Designer Insight into Fall 2020 Color + Design Trends During COVID

09/08/2020 | Sara McLean |

The turning of season’s usually signals a transition to fresh ideas in color and design, highlighting the newest ideas in the market. And, even though coronavirus has dominated our lives this year, color and design trends are still creating a buzz in a number of areas. When interviewing several design professionals within the residential interior design industry, they noted that this year has been one of their busiest and seems to be moving forward with momentum.

Top Trends

Design Industry

With residential design prospering, we asked our experts what developments they’ve seen with their client projects — from the rooms they were redesigning, to reasons clients gave for choosing this time to focus on their homes.

Photo Credit: BETHANY NAUERT PHOTOGRAPHY

What we found is that many decided to refresh their spaces now simply because they had put off remodeling the last few the years. And, with more time spent at home, they are able to focus on finishing these projects: from kitchen and baths, to exterior landscaping, to the newly popular renovation of the moment — the
home office. “My customers want to have their surroundings reflect the best version of their home life while on Zoom calls,” said Jason Lai, partner and principal designer of L2 Interiors.

photo credit: BETHANY NAUERT PHOTOGRAPHY

Design Aesthetic

So what aesthetics are designers noting for fall? Two themes are leading the pack: a back-to-basic approach — highlighted by a clean, fresh,peaceful and soothing environment — and a happy, upbeat scheme accentuated by lively, colorful surroundings. Samantha Williams, owner of Samantha Williams Interior Design, added that a simpler approach makes up the majority of what her clients are requesting, “Many of my clients feel a need for a calming environment with surroundings that help them to de-stress,” she said.

Lai also noted that Bohemian design is still fashionable. “Boho continues to trend with muddier and putty wall colors, along with layers of Moroccan rugs that are integral to the aesthetic. Brighter color pops are also
showing up,” Lai said.

And while wallpaper continues to create a buzz, more walls are integrating wood molding pieces in abstract patterns, rather than painted the same color as the walls. “It’s a different approach than just farmhouse
shiplap,” Lai said.

Paint Colors

So what about paint color? Are the trends accurate in its movement to warmth? It appears so for this fall, as clients are requesting more taupes and warm grays, as well as muddier colors, instead of cooler grays.

Oyster DEC748

Natural Radiance DET660

Stanford Stone DET696

Kiln Dried DET692

Historic White DET653

Bay Salt DET642

En Plein Air DET623

Barnwood Gray DET620

Lai said, “I've been seeing a lot of it in fashion, and people are starting to love it in the interiors. We haven't painted an entire room these colors but we've been sourcing these accents in wallpaper, rugs and accessories.”

And, are people feeling daring with color this fall? Depending on the generation, it certainly seems so. Bright hues and extreme dark rooms are being requested by many Millennial-age clients for a “wow” moment. Lai highlighted this fact, “Dark Rooms have been very popular this year, and people are not scared to do a dark room or a dark accent wall. Clients are loving the dark rooms with wood flooring.”