As we find ourselves in yet another lockdown, I thought I'd take a look at some trends and they didn't disappoint!. If there's one good thing I can mention about lock down and all the proverbial that 2020 threw our way, it's that most of us had more than a little extra time at home to get our ducks in order and of course, get stuck into the DIY!
From building their very own pubs in the garden, to full home makeovers, 2020's stay at home venture gave people extra time to get stuck in and at times it's been important to keep busy and distracted. With so much negative around to think about, it's no wonder people enjoyed making their homes nicer, appreciating whatever space they have, especially when it comes to gardens, and sprucing up their dwellings.
There has been so many trends that have evolved from Covid and lock down measures so far, with people finding creative ways to shop, socialise and even learning new things or taking up new hobbies. I think most of us planned to use the time productively and while some did, some of us enjoyed the peace mostly! I thought I'd share the top 5 design and DIY trends I've noticed people have jumped on board with this year, here goes...
Everything went monotone and GREYYYY!
Like it or loath it, the light airy monotone Scandi greys and whites with an ornate British twist have stormed the DIY scene this year. With the likes of Mrs. Hinch bragging the most beautiful colourless homes, everyone seemingly has jumped on board for this sleek contemporary look. Although there have been adaptions as time has gone on, with people moving away from the ornate damask wallpapers, to a more checked 'cabin in the woods' version of the grey home styling. This DIY endevour seems to be totally Marmite, with colour vultures like me cringing slightly at some of the more sparse looking homes, to people almost aghast with envy for these gorgeous yet minimalist and totally impractical for my family life homes. Packed full of mirrored furniture, white fabrics and things that every child will break, it's a no from me. That said, our new kitchen is grey and white, but absolutely screaming out for some colour which is coming this year! It looks like this trend will be around for a while, but I do see it shifting to more natural woods and earthy tones which I'm quite liking!
Everyone started painting PVC doors!
It's as if these paints came from nowhere, but suddenly in 2020 we all found out we could suddenly paint our crappy old PVC windows and doors in actual nice colours, who knew! As someone that's always wanted a coloured front door like the yellow wood I always remember as a kid, this news was very exciting and although we've not got round to it yet, it's on the list! This one, when done well, makes a HUGE difference to the look and feel of the house and it totally transforms it visually, as well as giving you a little boost of happy when you get home. The favourite paint seems to be the Frenchic brand, in gentle sage, pink or of course, grey.
Frog tape wall designs popped up everywhere!
Although these designs will age terribly I imagine, I do really love these and they're such a simple yet creative way to brighten a room. You don't have to be a good painter, you can use left over paints you have or get some from friends and family and create a masterpiece in any room. Again, these are pretty marmite, especially when it comes to some peoples colour choices, but done well they really make a big difference and it can be a quick weekend job too. Frog tape seems to be the most popular for not sticking to paint and ruining the design. If you like this idea then head to Pinterest for a little inspiration as these have literally popped up everywhere all over!
Garden sanctuaries were a much needed escape!
When confined to our homes, the walls soon felt like they were closing in, so those of us blessed with outside areas suddenly appreciated every square inch of that fresh air filled sanctuary. This has led to a lot of gardening of course, with some undergoing massive transformations, building decking, painting murals, taking up growing fruit and vegetables and for some, even building brick pub like structures or outside chilling areas for a much needed break from the indoors.
Everything was made from pallets!
As if by magic, the things that we've seen dumped on street corners and lobbed in skips for decades suddenly became a highly sought after building material. Wooden pallets are so popular because they can be used as they are for a good solid base structure for seating or making bars, or taken apart to reuse the sturdy hardy wood for all kind of projects. This past year I've seen a pallet Christmas tree, a full garden bar, decking, planters for the garden, wall signs, herb gardens, chairs, all made from these simple pallets that are readily available for free, all over the country. Although people have cottoned onto this trend and sometimes sell them for a little cash, they are still very cheap in terms of the amount of wood you're getting, so a great material for any projects you may be thinking of. This wood can be stained, painted and cut up in millions of ways too, making them the perfect lock down DIY material for us all.
One of the nicest things about 2020 was the community spirit, sharing ideas, sharing things we have and all kind of mucking in on this weird journey we suddenly found ourselves in. So watching people share their lock down DIY ventures has been utterly fascinating! Did you try any of these last year? I wonder what this lockdown will bring? If you've seen any trends popping up already, let me know in the comments!
