Where Is Interior Design Going in 2020?

Ten years ago, the design industry underwent a major shift. Coming out of the Great Recession, people were cautiously beginning to spend again, and the industry responded with a fresh, neutral palette: simple lines, smaller scale, mixed textures, and an industrial edge to the decor.

It was a welcome change from the heavy, traditional, large-scale interiors that preceded it. Washed gray wood tones, smoky colors, natural linen fabrics, texture in place of pattern — a clean, monotone approach that felt modern and restrained.

The Gray Era Is Winding Down

But as with all trends, they come and go. Ten years of the gray minimalist look has run its course, and we are now moving back toward warmth — a softer, more inviting approach to interiors that embraces curves, pattern, and most importantly, color.

Wood tones are returning to brown. Area rugs are bringing color and pattern back into rooms. Fabrics are moving away from the coarseness of linen toward softer, more tactile materials. The palette is shifting to rich, deep tones: deep greens, dark blues, deep reds, and dark buckskin.

The New Traditional

This isn't a return to the heavy traditional of fifteen years ago. The new traditional is different — more refined, more considered.

Wood has more texture, with wire brushing and subtle color washes. Fabrics, though softer, carry simple nature-inspired patterns. Soft curves are back in furniture design, but simpler and less ornate than before. It's an old-world traditional sensibility, cleaned up and made relevant for today.

What hasn't returned is the excess — the heavy fabric puddling on the floor, the ornate trims on window treatments. In its place are lighter, simpler designs full of warmth without being overbearing.

Why This Trend Will Last

I believe this design direction will appeal to a much broader audience than the gray minimalist era did — and I think it will be around for a long time.

For those of us living in Montana, warmth in design has always made sense. With long winters and so many cold days in the year, warm tones are simply more complementary to our climate and our lifestyle. A home that feels cozy and inviting isn't just aesthetically pleasing here — it's genuinely comforting.

The shift toward richer colors, softer textures, and more natural materials aligns beautifully with the way many Montanans already live. It's a trend that doesn't feel like a trend here — it feels like coming home.

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Carina Russell is the principal designer at Rocky Mountain Design-Interiors, serving Livingston and Bozeman, Montana since 1978. Contact us to schedule a design consultation.