Is it possible to predict Home Staging Trends for 2021 after such a strange period as we have experienced recently?Everyone will probably admit that 2020 was a year of changes, turmoil, unexpected twists and turns. It was the same with our homes and the way we spend time there.
Most of our homes suddenly turned into offices and not everyone had prepared space for it. What’s more, our homes with gardens or terraces began to fulfill even more functions – they have become classrooms, cafes, restaurants, SPA and playrooms in one. For many people they were also the only place of contact with nature.
All these events affected our imagination of a perfect home. And we, as Home Stagers have to keep that in mind. The impact of 2020 is already visible in the case of the Pantone colours selected for 2021. It is no coincidence that one of them is yellow, the color of which brings hope and a positive message.
Today I’m going to share with you my insights related to Home Staging Trends for 2021! I believe that these inspirations will help you get a better return on investment and adjust your property to actual buyer’s / tenant’s needs which have changed significantly recently. Let’s get started!
Return to nature – Biophilic Design
Something that has been always a pillar of my business is going to be more important than ever: plants, plants, plants! But not only them. Biophilic design is going to be one of the biggest trends for 2021. The reason for this is extremely simple – we are walking out of the pandemic, but we still do not know what the future holds for us. Most of us simply miss the possibility of communing with nature! So why not invite some greenery to our homes?🌿If you haven’t heard about biophilic design yet, I will quickly explain to you what it is.
It’s the way of designing spaces with a focus on bringing natural elements into the built environment. Benefits of such an approach are countless: inhabitants have better rest, are more productive and… happy!
How to implement Biophilic Design in practice of a home for rent or sale?
🔸 When choosing your home furniture, floors or accessories, pay attention to what they are made of. According to Biophilic Design philosophy, best for our well-being and health are natural materials, like wood, marble, rattan, stone, bamboo or cork. When looking for decorative elements (like blankets or pillow covers), give a chance to those that are made of natural textures, like for example organic cotton or wool.
🔸 If you can’t go to the jungle… bring it home! Plants will not only beautify your interior, but having them will also improve your mental health, air quality and even relationships! By implementing them you will create the space that helps potential tenants / buyers recharge batteries, connect them with nature and reduce stress. Green wall is also a good idea (just take a look at one of my favourite projects – Office Redesign).
🔸 another way to bring the outdoors inside and create stress-less environment is to add water elements in home’s decor. A small fountain in front of the house or water installations inside will definitely help create a cozy and relaxing atmosphere.
The importance of outdoor spaces
Many people did not manage to go on holiday last year, and none of us know what reality will meet us next summer. And when it gets warm, the sun is temptingly shining outside the window, no one wants to continue spending time at home, right? In such a situation (and in pandemic times), the only right solution is to go… to the garden or terrace.
That is why people who are looking for a new home, now have different habits and priorities. With high probability they will take into account the potential of outdoor spaces and if you take care of them properly, they can become a significant competitive advantage for you when renting or selling a home.
Depending on your target group (and budget!), you can arrange your patio, garden or terrace in a million different ways. The most important will be to adjust this space to the buyer’s needs. That doesn’t mean that you have to build a swimming pool for a busy director of a large corporation right away, because in most cases small changes can bring satisfactory results. Main goal is simply to stimulate the buyer’s imagination.
Create a cozy corner on the terrace so that potential family see themselves eating a late breakfast there, enjoying the little moments together. Or install atmospheric twinkle lights in the garden and help potential tenants imagine themselves spending long summer evenings there in the company of best friends.
Home Offices
It seems that in 2020 home offices (whether asked or not) have settled in for good in our houses. Rapid remote work development changed not only our lives, but also our approach to home furnishing. Suddenly, many of us had to organize a place to work or study overnight – and not all flats provided the conditions for this.
Perhaps before the pandemic many people, especially those working full-time, have treated the home office with a grain of salt as a nice addition that may possibly appear in the apartment, but is not really necessary. It seems that this year it will be quite the opposite and a quiet corner for study or work will become one of the most desirable elements of a house.
Regardless of whether you rent a flat to students who still have remote classes or to working people, a separate workspace with a solid desk and comfortable seat can become a big advantage.
But let’s be honest – not every apartment will have the possibility to ensure a separate office room. And thus we come to the next Home Staging trend, which is…
Multi-purpose furniture and rooms
Knowing how to use space wisely for several different purposes is now more urgent than ever.
How many times in the past year have you worked at the kitchen table or made important phone calls in your child’s room? Now that faced with so many different restrictions, as living rooms have been turned into offices, gyms and bars, clever storage ideas and multi-purpose furniture are new “must-have”.
Fortunately there are many brilliant solutions on the market, that will help you adapt your home to the new reality and use the space as efficiently as possible.
One of the most interesting options is for example, a lift-top coffee table, which on the one hand will be perfect when receiving guests during the weekend, and on the other hand, it will help to turn a part of the living room into a home office during the week, not taking up extra space. Two in one, it couldn’t be better!
Another inspiration could be a stylish room divider that will allow you to separate from others and create a little gym, where you are able to devote yourself to morning aerobics in greater privacy. As you can see, there are really many creative solutions!
New kitchen roles
The kitchen also faced new challenges. Until some time ago this part of the house was not of interest to everyone. Many of us ate our meals in staff canteens, the children dined in school and for a late lunch or dinner with friends we could just go to the restaurant. Then 2020 came and, classically, also in this matter, it twisted everything.
No matter what our culinary skill level was, we had to start cooking at home and our kitchens turned into cafes and bars at the same time. Without a doubt, the size and functionality of the kitchen in the house began to matter more to anyone looking for a new apartment, regardless of their profession or status.
Preparing a house for sale or rent, you should give this room a lot more importance than before and make it as attractive as possible, showing its various uses. As people are spending more and more time there, think about adding more cabinets, extra food storages and providing convenient technical solutions to make their lives easier.
Summing up
As you can see, 2020 has completely changed people’s habits and needs related to home furnishings. We all have to adapt to the new reality and the challenges it brings. If you want to rent or sell your house quickly, do not underestimate these Home Staging trends for 2021 and try to use them in practice:) I guarantee it will pay off for you! Would you add something else to this list? Let me know in the comments below!
My name is Marta and I am the owner of Pearl Home Design, a company that specializes in Home Staging. I will help you increase the value and the appeal of your property, whether it is for sale or to let. Need help with Home Staging?
