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“What comes next?” is a question we’re constantly asking ourselves, especially when it comes to renovating. While any home improvement project should be done with timelessness in mind (you don’t want to have to start again five years later), you also want your space to feel current. Domino’s editors are constantly reevaluating trending materials, from white oak to subway tile, and looking forward to the next big thing.
A painter’s palette of marble slabs, chromatically cool carpet, and tile that doubles as art: These are three of the five details our editors predict you’ll be seeing in all the best before-and-afters come 2021. Take a look inside our crystal ball.
Rock Candy
In a sea of white Carrara, jewel-toned marble stands out. Take a page from Decus Interiors’s playbook and focus its impact on smaller spaces, such as a sink or tabletop. While undeniably eye-catching, these slabs can be pricey, so get to know the different varieties before you hit up your local stone yard. For instance, the black veining in verde guatemala gives it a mesmerizing depth, while stain-resistant Norwegian rose is known for its nougat-like flecks.
Magic Carpet
Plush wall-to-wall floor coverings get a long-overdue reputation revamp in next year’s big hues: ochre, emerald, sky blue, and terracotta. Treat the ground like the wall with a solid, allover color; weave in organic fibers such as eco-friendly sisal; or introduce a punchy animal print. In this Flack Studio–designed bedroom, the bubble gum pink rug doesn’t read too sweet thanks to hits of black and navy.
Art Nouveau
Skip the gallery wall in favor of a surface covered in expressive hand-painted tile. Intricate designs that look like lace lend an old-world charm to a room (as in this kitchen, designed by real-estate agency the Modern House). On the other hand, abstract tiles, like Smink Studio’s Technicolor pieces, speak to our current obsession with arches. Don’t overlook grout either. Designer Justina Blakeney suggests laying it on thick to accentuate the shape of each square and using an opposite color if you want the overall pattern to be the focus.
Shape-Shifter
Achieve trendy textured walls with tadelakt—traditional plaster’s cooler cousin. The Moroccan finish is a combination of lime plaster and black soap made from olives and is totally waterproof, making it perfect for the inside of showers and tubs. It creates a smooth, continuous surface, so if you are anti-grout (sorry, Justina), this should be your go-to.
Dream Weaver
Rattan is moving from the decor space to the world of construction. Surfaces that would normally be crafted out of wood, like Amber Lewis’s kitchen banquette’s, can be shaped by hand out of the woven stuff. While you’re at it, cover the cabinet doors in it, too, as designer Georgia Ezra did. Remodels have officially been reimagined.
Our Winter Renovation issue is here! Subscribe now to step inside Leanne Ford’s latest project—her own historic Pennsylvania home. Plus discover our new rules of reno.