The Future of Interior Design

Every January, interior design publications post their list of new interior design trends. Not surprisingly, these interior design trends ALWAYS come from the minds of the industry’s leaders...people who have been in the business for decades, big companies, celebrity designers, influencers, etc.

For this article series, I am asking for the opinions of young designers & design students…people who bring a beginner’s mind to the discussion. People with few preconceptions of the interior design business & how it’s supposed to work. People who might see the future of interior design differently than the old guard.

I gave them a list of the “official” interior design trends for 2021 and asked them to…

Think about the current state of society - Covid, working from home, technology, education, social media, social justice, economics, etc
Apply their beginners’ minds to the question of how a post-COVID-19 world could impact the interior design industry
Offer their feedback on the “official” 2021 interior design trends & how they see the future of interior design

Our inaugural Future of Interior Design article comes from Marie-Lou Penney of Mézon Interiors.

Marie-Lou is a student at the Interior Design Institute. She lives in Quebec, Canada, and is bilingual in both French and English. Her business, Mézon Interiors, is a sound-spelling alternative for the word ‘Maison’ which means ‘house’ in french. Her passion for interior design started early as she loved to change the furniture and do some DIYs around her childhood bedroom. Marie-Lou aspires to become a well-respected interior designer known for providing her clients with amazing interiors and flawless service experience.

Here’s what Marie-Lou thinks about the future of interior design…

Douglas Robb - Interior Design Toronto: Online businesses like Modsy, Decorist, roomLift, The Expert and Havenly are democratizing interior design, making it available to the non-affluent. Please discuss your thoughts on how technology might impact the world of interior design. Below are some prompts to get your imagination going...

E-design services vs in-person, local design - cost, local vs global, commoditization of design
Bespoke (IRL) design for affluent people only
Artificial Intelligence
Augmented & virtual reality replacing line drawings, 3D renderings, etc. How will that impact architectural technologists et al?
- Modsy already offers design help with 3D renderings starting at $69 per room

Marie-Lou Penney - Mézon Interiors: I think it is a good thing that more and more people are able to afford a nice and stylish environment. I don’t believe in the ‘elite exclusivity’ if I can say it like that. I believe everyone should have access to having a nice home they feel good about. 2020 was a year where we stayed in our homes more than ever and therefore we realized the importance of feeling good at home. I am all for budget-friendly plans.

The increase in digital is allowing everyone to get inspired and develop their taste in interior designing. I am confident enough about my art that I do not worry about running out of contracts. I believe clients have a bunch of ideas in their heads but do not know how to put them together, and this is where I come in and give them exactly what they want, and more!

Plus, the increase in technology allows accurate plans and models to present to the client. Once they see a very realistic plan of their place re-designed with the help of a performing app, they are excited and become fully committed to it. Redesigning is a big deal and having the chance to have a pretty accurate visual of what will be the final result is reassuring.

I also do not think it is too much of a big deal that apps are getting more and more accessible. Most people do not want to get into the work of creating plans with dimensions and rather have someone like me take care of it. I am not worried about that. Everyone knows how to make pizza but we still order it, right?!

Douglas Robb - Interior Design Toronto: How will technology impact the business side of the industry? Residential designers are mostly small businesses...how will tech improve their businesses...how will it hurt?

Purchasing
Accounting
Staffing
Construction
Delivery and installation

Marie-Lou Penney - Mézon Interiors: In my opinion, there is more and more competition in everything. It can be a bad thing because you need to find ways to stand out, but it can also be a good thing. More competition also means more options and good deals.

I think technology is good and is a time saver. It allows online purchases (and shows us infinite options and the best deals), it also allows people to take care of their own accounting. More and more people are learning how to do taxes and budgets on their own which is good when you are a new business owner with a beginner income. Technology also allows to work faster and more efficiently, and from anywhere!

It also depends on what type of designer you are and what you offer. You can have an entire construction team, some staff members and take care of the project from A to Z, but you can also be independent and refer construction companies to the client without dealing with them. There are ways you can work with other business teams to complete a project without them being your employees and vice-versa. This can allow help designers avoid the ‘hassle’ of having employees. I think it is important for a designer to properly look all that over and see what is best for them depending on what they want to offer.

Douglas Robb - Interior Design Toronto: Designers are losing their designer discounts as e-tailers like Wayfair, Amazon, Overstock, Hayneedle & Houzz Shop are forcing brick & mortar stores to offer their best prices directly to consumers. Will designers have to charge more for design services to offset the commissions they used to receive from suppliers?

