3 Interior Design Trends for 2021

The lockdown has brought about quite a few lifestyle changes and how we live in our home, but in 2021 we will be seeing some dramatic changes that will affect how we decorate or renovate our homes.

29/11/2020

 

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The lockdown in 2020 has brought about plenty of lifestyle changes and how we live in our home. It's something we now know as the 'new normal' and we will be seeing even more changes in 2021 as architectural and interior designers focus more on the environment and how our lifestyle affects this. Some of the biggest changes will be in how we design, build and decorate our homes and, while the SANS (South African National Standard) codes play an integral role in home construction, designers are taking this to the next level.

 

VOC-free products, such as flooring products, are now a reality.

 

 

1. USE OF VOC-FREE MATERIALS

Most of us already understand the principle for decorating our homes to be eco-friendly, but some do not understand how the use of VOC-free materials, as well as green or eco-friendly materials, come into play when decorating their homes. Designing VOC-free interiors is about improving our interior air quality by not using materials that introduce toxins into our environment. Since we spend so much of our time in our homes, it is important to pay closer attention to the materials and products that we use to decorate.

 

- WHAT ARE VOCs?

For those that still do not know, volatile organic compounds, commonly abbreviated to VOCs, are the harmful toxins that are released from materials you bring into your home. These toxic compounds quickly pollute the air inside a home and can result in unpleasant or undesirable side effects such as headaches, nausea and dizziness, as well as more severe conditions that can lead to adult infertility and development problems in young children.

 

- WHERE CAN VOCs BE FOUND?

So many manufactured materials, including carpets, furniture, paint and others, contain harmful volatile organic compounds such as formaldehyde. Others may contain phthalates, a chemical product that has been banned in the manufacturing of certain products for children due to its health hazard.

 

- ECO-FRIENDLY ALTERNATIVES

It simply wouldn't be sensible to say that everything you purchase for your home should be absolutely VOC-free and, while many manufacturers have put green practices into play for the manufacturing of their products, not all can board an absolute VOC-free result. This means that consumers need to be more aware of those manufacturers that are at least making the effort to introduce VOC-free alternatives over those that aren't.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The future of furniture is bio design bio fabrication.

The Moss Table is a perfect example of bio design. Moss releases bacteria to charge a battery that lights up the table.

 

new york times

 

2. BIO DESIGN FURNITURE

This is a new concept and one that embraces the manufacture of everyday furniture using bio-engineering methods in conjunction with nature. An emerging movement, bio design is not just a scientific principle, it's a way of combining science with artists and designers to use organic processes for the production of products, including clothing, furniture and construction projects.

 

- WHAT IS BIO DESIGN

The principle is that design and nature integrate to replicate living organisms for the production of essential goods. Living materials such as algae, bacteria, fungi and yeast can be used to 'grow' durable furniture that is enhanced by the addition of living materials. A good example of bio design is that of Modern Meadow, a company that 'grows' leather using a specific bacterium. The company uses a fermentation technology wherein yeast cells are cultured into custom proteins that are the building block for certain materials - a process termed bio fabrication.

 

modern meadow

 

- HOW BIO DESIGN AFFECTS US

The use of bio design for production and manufacture is expected to minimise greenhouse gas emissions and the use of fossil fuels. Using Modern Meadow as a further example, by 'growing' leather for the manufacture of furniture and others, it is expected that a reduction of almost 14.5% will be achieved simply by replacing agriculture with bio fabrication.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are seeing a resurgence in the popularity of raw brick as a beautiful backdrop or blank canvas.

 

 

3. THE IMPORTANCE OF NATURE

We have come to realise the importance of moving away from synthetic and manufactured materials that poison our homes and our environment and a basic and very simple way of doing this is to bring about a seamless transition between indoors and the outdoor environment.

The line between indoors and outdoors is one that we have yearned to remove for centuries. Our inherent love of nature and everything organic is drastically changing how we live and the homes we live in. As our natural resources dwindle, responsible management of what we have is of the utmost importance in allowing us to bring nature indoors.

 

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- WHAT IS CONSIDERED NATURAL - ORGANIC?

By decorating the interior of our homes with materials such as cotton, linen, leather, wood, stone and others bring a sense of calm and beauty to our interiors and create a connection with Mother Nature.

 

- MODERN TRENDS

A good example of introducing natural elements into a home can be that of the resurgence of brick as a building material. But not in the way that you would think. Now it is all about the beauty of brick itself, not when covered up or hidden out of sight. Bricks can be used to introduce an element of warmth and character to a home in a way that lets it be a beautiful backdrop or richly-hued canvas on which to build and add layers of furniture and accessories.

 

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