14 Crazy Design Ideas HGTV Editors Hope Become a Thing in 2021

We polled HGTV editors to see what design dreams they hoped would come true in the new year. Read on to see their inspired, odd and fun picks.

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December 11, 2020

By: Felicia Feaster

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Conversation Pits

"I got a text from a friend a few months ago that said: 'Do we support '70s conversation pits coming back?' My answer was an overwhelming 'Yes.' I love everything about them: how they’re sunken into the floor, the way the steps create additional seating, plus who can resist a giant sectional? The first thing I want to do when it is safe is gather with my friends, and a conversation pit would be the perfect place to do it." —Jessica Yonker, HGTV online editor

Arts + Crafts Redux

"In 2021, I would love to see a refreshed Arts and Crafts style come into play. Bungalow-style homes became popular in the early 1900s in large part due to the Arts and Crafts Movement of the same time. The popularity of bungalows then led into Craftsman, Prairie and Mission style homes and furnishings. (Mission was popular in the Southwest while Prairie style was more common in the Midwest and Craftsman was found throughout the U.S.). I would love to see today’s designers take those classic styles and shapes from famous artisans of that time like Gustav Stickley, William Morris and Frank Lloyd Wright and give them a fresh 2021 zing. We need more beautiful built-ins and detailed millwork in natural wood, stained glass windows and lighting with very linear patterns, wrought-iron accents, botanical wallpaper and fabrics and creamy deep-hued pottery." —Jackie McGilvray, HGTV editor

Learn More : Historic Arts & Crafts Kitchen in Los Angeles

From: Faith Blakeney

Phone Nooks

"Some of our readers won’t remember this, but there was a time when phones had a specific location in the home and couldn’t be moved from that spot. While I’m not recommending that we turn back time and go un-mobile, it would be nice to have an updated version of a “phone nook” for putting the phone back in its place — both literally and figuratively. My ideal phone nook would include a charging station and would be out of the way, maybe inset into a hallway wall, instead of on the kitchen countertop like my household’s phones are. I’d always know where my phone was, and maybe — just maybe — I’d stop carrying it around the house with me everywhere, thoughtlessly checking Instagram." —Kelly Smith Trimble, HGTV senior director, editorial

Learn More : 7 Products to Keep Your Cellphone Clean

More Natural Wood

"In 2021 I really want to see more natural wood used in design. Instead of painting an old piece of furniture, try refinishing it and letting that beautiful natural wood shine." —Lauren Fansler, HGTV editor

Multigenerational Living

"Can we normalize multigenerational housing? Ever since I became a mom, I’ve wished we lived closer to family. Even though my parents and in-laws are only 20 minutes away, we are constantly running back and forth between houses, visiting or dropping off for babysitting. This is the norm for most working, American parents as it’s considered somewhat taboo to “live with your parents” past a certain age. But it’s my dream to be able to walk upstairs and hang out with my mom – or cook dinner a couple nights a week with my mother-in-law. Not only is multigenerational housing more cost-effective (sharing heat, water, general living expenses), but it allows families to create closer bonds, cuts out the environmental effects of gas usage shuttling back and forth between homes and spreads out household chores, giving everyone valuable time back. My dream scenario: We buy a big house on a large plot of land and each family has their own functional floor or wing – separate kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms, etc. – but we’re all right there together, a stone’s throw away from help or quality time. I could see this arrangement being especially beneficial as our parents get older. Spending time together is my favorite thing, and 2020 has really emphasized the importance of family. And I’m not alone – as of 2018, 20% of American families have pivoted to multigenerational living situations." —Chelsea Faulkner, HGTV editor

Twin Beds (for Couples)

"It's so hard to get the perfect bedscape. I want piles of pillows, a weighted blanket, a down mattress topper and plenty of blankets. My husband hates beds kitted out with fluffy mattress toppers — which hurt his back — and too many pillows and blankets (which hurt his heart, apparently). But he loves to read in bed with a bright light, which hurts my sleep. The perfect compromise would be a return to classic Hollywood films of the 30s and 40s in which censors demanded even married couples had to sleep in twin beds for propriety's sake. That way couples could each get the bed of their dreams and still have a good night's sleep." —Felicia Feaster, HGTV managing editor

From: Bria Hammel Interiors

Mirrored Walls

"When we moved into our house, the first thing on my list to change was the totally 1980s mirrored wall in the dining room. But one thing led to another, and eight years later, it’s still there. And you know what? I love it! Our house gets very little natural light, but the mirrored walls reflects sunlight and bounces it into the dining room and adjacent living room and kitchen. I can also see multiple rooms from one space, giving the illusion of an open concept without having to knock down walls. Also, the look not only hearkens back to the 1980s but also the 1950s and 1920s, and the art deco period that is having a resurgence today. So I say: Designers, embrace the mirrored wall." —Kelly Smith Trimble, HGTV senior director, editorial