Marie-Lou Penney - Mézon Interiors: Unfortunately, I am new in the game so I was never eligible for these discounts. Therefore, my prices are made around what is offered right now and have not been impacted in any way. But I can imagine OG designers will probably be increasing their charges or offering more in order to keep their income from being affected by that.

Douglas Robb - Interior Design Toronto: Communication on social media happens in the forms of text, verbal communication, images & video...what happens if & when social media becomes more immersive with full virtual reality? Will Pinterest offer to sell you the living room design you love on their platform? Will Instagram ship you that chair or piece of art you like on their platform? Will Instagram, Pinterest, Houzz or some new platform crush the mainstream interior design publications?

Marie-Lou Penney - Mézon Interiors: I love this question because I think the increase in accessibility on social media is such a positive thing for designers! People are more and more aware of the ‘Pinterest home’ trends.

But let’s not forget most people are lacking the creative and visual capacity that we designers have! The ‘public’ is wanting more and more but do not necessarily know how to get it. They know they want a beautiful home with X type of floors and X colors but they do not know how to put them together and create unity. We often see beautiful pictures of homes we would love to have, but we then remember we do not have the same space and the same windows and all these details that make us realize that even if we buy the exact same couch, it won’t feel the same then on that picture.

So how can I make my living room have the same vibe and style as that particular Pinterest image? And here is when interior designers are approached.

Douglas Robb - Interior Design Toronto: How will bricks & mortar retail change? If they can’t compete with Wayfair on price, how will they compete?

Marie-Lou Penney - Mézon Interiors: Like mentioned earlier, I am new in the game and therefore do not really know the original bricks & mortar retail services. I think they will have to offer more services and amazing service to make sure they are chosen before Wayfair or Amazon. When it comes to our homes, most people are willing to pay a little more for better service and for security. If these retail stores offer A1 service, I think they are not at risk. Unfortunately, I do understand the high competition with international e-commerce like Wayfair and I do think many of them are at risk of falling behind.

Douglas Robb - Interior Design Toronto: What about employees? If an employee doesn’t need to be in the office (thanks Zoom), why do they need to even be from the same city or country? I live in Toronto, my clients live in Toronto, do my employees need to live in Toronto? Virtual assistants from around the globe might become a bigger part of the interior design industry

Marie-Lou Penney - Mézon Interiors: Like you said, thanks to Zoom! I believe it depends on the employee’s job. I truly think there is nothing like human contact especially with your clients... However, if an employee’s job is to design floor plans or whatever plans and do not meet with the client, I think there is nothing wrong with him or her being in another city or country. Once again, it depends on your preference. Personally, I am all for human contact and I’d prefer my employees to be physically around me on a regular basis rather than away or on zoom. But that’s just a personal preference.

Douglas Robb - Interior Design Toronto: Sadly, this also applies to head designers as well...thanks to Zoom & virtual reality, why can’t a Toronto homeowner hire a Parisian designer?

Marie-Lou Penney - Mézon Interiors: A Toronto homeowner can for sure hire a Parisian designer. Will he or she do it, though? I still believe that when it comes to homes, most people need that human contact and connection with the designer they choose. I am certain some people do not need it, but I am positively sure that most clients would rather their designer to be accessible and to be able to come on the field. I am not too worried about that.

Douglas Robb - Interior Design Toronto: How will online retail change? Will the Wayfairs & Amazons of the biz continue to dominate or will new players leverage new technology and innovate Wayfair into oblivion?

Marie-Lou Penney - Mézon Interiors: I am a strong believer in innovation, adaptation, and mostly competition. Technology is without a doubt always updating and companies are constantly working on providing THE new service or THE new product. Just like music and clothes and clubs and the list goes on, everything comes and goes and some people are always working on new ways to surpass what is big at the moment. I think businesses like Wayfair and Amazon are big at the moment, but there are for sure some people working on the new thing that will take their place at the head of race sooner or later.

Douglas Robb - Interior Design Toronto: As interior design goes mainstream thanks to technology, will antiques have a revival as a way to express individuality?

