London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Monday, Sep 15, 2025

The Top Design Trends You’ll Be Seeing in Living Rooms Next Year

The Top Design Trends You’ll Be Seeing in Living Rooms Next Year

From neutral hues to natural materials, here’s what designers say is on the horizon for 2021.

Over the course of 2020, as most of us have spent months sheltering in place, our living rooms have transformed from refuge into multifunctional spaces that now emphasize work, education, entertainment, and hospitality. So as we wrap up what has certainly been one of the most challenging years in modern history, we asked designers and industry veterans what they are forecasting as the top design trends moving forward into 2021. A neutral palette, relaxed seating, state-of-the-art entertainment equipment, and substantial dining tables are just a few of the trends that have emerged from all these days spent at home...read on for more.

            

Relaxed and Cozy


“For 2021 I feel that there will be some major changes, with a departure from midcentury furniture to a more relaxed, cozy look,” insists ELLE Decor A-List interior designer Juan Montoya, who believes living rooms will have more furniture and more comfortable chairs, though smaller in scale. “I think one-of-a-kind pieces of furniture like great antique or sculptural pieces will be incorporated in the decor of the living room and entry hallways.”

            

More Seating Areas


“I think people want a living room that is comfortable, approachable, usable, and functional,” says A-List designer Mark Cunningham. With people spending more quality time at home, he says, adding a games table, a multipurpose library table, and a few seating areas for reading and relaxing will allow the family to still be together in the same room no matter what activities they’re pursuing.

            

Strong Colors Mixed with Neutrals


Houston-based A-List designer J. Randall Powers concurs. “While neutral tones always seem to play most popular, I have seen a big move and nods of ‘yes, please’ to stronger colors and pattern play, almost as if Mario Buatta is getting his last laugh.” As we bid farewell to 2020, Powers believes greens are definitely on the rise, along with a mix of antiques with newly minted pieces. “I can confidently say that brown wood is back with a vengeance,” he says. “As are wicker and rattan.”

            

High-Style Accessories


“For living rooms, we are seeing plush, comfortable seating, rich tones, and layered styling,” says Mara Miller, who with her husband, Jesse Carrier, are principals at the A-List firm Carrier and Company. “Thanks to Zoom backgrounds, accessorizing and styling are finally getting the credit they deserve. We see accessorizing becoming bolder, more artful, and more personal in 2021.”

            

Entertainment Spaces


“Staying in is the new going out,” says A-List designer Brad Ford. “Since people have had to adjust to what outside entertainment looks like, I think you're going to see more attention paid to what that looks like inside the home. Bigger TV’s, better sound systems, and more comfortable and considered lounge seating will become a priority in order to enjoy new blockbuster movies or headlining concerts. Dining in will also change, with a greater appreciation for beautifully designed kitchens, tables and chairs, and dishes and serving ware. For the past year, I think people have tried to strive for, and will continue to strive for, the atmosphere they’ve missed at their favorite restaurant or theater, from furniture to lighting to a great soundtrack.”

