This website is about design through the decades, and with that in mind, we’ve done stories and open threads about top residential interior design trends in the 1940s, the 1950s, the 1980s, and the 1990s. We’ll fill in those missing 20th Century decades soon, but meanwhile, I was thinking: Now that we are about 2/3 of the way through the 2010’s, let’s try and begin to capture the top interior design trends while they are all around us.
A KEY RULE RE COMMENTS: Regular readers are aware that I am not a fan of certain contemporary trends. But for this story, I will not opine. Let us — with objectivity and no judgment on aesthetic or other values — just make a list. Note, I may not approve judge-y comments; I am trying to keep myself focused on equanimity — it’s is not something I’m naturally programmed for, I’m working on it.
Top interior design trends of the 2010s:
I’ll start with a few that I think make the list.
- Gray is the Color of the Decade: Did the popularity of this color reflect the economic malaise of the Great Recession? Gray was used in abundance, on: Walls, kitchen cabinets, flooring, upholstery, and more. By 2017, the gray trend is fading (white walls, for example, seems to be ascendant.)
- Bye bye Granite, hello Quartz: The long-lasting supremacy of granite on kitchen counter tops came to an end. Trendy folk who can afford them want quartz countertops. Even trendier folk, with even more dough re me, want giant slabs of Carrara marble.
- Retro Renovation Revival: The time finally came for midcentury design to experience a revival. Circa 1995, when I first started looking, there were like ZERO midcentury modern-style sofas for sale. Today, there seem to be HUNDREDS. Classic midcentury modern design penetrated the design and decorating culture, and midcentury “modest” got its due, too: The success of the Save the Pink Bathrooms campaign — which made these vintage bathrooms desirable again, at least among some cohorts — is just one example of how granny’s choices finally started getting some respect.
- Upcycle This: Propelled by online sites like etsy and pinterest, the 2010s saw the biggest revival of crafting since perhaps the 1970s. Chalk painting old furniture… turning ball jars into pendant lights… ‘put a bird on it’ everythings… and much more
What do you think of my list so far?
What else should go on the list?
More stories on design trends:
- Top decorating trends from the 1940s
- Top decorating trends from the 1950s
- Top decorating trends from the 1980s
- Top decorating trends form the 1990s
Rachel says
White cabinets. Bigger, one or two lights above islands instead of the requisite three of the previous decade.
Griege everything. I am seeing more dark gray or charcoal though which I like so much better. Our dining room is actually charcoal.
Seeing the glass mosaic tile everywhere.
I hope we move away from the McMansions with too much going on. Like stone and eaves and pillars and a different stone and more eaves! My eyes never know where to look lol.
ineffablespace says
Good:
Nicely designed, contemporary free-standing bathtubs.
Streamlined toilets, skirted bases.
White on white bathrooms and kitchens that will probably age well when other things start to look D—-.
Contemporary ceiling fans. No need to have a “Victorian” ceiling fan no matter what the rest of the room looks like.
The return of wallcoverings.
The increasing reissue of fabrics designed earlier in the 20th c.
A shift in decorative lighting design with the increasing availability of LED.
May “date” the interior and not age well:
Rooms (especially great rooms, kitchens and master suites/baths) that have no defined “shape” and bleed off into other rooms, hallways, and second stories. Hard to decorate.
neo-Edwardian/Victorian kitchen and bath elements in otherwise modest or contemporary houses.
Complicated ceiling shapes.
Too much recessed lighting, and a disappearance of table lamps, since much of the furniture now floats in open spaces. Recessed lighting is not nearly as flattering as lamps and face level lighting.
Multiple pendants and chandeliers. Crystal chandeliers in kitchens and modest spaces.
Elaborate tile layouts with accent stripes, borders, and feature areas and different materials.
Tan on brown on more brown tile and faux wood tile in combination.
Extremely active granite. Two extremely active granites in one kitchen. Stones that are very interesting and striking but are not low maintenance.
Faux recycled upcycled. Faux reclaimed wood.
Pinterest overload. Too much of a good thing.
The continued destruction of vintage design (now probably including the 80s)
JP says
I agree with the shift away from grey. I think that the 2020s (OMG! the 2020s) will see more gold, bronze, rose gold and glam often against crisp neutral backdrops. I am adding a lot of disco—Baughman burlwood, a plinth brass sectional, and such to my collection of midcentury classics. I see more fun coming… the 2010s were about a lot of serious grey with serious midcentury classics…bring out the disco bling…and the wallpaper…and the colorful tile…don’t we always see hints of the beginning of the next decade in the last third of the current…
Pam says
Shiplap!!! It reminds me way too much of 70’s paneling (which I spent too much time in the 90’s removing).
And industrial pipe DIY furniture. I actually like the look and have some pipe shelves in my son’s bathroom. I just don’t think it’s a look that will last long.
lynn says
Kitchen backsplashes with those narrow slivers of mosaic tile – in shades of gray.
Betsy says
“Inspirational” words or sayings stenciled onto walls. All the walls…
Martha says
Let us not forget one of my favorites, Open Shelving! And of course, the Industrial look.
Susan D says
Herringbone/chevron patterns. The return of brass for plumbing fixtures & cabinet hardware. Small glass tiles. 20 years from now, people will be tearing it all out. 50 years from now, people will want to recreate it.
Cynthia says
Forgot to mention a return to brass or gold tone fixtures hardware lighting. navy blue indigo and other blues back on scene. Brass and gold will fall back out of favor sooner than expected, however.
Cathleen says
Agree. I see matte brass and copper everywhere now but will resist that temptation as I fear it will be out of fashion very quickly.
Robin, WA says
Open concept floor plans. Seems like everyone wants a kitchen and dining area open to the living room.
Bobbie Zapor says
YES! I think this will be the hallmark of the ’10s look in the future. In time people will be looking at homes and saying “ya know, we could add a wall here and have a more cozy, defined, space.”
Robin, WA says
Haha! What goes around comes around.
Jay says
Oh yes, because after they add the wall they could then add wall cabinets with real doors that close so that maybe there would be a place to store the dishes free of dust instead of on those open wall shelves. After I prepare a meal on Sundays I retreat to the dining room to escape the mess in the kitchen.
Laura Ainsworth says
Yes, yes, yes! In 20 years, people will be horrified that they can cross the threshold into a house that was built or remodeled in the early 21st century and see all the way back to the giant kitchen, which looks awful because the homeowner hasn’t cleaned it in the past 30 minutes. Put up a wall, for crying out loud.