Marie-Lou Penney - Mézon Interiors: Yes!!! And it has already started! There are soooo many Instagram pages reselling vintage pieces and people are going crazy over them. Thrift-shopping is such a thing at the moment and everyone is looking for an authentic and rare piece to expose in their space. While Wayfair and Amazon offer cheap prices, they do not offer that rarety that antiques do. I think a good and rare antique piece can be such a beautiful and conversational aspect of a home. I am all in for the antique revival!

Douglas Robb - Interior Design Toronto: Affluent people thrive financially during a pandemic...they keep making money & have less opportunity to spend. Post-pandemic, they have surplus cash to spend AND since they have spent lots of time at home, their desire to change their interiors is probably heightened. Will designers have to prepare for future pandemics & economic slowdowns by being more fiscally prudent?

Marie-Lou Penney - Mézon Interiors: I think the pandemic has shown us there is nothing guaranteed and we must always have backup whether it is a backup plan or backup money or anything. I am still in school so I haven’t lived the pandemic ‘crisis’ as a designer and do not really know how designers are living it. As a student, a lot of people are coming to me already for contracts so I have a feeling that it is true that the desire to change interiors is heightened and maybe the ‘game’ was not THAT affected by the pandemic. I do not want to pronounce myself too much on that because I do not know the effects of the pandemic. However, I think COVID has taught us to always have a back-up just in case.

Douglas Robb - Interior Design Toronto: Will designers focus more on the human side of the business...building relationships that will sustain during “pandemic/flu season”?

Marie-Lou Penney - Mézon Interiors: To me, as I am still in school and slowly starting my business, I am 200% going for sustained relationships with my clients. I think that no matter where you go and what you do, you are most likely to go there again or want that service again if your ‘human’ experience was great. I believe building a good relationship with your clients will build fidelity and amazing reviews. If you trust me with designing your home, I owe you an incredible human service. Pandemic or not.

Douglas Robb - Interior Design Toronto: Will offices go virtual? Do you need a showroom as technology allows for augmented/virtual reality?

Marie-Lou Penney - Mézon Interiors: I do not think offices will go virtual. I think most people appreciate a change of environment and would not want to work 5 days from home. There might be some adaptations here and there but I think physical offices are still a must. However, I think it is important to have a Showroom because you never know when you might need it with a client or with a contractor (or in case of another pandemic). Hopefully not!!!

Douglas Robb - Interior Design Toronto: Re technology...we have all gotten more used to Zoom meetings vs meeting in a coffee shop, office, or home setting. How does that change (or not change) moving forward?

Marie-Lou Penney - Mézon Interiors: I think Zoom meetings are great for when you are in a hurry or if you can’t make it to work for X reason (your kid is sick, for example). Zoom has proven to be a good alternative to physical meetings and will surely be used when necessary. It is an extremely helpful tool and is appreciated when you can have your 15-minute meeting wherever you are rather than interrupting your day to drive somewhere for that same 15-minute meeting.

Douglas Robb - Interior Design Toronto: If we continue to work from home, do we need to create a Zoom-studio space in our homes?

Marie-Lou Penney - Mézon Interiors: I am all for home offices. Whenever you work from home, it is nice to have a dedicated space for it so you can part your work from your living area. Having a home office allows to focus and be separated from the rest of the house, and can also be serving as a Zoom-studio space.

Douglas Robb - Interior Design Toronto: Will commercial design embrace social distancing. Instead of DIY solutions that we have created on the fly in response to Covid, will social distancing become a big part of commercial interior design?

Marie-Lou Penney - Mézon Interiors: For commercial spaces, I think Covid will be a huge turning point in the design. I strongly believe social distancing will stay for a few years, maybe even a decade. Whether it is asked from the government or not, people are more and more bending on the social distancing side and appreciate having their bubble. We are getting used to having a certain distance with people around us and places likes coffee shops and restaurants are most likely to adapt to this new reality.

Douglas Robb - Interior Design Toronto: What about mental health. Thanks to Covid, we’re all stressed out. How will design address this in the public & residential spaces?

Marie-Lou Penney - Mézon Interiors: Going for cozyness, energetic colors and designs will be a must. It is crucial more than ever right now to fully study textures, colors, lines, patterns (...) and their effect on the human brain to determine what and what not to promote. We want to offer comfort and peace to our clients because everyone needs it more than ever right now.

Douglas Robb - Interior Design Toronto: How can we help keep surfaces free from viruses?

Marie-Lou Penney - Mézon Interiors: Clear counters and minimalistic spaces are going to be huge. The less there is, the easier to wipe and protect from viruses.

