Without a doubt, 2020 was the year of the home office. Three interiors experts weigh in on the design stories that will define 2021.
COURTNEY ST. JOHN
Courtney St. John Studio, Avon
“We’re spending much more time inside our homes now, and the bright spot is the opportunity we have to reimagine the stories these spaces tell about who we are. Perhaps the new normal is a more inviting sitting area with a renewed sense of formality. Before, we tended to dress up to have a nice meal out on the town. We could certainly learn to dress up our rooms to fill that void. I think the time is also right to make the media room more family-friendly, fun, vibrant and welcoming—more of a rec room, complete with games and a pool table.”
PHOTO BY GIBEON PHOTOGRAPHY
STEPHANIE WADDELL
Istoria Interior Design, Boulder
“While home offices and outdoor spaces will continue to be important topics in the year to come, I’d like to see the conversation move to bedrooms as the ultimate sanctuaries. How do we create a bedroom space that recharges the mind and body after all they have been through and will need to navigate in the new and exciting post-pandemic world? Creating low-tech spaces where we can naturally recharge after once again engaging with the world will be key. Lighting, color palettes, mattresses, bed linens, comfortable reading nooks and soft flooring materials will all be considered.”
PHOTO BY MICHAEL DELEON
JENNIFER DESJARDIN
Motif Design Solutions, Denver
“Because 2021 will be a transitionary year, we expect to see a huge demand for switching up interiors—in particular, a return to the familiarity of more traditional styles—and addressing pain points that have grown old during the quarantine period. The amenities homeowners once outsourced (fitness studios, restaurants) will live larger at home than ever before, and residential spaces will evolve to include home gyms, meditation rooms and multifunctional spaces; home offices with elevated functionality, styling and brand-representation; and private entertainment areas—from wine or whiskey rooms to enhanced outdoor living spaces—that provide safe retreats for family and friends.”
