These Rising Trends Will Help You Transform Your Small Space in 2021

Don’t let those tiny homes fool you: living in a small space is anything but easy. As if storing all your belongings in a shoebox-sized apartment isn’t difficult enough, 2020 has forced us to jam even more parts of our life into our homes. Suddenly, your small space isn’t just where you sleep—it’s also where you eat, work, workout, and Zoom.

As we gear up for the new year, we hope to reconsider how we utilize our small spaces. (After all, if we’re going to be home for the foreseeable future, why not make it as efficient as possible?) To help, seven design experts share the small space trends that will transform our homes come 2021. Turns out, big things really do come in small packages.

Defy Gravity

Bright white office space. — *HILLARY JEANNE*

“While some of us may be fortunate to have a devoted home office space, most of us are making the best of it with a dual purpose room: Zoom by day, Netflix by night. In order to maximize space, we’re seeing a growing trend in small scale desks with complimentary shelving. The vertical height allows clients to reduce their horizontal desk footprint while offering much-needed storage space to tuck away relics of the workday, creating more visual calm in their daily home lives. Plus, with a little styling TLC, it becomes a beautiful vignette of its very own.” —Heather Goerzen, creative and design at Havenly

Add throw pillows to whatever room needs an extra dose of comfy. Filled with a fluffy faux down insert, you don’t have to sacrifice comfort for style. Available in four sizes and all measurements are made without pillow insert.

Get the look: Rugs, Floor Pillows, Throw Pillows, Rectangular Pillows, Side Tables, Coffee Tables, Blackout Curtains, Throw Blankets, Coffee Mugs, Coasters, Serving Trays, Wall Hangings.

Double-Duty Decor

Simple office space with black rolling chairs. — *BREEGAN JANE*

“It’s apparent now more than ever that people have transitioned from working inside an office, as well as children schooling from home. For some who don’t have the luxury of having an office at home or a productive place for their children to learn, this has proposed quite a challenge. Therefore, we’d expect to see offices placed into a home where we might not usually expect. For example, the conversion of a closet into a desk as well as dual-function desks that also act as display shelves.” —Breegan Jane, designer.

Our floor cushions are the super comfy and style-forward option for the boho side of us all. They’re UV coated to protect against fading and water-resistant so you can avoid scrambling to bring them inside whenever there’s a touch of weather.

Floor-to-Ceiling Chic

White mudroom with built-ins. — *JK INTERIOR LIVING*

“We’re so excited to see that maximalist style is making a comeback. We’ve always been fans of the ‘more is more’ aesthetic, but know it can be overwhelming to pull off in a smaller space. With that said, one of our favorite tips for making a smaller space feel more grandiose (while still adding a bit of flair) is to paint or wallpaper your ceiling. This space is frequently overlooked but when given a little attention, it can truly add a show-stopping element that brings your eye upward and welcomes you in!” —Roxy Te Owens of Society Social

As experts in the field of sitting down, we thoughtfully crafted our Floor Pillows to be overstuffed, plush and firm. These cushions never lose their shape, and the high-quality print makes sure the design stays crisp and colorful.

The Return of the Mud Room

Patterned wallpaper in mudroom. — LJ SAVARIE

“Mudrooms were once a luxury, not a necessity, but now they are de rigueur. For the 2020 Lake Forest Showhouse in suburban Chicago, Michele Frigon and I redid the home’s mudroom with coronavirus-appropriate upgrades, like a sink for hand-washing with a Brizo faucet in antimicrobial hardware, white Cambria nonporous quartz surfaces to highlight any dirt for quick clean-up, baskets to drop packages, and a jar of custom face masks in Casa by PC textiles, which were promptly snagged by visitors! In the future, I anticipate mudrooms becoming even more tricked out.” —LJ Savarie, designer

Our premium Tote Bags are hand-sewn in the U.S.A. and feature a high-quality print that’ll never fade. Constructed with a premium, canvas-like material, and double-stitched for quality, our totes make amazing grocery and beach bags.

Get the look: Floor Poufs, Rugs, Floor Pillows, Throw Pillows, Blackout Curtains, Throw Blankets, Tote Bags, Backpacks, Duffle Bags, Benches

Whimsical Wallpaper

Blue sitting room. — *KJ DESIGN & MORTAR STYLING*

“A small space is the perfect place to transform the walls. Changing the paint color is always a great choice, but wallpaper packs a nice punch. From bold patterns to grasscloth or leather textures, millennial wallpaper is not your grandma’s wallpaper. Don’t underestimate the power of wood, either. We like to use it to add dimensions to walls in small spaces too.” —Janelle Hughes and Kim R. Williams, co-owners of KJ Design & Mortar Styling

Our peel and stick Wallpaper is easy to apply and take off, leaving no adhesive residue. Featuring sharp, vibrant images, Wallpaper patterns are ideal for accent walls, flat surfaces, and temporary installations (like parties!). Available in three floor-to-ceiling sizes.

Get the look: Mini Art Prints, Framed Mini Art Prints, Art Prints, Framed Prints, Canvas Prints, Metal Prints, Wood Wall, Art Posters, Wall Hangings, Wall Murals, Wall Tapestries, Wallpapers.

Outdoor Inspo

Natural colored kitchen. — *SARAH FULTZ INTERIORS*

“I think the style for small spaces will continue to head in a more clean soft look that brings elements of the outdoors into space. I see light colors with pops of bold dramatic color being used sparingly and purposefully to create interest.” —Mark Lavender, principal of M. Lavender Interiors

They’re made from a woven, polyester chenille for a soft and textured look. Plus, choosing from our wide array of designs, you’re sure to find just the rug to match your decor. Available in two sizes.

Pared-Back Bathrooms

Patterned wallpaper in bathroom. — *HEATHER BANKS © 2018 HOUZZ*

“Home professionals on Houzz are recommending curb-less showers. These can make a small bathroom feel larger because the physical and visual barrier is removed and you can run one continuous surface of tile straight-through, giving the appearance of more space. Floating vanities will [also] continue to increase in popularity. According to the Houzz 2020 Bathroom Trends Study, 15 percent of renovating homeowners chose floating vanities (up from 11 percent in 2019). It’s a great way to free up floor space to give the appearance of more space and makes cleaning the floor easy.” —Mitchell Parker, Houzz senior editor.