Kate Watson-Smyth shares her SS21 interiors predictions - YOU Magazine Fashion Beauty Celebrity Health Life Relationships Horoscopes Food Interiors Travel Sign in Welcome!Log into your account Forgot your password? Password recovery Recover your password Search Sign in Welcome! Log into your account Forgot your password? Get help Password recovery Recover your password A password will be e-mailed to you. YOU Magazine Fashion Beauty Celebrity Health Life Relationships Horoscopes Food Interiors Travel Home Interiors Mad About The House Kate Watson-Smyth s interiors predictions for summer 2021 and beyond By You Magazine - March 16, 2021 As an award-winning interiors journalist, blogger at Mad About The House and author (Mad About the House Planner is out 18 March), Kate Watson-Smyth knows a thing or two about what’s around the corner for the world of home decor. And after such a tumultuous year that saw us spend more time inside our humble abodes than ever before, it’s no surprise that what we want and need from our homes has changed – arguably for good, in some instances. Instagram/@mad_about_the_house Using new insights from Heal’s, which found that the last 12 months has made us reconsider the design and functionality of our homes, as well as investing thousands in their interior and exterior spaces, Kate talks us through her predictions for the interiors trends for summer 2021 and beyond, so you can make that big purchase or design change with confidence. Here’s what she had to tell us… Kate Watson-Smyth’ s interiors predictions for spring-summer 2021 In a year like no other, the extended time spent at home has forced us to re-evaluate our interiors, and as a result our relationship with where we live has evolved. We barely used to see our homes in the daylight, often heading out to work first thing in the morning and returning after dark to have supper, watch a bit of television and go to bed. So for many people, the lockdown was the first time they had really had to interact with their interior design choices on a daily basis. On the one hand having this time to really look at our spaces has forced us to think much more deeply about not only what our homes look like, but how they make us feel. And a better understanding and appreciation of how our homes can support our mental health and well-being is a good thing to have come out of all this. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kate Watson-Smyth (@mad_about_the_house) We know that colour can have a transformative effect on mood with some people wanting bright colours to give them energy and others wanting to use warm calming neutrals to promote a feeling of relaxation. Lockdown has led many of us to start examining our reaction to colour and given us more control – if zingy shades energise you then match the colour to the room – in other words – use them in the kitchen and keep the softer shades to the bedroom and living room. The survey from Heal’s found that home is where we feel happiest and has led so many of us to focus on ways to create a sense of sanctuary. Half of us are now thinking about how to create relaxing spaces rather than thinking only about how they look. With warmer days approaching, and with lockdown restrictions easing, it’s expected that many of us will be making the most of our home both indoors and out. So if you’re considering investing in your home, here are my recommendations on where to focus. Prediction 1 Indoor out The last 12 months has taught us how vital outdoor space is to our mental health and so it’s no surprise that a fifth of people surveyed have invested in theirs since the start of the pandemic. For years we have talked about bringing the outside into our homes, however I believe that we will now see a switch, to taking the inside out. Social distancing and the reassurance that being outside gives so many of us, means that al fresco meetings will remain top of the agenda this summer. With that in mind, think of your garden as another room – remember to prioritise comfort as well as style when choosing outdoor furniture and accessories, you want to be as comfortable outside as you are in. Heal’s Petra Outdoor Bench Dark Grey, £399, Heal’s Adding occasional chairs and lamps, plus shelves for storage and displaying plants all offer a sense of familiarity and can also be quickly updated to suit the season. Also consider building an outdoor fireplace – rather than a firepit which blows smoke everywhere – so that you can use the space all year round. Prediction 2 Soothing sanctuary at home In terms of what we’re seeing inside the home, the research from Heal’s revealed that 41 per cent of people are now opting for soothing, neutral colours. This year, our homes have had to become our offices, school rooms and living spaces and, at times, day-to-day life has felt frantic, so this desire to create a tranquil scheme makes sense. Heal’s Pawn Side Table, £299, Heal’s As we start to move back into some sense of normality, it’s the ideal time to look at how we can incorporate these calming shades into our homes. Creating a consistent scheme will add a sense of cohesion at home and neutrals offer the perfect backdrop to then use a few favourite colours as accents. This can be continued outdoors with colourful side tables and outdoor rugs, which can then be echoed inside with cushions and throws. Prediction 3 Multifunctional spaces It feels like the future of working for many of us is flexible, with a couple of days in the office and the rest at home. However, this can lead to a sense of loss of space and a feeling that our homes are somehow smaller now that we’re having to accommodate a dedicated work area. To regain this, it’s really important to zone our spaces and create definition between work and home life. Brands are recognising this now and we’re beginning to see more design-led multi-functional pieces that are both practical and aesthetically pleasing. Heal’s Reveal Desk Walnut, £949, Heal’s People want a desk that looks good in their living room after the working day is finished. We’re also seeing super stylish sideboards and dressing tables doubling up as desks, so that people aren’t loosing valuable space, or having to sacrifice on aesthetics. Well-designed storage is definitely worth investing in and can adapt to suit your needs, whether that’s somewhere to file your work at the end of the day, a place to tidy the toys away each night or a homework spot for the kids. Prediction 4 Investment pieces I believe that we are seeing a real shift away from trends: the last 12 months have given us the confidence to make our own choices of furniture and colours that we want, based on what we need from our homes and not what is dictated by fashion. Our priorities appear to have shifted from a focus on the aesthetics of our homes to one of creating spaces where we can relax. Heal’s Eos Outdoor 3 Seater Sofa, £1,745, Heal’s We’ve known for some time that people are looking to move away from fast furniture, with many making bolder decisions and opting to invest in special wish list pieces that will last for years to come. My prediction is that people will continue to make more confident choices and opt for well-designed pieces that will stand the test of time. RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR Aldi s pumpkin-shaped casserole dish is all we want for Halloween 7 of the best money-saving kitchen gadgets to invest in this winter Aldi has restocked miniature velvet chairs and sofas for your dog DON' T MISS Fiona Bruce Sometimes I struggle not to cry November 14, 2021 17 beautiful 2021 diaries to help you to look forward to December 4, 2020 Why women leave men for women What’ s fuelling the rise of April 28, 2019 Hollywood veteran Laura Linney on plastic surgery friendship and her stellar July 3, 2017 You can shop the khaki jumpsuit from Holly Willoughby’ s new M& S July 17, 2019 The secrets and lies behind this happy family photo April 11, 2021 It’ s cocktail hour Olly Smith’ s cocktail recipes and Eleanor Maidment s canapé November 14, 2021 BBC One has revealed its Christmas TV schedule and there’ s lots December 2, 2020 YOU Beauty Box August Reviews August 1, 2017 Rome has been named the cheapest major city to visit in August 7, 2019 Popular CategoriesFood2704Life2496Fashion2240Beauty1738Celebrity1261Interiors684 Sign up for YOUMail Thanks for subscribing Please check your email to confirm (If you don't see the email, check the spam box) Fashion Beauty Celebrity Life Food Privacy & Cookies T&C Copyright 2022 - YOU Magazine. All Rights Reserved