As we prepare to enter not only a new year but a fresh decade, you may be wondering what design trends lie on the horizon. To find out, we polled five trend forecasters who are constantly looking at data and analyzing market shifts to identify what’s new and next.According to these experts, if the last few years were defined by sweet pinks and brass fixtures, 2020 will shift into a slightly more subdued gear. But this reinterpretation of minimalism will be anything but boring: The next year will see a return to strong geometric forms (as one forecaster called it, “Neo-Deco”) as well as surprising interpretations of neutral hues.
AMPED UP NEUTRALS
Following several years dominated by exuberant colors, 2020 will bring a more subdued approach. We see a transition into gorgeous warm neutrals that cleanse the palate and hint at the reemergence of tradition. Neutrals that are often relegated to the background—off-whites, tinted grays, earthy ochres, and tactile beiges—will instead step to the fore, continuing that reconnection with nature and authenticity.
JAPANESE INFLUENCES
Given the trend toward soothing minimalism, it’s no surprise that the Japanese aesthetic will be a strong presence in 2020. These looks are always present in some way, but periodically, they are energized as a trend. Natural materials, used in simple forms, reinforce a feeling of purity that is at the core of this style.
NATURAL SELECTION
It seems our collective yearning for getting back to nature will extend to home accents. But while the last few years may have included banana-leaf everything, this trend will, once again, manifest in a more subtle way. Think botanical prints, lush greens, and replications of wood grains and stone veinings for pillows, rugs, and upholstery, along with delicate wild flora and fauna motifs in homewares, experts say.