AUGUST 26 • 2021 | 35

E

vents from the past year 
have all of us reconsid-
ering what we want and 
need out of our homes. From 
work and play to wellness, our 
homes have become the epicen-
ter of, well, everything — lead-
ing to an emergence of design 
trends focused on adapting to a 
new normal. The design experts 
at Wilsonart, a leading provider 
of engineered surfaces, have 
identified three new lifestyle 
trends that are affecting lasting 
design changes.

1. BACK TO NATURE
It’s no secret that nature has the 
power to inspire, invigorate, 
restore and refresh. Research 
has shown that interacting with 
nature can offer mental health 
benefits — decreasing stress and 
anxiety. Likewise, incorporating 
elements of nature into the home 
has been proven to improve hap-
piness and well-being.
Whether as a room’s canvas 
or a pop of color on an accent 
wall, paint is an easy and 
affordable way to bring nature’s 
beauty into the home with col-
ors that evoke a sense of calm 
and serenity. “Dark blue hues 
reminiscent of water and the 
sky are trending, along with 

lush greens that infuse spaces 
with the fresh essence of grass 
and foliage,
” says designer Gwen 
Petter. “Earthy neutrals, such 
as tans and beiges, are also in 
high demand for their ability to 
ground us and surround us with 
soothing natural tones.
”
Beyond color, 40% of people 
report that they want a connec-
tion to nature, particularly in 
their kitchens, according to a 
survey by the National Kitchen 
and Bath Association (NKBA). 
Homeowners are choosing 
nature-inspired materials for 
focal areas like countertops, 
cabinets and islands. Wilsonart 
Home offers beautiful, on-trend 
options for virtually every sur-
face in the home with features 
and price points to suit any life-
style and budget. The expertly 
curated collection includes envi-
ronmentally sustainable materi-
als such as high-pressure lami-
nates and performance veneers 
that deliver the authentic looks 
of exotic woods, stone-inspired 
solid surface options and non-
porous engineered quartz.

2. “RESI-MERCIAL
” 
AND RUSTIC
Fueled by the drastic decline 
in domestic and international 

travel during the pandemic, 
homeowner interest in replicat-
ing the sophisticated style and 
comforts of an upscale hotel or 
luxury resort in their home has 
continued to grow. From plush 
towels and perfectly plumped 
pillows to spa-worthy bath-
rooms and chef-quality kitchens, 
commercially inspired designs 
are increasingly crossing over 
into the residential arena.
Carrara marble continues to 
be one of the most sought-after 
surfaces to achieve this clean, 
sophisticated, “resi-mercial” 
look, but not everyone desires 
the cost and maintenance that 
comes with the natural stone. 
The Wilsonart Solid Surface 
Crafted Collection combines 
nature’s beauty with cutting-edge 
design innovation to deliver the 
look of authentic marble in an 
ultra-durable acrylic solid sur-
face. This series of movement 
designs captures the beauty and 
drama of marble typically only 
seen in natural materials like 
quartz and stone with virtually 
limitless design applications for 
the kitchen, bath and beyond.
Scandi Noir is another 
“resi-mercial” design approach 
that is gaining traction, par-
ticularly in kitchens. This style 

features looser rules and is 
characterized by the use of dark 
cabinets combined with dark 
countertops or contrasting dark 
and light surfaces. “Kitchen 
cabinets are still predominantly 
white, but more homeowners 
are adding a pop of color with 
contrasting island cabinets. In 
fact, searches for black and navy 
kitchens are up significantly,
” 
notes Petter.

3. SUSTAINABLE STYLE
As our lives become increas-
ingly home-centric, our homes 
need to perform on a level they 
may never have before, and this 
includes incorporating materials 
that work as hard as we do. 
 “Today’s homeowners are 
seeking surfaces that will live up 
to the rigors of everyday life,
” 
explains Petter. “There also is 
growing interest in sustainable 
alternatives to natural products, 
which can contribute to defor-
estation and degraded air quality 
from sourcing and mining oper-
ations. 
 “Human-made composite 
materials offer appealing options 
that often outperform natural 
materials, delivering greater 
durability, less ongoing mainte-
nance and fewer harmful envi-
ronmental impacts.
”
Alternative materials like 
laminate, solid surface and 
quartz mimic the best of Mother 
Nature without impacting the 
environment, offering appealing 
options for eco-conscious con-
sumers. 
Many of these engineered sur-
faces are UL GREENGUARD 
Gold Certified to meet low 
chemical emissions limits for 
better air quality. Additionally, 
many laminate products are 
made with a combination 
of fibers from FSC-certified, 
fast-growing, sustainably man-
aged woods and post-consumer 
recycled content (PCRC). 
For more information and 
inspiration, visit the website 
Wilsonart.com. 

REAL ESTATE

Three emerging design 
trends for today’s lifestyles.

Lifestyle
Trends

BPT

