Without a doubt, living space adjustments we have all had to make since 2020 are affecting interior design trends. Between retirement and perhaps making room for kids or grandkids in this odd time, we all have to live in a new kind of harmony: togetherness without suffocating personal space.
We’ve all been spending more time in our homes these days, and retirees, perhaps even more than ever. So, how do we address coastal style, combined with practicality and individuality?
Consider hiring a professional interior designer, attuned to lifestyles and personalities. Because even as we return to new “normal,” the first place of comfort is, well, home (perhaps something we appreciate more than ever).
Texture of all kinds, says Jess Weeth of Weeth Home in Rehoboth Beach, is an important focal and comfort point in your home. She’s a native of Rehoboth Beach and knows a thing or two about coastal design.
In an interview a year ago with Business of Home, Weeth said, “There have been anchors and seashells around here my whole life, and I couldn’t want to be further away from that, but there’s also this barefoot spirit that is why I’m obsessed with living here, and why I think people move here or have second homes here.”
There’s also a lot of focus on color these days. “People are craving pops of color,” says designer and interior consultant Lisa Lazarus of Bucks County, PA. Predictions of colorful draperies (think acoustic control), vibrant pillows and accents that demand your attention throughout the house are what she predicts. She and other designers we spoke with agree that classic and comfortable surroundings do not need to be trendy, just tasteful.
Ironically, Pantone’s 2021 Color of the Year is “Ultimate Gray,” which is a bit surprising after conversing with designers who are trending towards “pops” of color. (Pantone is the proverbial bible for color, identifying every single shade under the planet, and considers itself the magistrate for trending colors). People – and interior designers – anticipate the drum roll of Pantone’s Color of the Year, much like the Grammys or winner of the Westminster Dog Show.
Last year’s color was a shade of coral. But this year’s gray is, according to Pantone (its ID is 17-5104, if you are interested) represents “strength and hopefulness.”.
Living on the coast, of course, also brings up visions of navy blues, sun-soaked whites and plenty of other sensible nautical décor on the walls. Nuances of sand colors, pink undertones and powder blue skies are also time-tested in coastal Delaware, but other textural accents such as shiplap, cedar shingles and anything sea glass-related also abound on walls and won’t go away anytime soon.
And then there’s furniture. What about high-top tables and fancy stools versus good old wicker chairs like our grandmothers enjoyed? Are coir rugs here to stay, or will recycled plastic indoor/outdoor furniture and welcome mats take their place? Will fashionable ceiling fans that resemble 20th century airplane propellers be unfashionable next year?
It all depends on who you consider a consultant. Certain coastal fashions are here to stay because of Delaware’s rich maritime heritage. Just be sure to keep “clean lines,” as designers are recommending, and be sure to decorate with simple – not gaudy – hints of our precious coast and colors.