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Pope Leo Warns of Societal Crisis Over Mega-CEO Pay, Citing Tesla’s Proposed Trillion-Dollar Package
Poland Green-Lights NATO Deployment in Response to Major Russian Drone Incursion
Elon Musk Retakes Lead as World’s Richest After Brief Ellison Surge
U.S. and China Agree on Framework to Shift TikTok to American Ownership
London Daily Podcast: London Massive Pro Democracy Rally, Musk Support, UK Economic Data and Premier League Results Mark Eventful Weekend
This Week in AI: Meta’s Superintelligence Push, xAI’s Ten Billion-Dollar Raise, Genesis AI’s Robotics Ambitions, Microsoft Restructuring, Amazon’s Million-Robot Milestone, and Google’s AlphaGenome Update
Le Pen Tightens the Pressure on Macron as France Edges Toward Political Breakdown
Musk calls for new UK government at huge pro-democracy rally in London, but Britons have been brainwashed to obey instead of fighting for their human rights
Elon Musk responds to post calling for the murder of Erika Kirk, widow of Charlie Kirk: 'Either we fight back or they will kill us'
Czech Republic signs €1.34 billion contract for Leopard 2A8 main battle tanks with delivery from 2028
USA: Office Depot Employees Refused to Print Poster in Memory of Charlie Kirk – and Were Fired
Proposed U.S. Bill Would Allow Civil Suits Against Judges Who Release Repeat Violent Offenders
Penske Media Sues Google Over “AI Overviews,” Claiming It Uses Journalism Without Consent and Destroys Traffic
Indian Student Engineers Propose “Project REBIRTH” to Protect Aircraft from Crashes Using AI, Airbags and Smart Materials
French Debt Downgrade Piles Pressure on Macron’s New Prime Minister
US and UK Near Tech, Nuclear and Whisky Deals Ahead of Trump Trip
One in Three Europeans Now Uses TikTok, According to the Chinese Tech Giant
Could AI Nursing Robots Help Healthcare Staffing Shortages?
NATO Deploys ‘Eastern Sentry’ After Russian Drones Violate Polish Airspace
Anesthesiologist Left Operation Mid-Surgery to Have Sex with Nurse
Tens of Thousands of Young Chinese Get Up Every Morning and Go to Work Where They Do Nothing
The New Life of Novak Djokovic
The German Owner of Politico Mathias Döpfner Eyes Further U.S. Media Expansion After Axel Springer Restructuring
Suspect Arrested: Utah Man in Custody for Charlie Kirk’s Fatal Shooting
In a politically motivated trial: Bolsonaro Sentenced to 27 Years for Plotting Coup After 2022 Defeat
German police raid AfD lawmaker’s offices in inquiry over Chinese payments
Turkish authorities seize leading broadcaster amid fraud and tax investigation
Volkswagen launches aggressive strategy to fend off Chinese challenge in Europe’s EV market
ChatGPT CEO signals policy to alert authorities over suicidal youth after teen’s death
The British legal mafia hit back: Banksy mural of judge beating protester is scrubbed from London court
Surpassing Musk: Larry Ellison becomes the richest man in the world
Embarrassment for Starmer: He fired the ambassador photographed on Epstein’s 'pedophile island'
Manhunt after 'skilled sniper' shot Charlie Kirk. Footage: Suspect running on rooftop during panic
Effective Protest Results: Nepal’s Prime Minister Resigns as Youth-Led Unrest Shakes the Nation
Qatari prime minister says Netanyahu ‘killed any hope’ for Israeli hostages
King Charles and Prince Harry Share First In-Person Moment in 19 Months
Starmer Establishes Economic ‘Budget Board’ to Centralise Policy and Rebuild Business Trust
France Erupts in Mass ‘Block Everything’ Protests on New PM’s First Day
Poland Shoots Down Russian Drones in Airspace Violation During Ukraine Attack
Brazilian police say ex-President Bolsonaro had planned to flee to Argentina seeking asylum
Trinidad Leader Applauds U.S. Naval Strike and Advocates Forceful Action Against Traffickers
Kim Jong Un Oversees Final Test of New High-Thrust Solid-Fuel Rocket Engine
Apple Introduces Ultra-Thin iPhone Air, Enhanced 17 Series and New Health-Focused Wearables
Macron Appoints Sébastien Lecornu as Prime Minister Amid Budget Crisis and Political Turmoil
Supreme Court temporarily allows Trump to pause billions in foreign aid
Charlie Sheen says his father, Martin Sheen, turned him in to the police: 'The greatest betrayal possible'
Vatican hosts first Catholic LGBTQ pilgrimage
Apple Unveils iPhone 17 Series, iPhone Air, Apple Watch 11 and More at 'Awe Dropping' Event
Pig Heads Left Outside Multiple Paris Mosques in Outrage-Inducing Acts
Nvidia’s ‘Wow’ Factor Is Fading. The AI chip giant used to beat Wall Street expectations for earnings by a substantial margin. That trajectory is coming down to earth.
×