2020 has been a year like no other. We’ve spent more time at home than ever before, become more ingrained in the lives of our families and had more restrictions put on us than ever before. The home has been transformed from just a space where we slept into one where we work, exercise, relax and even learn. For this reason, and many more, interior design preferences have seen shifts in trends that could never have been expected. And these have, in turn, had an impact on the items we purchase for our homes and how we use them. This blog will take a look at 2020 and how this year has changed interior design.
Move away from open plan
For many years, people have invested their money into opening up spaces. Floors with multiple rooms became wide, open areas where the entire family could interact together. We sought out designs that allowed us to merge together all aspects of home life, giving us an integrated relationship between family and home. However, the house has now changed.
There is a growing need in 2020 to recapture a sense of privacy and compartmentalization. During a time where people travelled into an office to work, the working day ended when the computer was switched off or the door was shut. From this point on, the individual could turn instead to their home life and enjoy a slower, more relaxed pace of life. When we then see more and more people working from home (April 2020 saw 46.6% of people in employment doing work from home with 86% doing so because of the pandemic), we see the need for this end-of-day finality to return.
Creating dedicated sanctuaries in the home has become our chosen solution. We create offices in spaces that can be closed off at the end of the day. We reconfigure garages to become gyms that we can leave at the end of a workout. We even banish laptops from the sofa to make sure our relaxing spaces are kept as sanctuaries.
Adding window blinds to outdoor facing windows can give you this sense of compartmentalisation. Consider sheer window blinds for offices, allowing natural light to maintain a working space while reducing glare. Blackout blinds can help to minimise distractions in working zones, working particularly well in uninsulated space if they are manufactured from blackout thermal fabrics. And, vertical blinds offer the perfect barrier for distraction on longer doors and windows alike.
DIY budgeting
Coronavirus has had a significant impact on our economy. So much so that a staggering 730,000 jobs are thought to have been lost as a result. So, while we’re spending more time indoors and trying to make our spaces as habitable as possible, we’re also striving to do this on a budget. Bringing out the DIY-enthusiasts in us all, this turn has seen many traditional home decor solutions used in different ways. People have crafted their own panelling using B&Q brought wood and a lick of paint. Others are turning to painting, creating canvases that can adorn the windows in bright colours.
Having the capability and support to do things ourselves reduces costs but also gives us a heightened sense of pride in our work. To support this, all of our window blinds come with full installation instructions, as standard. Without the need to hire additional labour (which frankly, right now, can be a bit daunting anyway) and the support of one other person, you’ll be able to personalise a space in no time at all.
Designs to uplift mood
The rate of depression has significantly increased during the pandemic, largely due to the underlying stress and uncertainty of the entire year. While we spend more and more time indoors, the need to boost and support our mental health couldn’t be more important. Which is why there has been a significant shift towards home decor that lifts our moods. This could be a bright colour, vibrant pattern or something that makes you giggle at the end of the day. Whatever it is, we’re looking for items to keep in our personal space that lift us out.
Window blinds such as our Splash Amalfi Roller Blinds, Splash Orchid Roller Blinds or Splash Jazz Roller Blinds are an ideal injection of colour to brighten any day. Equally, something more detailed such as the Country Garden Summer Daze Roller Blinds can evoke happier memories and help to lift us up when we’re feeling particularly blue.
2020 is a year like no other and, we predict, will continue to be. But that doesn’t mean that you have to sit back and relent. Take your initiative and begin creating a home that works for you and your family today. Play with colour, style and practicalities to build a space that helps to elevate your mood and give you a feeling of pride in your everyday surroundings. If you would like to speak to any of our expert window blind specialists at Shop4Blinds, feel free to get in contact today.