Douglas Robb - Interior Design Toronto: How can we help keep the air clean inside homes & public spaces?

How do we need to partner with?
Are there business opportunities?
How do we address physical layouts of residential homes to address pandemic viruses? Is this even possible?
Re commercial design, what about long-term care homes? How will interior design help prevent future deaths due to Covid-22 or some other future virus? How will commercial design firms work with medical experts, HVAC engineers, and industrial hygienists in project teams?

Marie-Lou Penney - Mézon Interiors: As mentioned above, I think we will see a huge shift to minimalistic public spaces. One thing we for sure know in avoiding viruses is the importance of having clutter-free spaces and easy cleaning materials. It will be important to get informed on what types of material and textures are best to have viruses-free areas. This is where working with professionals on the issue will be crucial. We will be needing professional and scientific advice to make sure we propose adequate design elements that will help prevent the propaganda of fierce viruses again.

Douglas Robb - Interior Design Toronto: What about hotels, concert venues, entertainment venues, or any other venue where large groups of people get together? How do they adapt to prevent being closed by governments in response to future pandemics? How can interior designers help?

Marie-Lou Penney - Mézon Interiors: Interior designers will be so high in demand! As businesses are doing everything possible to keep from shutting down and still offer their services, they need to re-adapt and re-design in order to respect the government’s recommendations. They also want to keep offering a pleasant service to their customers and therefore will turn to designers for help. It will be our job to create new, fun, memorable areas that respect social distancing.

Douglas Robb - Interior Design Toronto: How do designers address the spoken & unspoken fears of our potential clients? How will the pandemic shape our values moving forward?

Marie-Lou Penney - Mézon Interiors: The pandemic has proven that we need human interactions. It has proven that it is important to spend time with our loved ones and to value these moments. The pandemic has made us more aware and grateful of the people around us. I think it was an eye-opener into what really matters, and to value the moments we spend together.

Douglas Robb - Interior Design Toronto: How will it shape the values, needs & desires of our clients...residential & commercial?

Marie-Lou Penney - Mézon Interiors: I think people are realizing the importance of having a cozy and pleasant home, and that the home we have represents who we are. I also believe our clients (residential or commercial), value more than ever interactions with others and therefore will want their place/commerce to offer memorable exchange experiences. People will be enjoying restaurants and home evenings more than ever. It is our job to be able to create spaces that will offer the perfect place and the perfect vibe for these moments.

Douglas Robb - Interior Design Toronto: Will we need to get more organized with our planning? In the era of social distancing, things naturally move slower. This means that knowing the supplies, materials, timeline, and details of the process accurately will be even more important than ever before when planning for home design projects.

Marie-Lou Penney - Mézon Interiors: Agreed! It will be our job to be two steps ahead. Unfortunately, things are coming to us slower and we need to find the right plan to make sure that even if the services are slow, we can deliver the project in a certain amount of time. For example, will need to stay up to date with our providers on what is their delay of the moment and constantly checkup with them if that delay is still valid.

Douglas Robb - Interior Design Toronto: Entertaining outdoors vs indoors thanks to social distancing means people may want to level up their patios, porches & decks. How can interior designers be involved? Partnerships?

Marie-Lou Penney - Mézon Interiors: I am not familiar with exteriors yet so I don’t know much about the subject but I do think they are becoming more and more trendy to design. I, therefore, think I will need to do some research on exterior designing because I do think it is becoming more popular and I want to be able to provide this service.

I want to thank Marie-Lou Penney from Mézon Interiors for taking the time to patiently answer all of my rambling questions about the future of interior design. Marie-Lou is finishing up her studies and will be launching her business soon. Currently, she is helping homeowners with custom mood boards on Fiverr while she completes her formal education. Feel free to also DM Marie-Lou on Instagram.

About Marie-Lou Penney - Mézon Interiors

Marie-Lou Penney is currently a student at the Interior Design Institute. She lives in Quebec, Canada and is bilingual in both French and English. My business name is Mézon, which is a sound-spelling alternative for the word ‘Maison’ which means ‘house’ in french.

My passion for interior designing started extremely young as I loved to change furniture and do some DIYs around my room when I was a kid. I aspire to become a well-respected Interior Designer and known for providing my clients with amazing interiors and flawless service experience.

While she completes her studies, Marie-Lou is available to design custom mood boards with an accompanying shopping list via Fiverr.