modern color to your work. Even subdued, dark floral patterns will work in traditional and antique-inspired homes.

Vintage-Infused Design

Vintage furniture has never really gone out of style - only the era of vintage that's truly popular changes. This year's vintage home design trends are all about tried and true styles that harken back to a simpler time when more work was done by hand.

In furniture design, classic spooled legs and carved accents are going to be especially big. Look for vintage-inspired patinas on wood pieces like dining and coffee tables as well.

The vintage theme is going to carry over into the little things, like home accessories. Functional accessories like lamps are an especially smart way to work a little vintage decor into a more modern space.

You don't have to scout true vintage pieces, either. With industrial-look pieces and vintage designs being so popular this year, it's easy to find new reproductions that are more reliable without sacrificing the style your clients want.

Antique-Inspired Art

Decorating walls for your clients can be tricky. A lot of homeowners want personal, meaningful pieces that they love looking at. Others simply want wall decor that works with their furniture, rugs, and accessories. This year, steering your clients toward antique-inspired art can help add a trendy touch to their homes.

Like vintage decor pieces, there's something about the lived-in look of antique-inspired art that fits with the overall 2020 aesthetic. Paired with the vintage furniture or reproduction pieces, perfect patinas, floral prints, and more saturated colors of the season, antique art is really the frosting on the cake.

Real antique art pieces can provide a well-worn look, but you don't necessarily have to scour the antique shops to get it. Just like with antique-inspired reproduction furniture and accessories, there are lots of art pieces out there on the market made to look old.

Another option is to simply put a piece of art your client loves in an older frame style. Worn patinas are very popular this year, and a great way to use them is via frames for wall art.

Faux Plants and Trees

What do antique-inspired art pieces, vintage appointments, floral prints, and a move away from all-white kitchens have in common? A desire to create a space that feels warmer and a home that's more comfortable for family life. There are few better ways to create an inviting environment than with plants and trees.

In 2020, faux plants and trees are one of the big home trends that designers will want to make the most of. The biggest hit, by far, is the faux olive tree. Offering Mediterranean warmth and a manageable size, these trees can work in the entry area, living room, family room, and even in bedroom settings.

Along with faux olive trees, potted faux ferns are also making a big splash this year. Use them on tabletops or add them to racks and bookshelves throughout the house. Blue and white Delft-style vases are a particularly popular container for these classic indoor plants.

Find Design Balance

Creating homes your clients love requires you to find a balance between lasting, classic designs and of-the-now decor that feels fresh and new. These 2020 home design trends make it possible to craft a space that marries timeless design and trend-rich touches.