Jump back to 2019: you were most likely obsessed with all things “modern farmhouse”; it would take just one episode of HGTV’s Fixer Upper to send you pinning open-concept kitchens, shiplap shelves, and luxe gold finishes. But, since March 2020 (our first lockdown and homeschooling mandates), your “home” has become more of a multipurpose hub for school, work, and play. Now, your family’s new reality and need for functionality (or simply maintaining your sanity) have dictated your home’s design. Yet, as lockdowns and social distancing become less prevalent, you’ve found yourself wondering: What do I want my post-Covid home to look like?
Nowadays, the modern farmhouse vibe may feel outdated and impersonal. After all, you’ve spent so much time re-evaluating your life – and re-considering what you want from life – that a generic, commonplace design just doesn’t cut it. Sure, you still crave elegant finishes and high-end appliances. But the rustic decor and matchy-matchy furniture of the look can feel monotonous (and dare I say, boring).
While you may not have a blueprint, you know two things: 1.) you want your home to be updated and beautiful, and 2.) you want to feel “you” in it. And most importantly, you want a post-pandemic space that’s positive and filled with happy memories, mementos, and personal reminders of what’s really important.
So, how do you bring this look to fruition? Luckily, there’s a new trend on the horizon – and some experts predict it’ll be everywhere in 2022. The answer: Newstalgia.
What is Newstalgia?
Not to be confused with cottagecore (the beloved grandma chic decor trend that feels equal parts folksy and quaint), Newstalgia is all about freshening up retro furnishings and decor with contemporary accents and new technologies. The idea is that it’s something new that harkens back to your past, giving you the warm fuzzy feeling of nostalgia with the comforts of modern-day tech. The term ia attributed to Seattle DJ Sean De Tore, and it’s just as applicable to home decor as it is to fashion and music.
In the design world, think of Newstalgia as an aesthetic that takes retro revival and modernizes it with luxurious finishes and top-of-the-line tech, so it feels current and evocative.
The look is driven by a desire for every item in your home to have character and reveal a bit about you and your interests. “We are looking for upcycled, antique, or used furniture which has a story to tell,” says Ben White, design and trade expert at Swyft Home (British furniture manufacturer specializing in sofas). “Investing in meaningless furniture and accessories is a thing of the past.” He also mentions that “minimalism will prevail as key to our interior design in 2022” and that “working from home means the notion of decluttering is now more important than ever.”
Basically, if the sets of Clueless and Home Alone had a baby with Ex Machina, we’d call it Newstalgia. And to that end, White says that pop culture will play a major role in this look: “shows like Halston, Glow, and Pose, for example, there are nostalgic elements of the interior design of the ‘70s and ‘80s that will start to make a comeback next year.” Furthermore, he predicts these comebacks will manifest in the form of statement pieces: “Think of velvet armchairs that are plush, comfy with rounded edges—items that feed the soul,” White says.
Curious about getting the look in your own home? Here are four easy ways to make it happen.
How to Get the Look
Go green in the kitchen – As white may have reached its peak, color is making a comeback in the kitchen, from the palest whisper of color on the walls, to green marble countertops, to more colorful tiles and backsplashes. And to keep things feeling fresh, pair it with sleek appliances that streamline your life (like using voice commands to set timers or preheat the oven).
Use retro shapes with new finishes – The number one trick to nailing this look is updating old shapes and silhouettes with new colors, fabrics, and finishes. Want to repurpose that old, baroque mirror collecting dust in your parents’ basement? Fabulous. Just be sure to refinish the frame with brass, gold, or patina paint, so it looks current. What’s old can—and should—be made new again, but the fabrics and finishes should always take their cues from the current decade (to prevent your home from looking like a shrine instead of a vintage masterpiece).
Pair antique staples with new accessories – The mid-century modern craze we’ve seen over the last few years will be tempered by the addition of more refined antiques cleverly thrown into the design mix. In the picture above, for example, a set of mixed black antique dining chairs were elevated by luxe lighting and natural finishes. The final look falls somewhere between ‘90s shabby chic and luxe farmhouse. It doesn’t hurt that the use of repurposed antiques is an environmentally conscious design choice either.
Incorporate items with ‘soul’ – Interiors with all new furniture and decor may be on its way out, and people will want to bring in more antique items. We will likely see a mix of new furnishings with collected items that have more soul. Think your grandfather’s 1920s grand piano, your great aunt’s colored wine glasses, or your great grandmother’s oak-wood armoire. Couple this with some current decor trends (i.e., organic modern or japandi), and you’re on the way to perfecting an old-meets-new space.
If the concept of Newstalgia sounds like something you’d like to play up in enhancing your spaces, and you’d like some guidance, let me know. I’d love to show you how Newstalgia can work for warming up and personalizing any rooms of yours that would benefit from showing more “you.” You can always call me at (407) 743-2399 or message me in the window below this blog, and I can show you some ways that Newstalgia design styling can add more of your own vibe into your spaces. You can also email me at: carmen@sohointeriordesign.com and you can also click this link to message me via my website.