Faux Plants

"As much as I would love to have a home filled with houseplants, my cats love them a little too much and turn them into middle-of-the-night snacks. I’ve resorted to adding a few faux plants that look real(ish) from a distance and give me that look I’m striving for without the attached cat drama. I would love to see realistic faux plants become a “thing” so I can fill my home with zero design guilt." —Kayla Kitts, HGTV managing editor

A New Age of Modular Furniture

"Modular furniture is, thankfully for apartment dwellers and renters across the country, getting bigger, better, sleeker and most importantly, much easier to put together and take apart. The ability to take apart a bed frame, couch or chair and have it pack flat is a game-changer, sparing the buyer (and the movers) several headaches. I can’t tell you how many pieces of furniture I’ve given away because it was going to be more work to try to move with it than to just get rid of it." —Jessica Yonker, HGTV online editor

Designer Trash Cans

"Ever since I toured Atlanta designer Danielle Rollins' outdoor space I have been obsessed with her navy and cream circus bigtop painted trash cans (visible over her left shoulder). Outdoor trash cans are so ugly. Yes, our trash cans take a beating and they are only about holding trash after all, but why can’t they also be a source of delight and fun? They seem like the one domestic item that hasn’t really received any design love – why can’t we have gorgeous painted metal trash cans, or someone like Karim Rashid design some whimsical plastic rolling cans? I would love to see James Farmer apply his luxe cottage style to a trash can." —Felicia Feaster, HGTV managing editor

Learn More : This Glam Atlanta Garden Channels the Seventies

No More Disposable Design

"If there’s anything that 2020’s topsy-turviness has taught us, it’s that we miss stability, dependability and familiar comfort. I feel a return to tried-and-true traditional style, incorporating lots of hand-me-down touches and antiques, is on the horizon. Not just due to the rise of Granny-Chic/Grandmillennial style but also because we’ve all been nesting, and nesting calls for comfort (think deep, cushy couches — buh-bye midcentury-modern, low-back sleekness). As a whole, on the design front, I think we’re all looking for ways to dress up what we already have. Personally, I’ve already painted one room and am selecting colors now to repaint another. Not only are we using more time at home to clear out clutter, we’re also thinking about how we want our homes to feel. And, the feels we want are homey, familiar, comfortable, happy, safe and welcoming … and those terms describe traditional style. In short, we crave timelessness and a move away from the disposable society we’ve been living in. Throw-away culture is bad for the planet and bad for our psyche. We want to surround ourselves with items that feel more worthwhile, classic, character-rich and with a history. Viva la vintage and viva a returned appreciation for the inherent value and beauty of old things." —Camille H. Smith, HGTV managing editor

Whole House Fun + Games

"Sales of board games, puzzles, and other stay-at-home activities have soared in 2020. We’ve all been trying to find ways to stay entertained in our houses this year, but not everyone has the space for a full-fledged game room to contain all the fun. In 2021, I’d love to see the whole home treated like a game room in ways that are still stylish, like this gorgeous maple and walnut dining table that doubles as a regulation ping pong table. We’re big board gamers in my house, so I’m also intrigued by coffee tables made specifically for gaming. They look like typical tables at first glance, but they come with removable leaves to protect in-progress games and pull-out trays and bins to hold game pieces." —Shannon Petrie, HGTV managing editor

BUY NOW: 15 Classic Board Games to Play as a Family Right Now

From: Noz Nozawa

Kitchen Chairs That Push Themselves In

"My pie-in-the-sky/pipe dream design invention that I would love to have in my house? Kitchen chairs that push themselves in. If you have kids, you know exactly what I mean (actually, I’m including my husband in this, too). I wish my kitchen chairs were on tracks or slings so when someone got up, the chairs would automatically return to the table. I’d even settle for the ability to clap my hands (aka – The Clapper) or be able to ask Alexa to return the chairs to position." —Jackie McGilvray, HGTV editor

Toys as Art

"Before my 1-year-old son was born, my husband and I agreed that toys will stay in the nursery. Period. After baby goes to sleep, we still needed to feel like the house reflected us and not a Fisher-Price ad. After signing up for Lovevery, a Montessori-inspired toy subscription box for babies, I realized I was actually fine leaving these beautiful wooden toys out on display and within reach for my curious baby. If colorful wooden toy decor becomes a living room trend, then I’m ahead of the curve." —Kayla Kitts, HGTV editor

BUY NOW: Lovevery, 22

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