What's new for 2020? Let us offer you these 20 lifestyle trends

Out with the old, in with the new — they’re words to live by if you want to stay abreast of the latest lifestyle trends. Who wants to look or live like 2019 now that it’s 2020?

New year, new decade, new you.

It’s time to give your chunky dad sneakers the boot, lower the hems on your cropped jeans and cull your closet of neon, lime and camo greens.

If you’re planning a wedding reception, don’t even think about a photo booth with cheesy props, Mason jar decorations or cutesy hand-painted signs.

It’s time to add some color to your all-white kitchen and update your wallpapered accent wall.

And if you’re trying to lose a few pounds, KO the keto and replace it with the Mediterranean diet.

What else is in for 2020? A survey of the internet reveals these 20 trends.

Food and drink

Move over, mail-order meal kits — Blue Apron, Hello Fresh and others deliver all the ingredients (plus recipes) you need to prepare tasty meals at home. But the initial novelty of meal kits has worn off for many consumers, due in large part to the expense. Many supermarkets offer ready-made meals for less. And some say the kits contributed to their own downfall by helping users develop cooking skills and interest in planning their own menus.

Food as medicine — Now that we know poor diet and lifestyle choices contribute to chronic illness, many people are looking to maintain health through good food choices. Say yes to nutrient-dense foods like fruits, vegetables and whole grains and no to processed foods, saturated fats and sugars.

Food swaps — Look for more healthy food swaps, like cauliflower for flour in pizza dough, more veggies than meats topping those pies and vegetable spirals taking the place of pasta.

Mocktails and nonalcohol happy hours — Moderation and abstinence aren’t just for Dry January anymore, they’re tied in to healthy lifestyle trends. Sober bars have popped up around the area, and USA Today says nonalcoholic mixed drinks are on trend for people who enjoy the bar scene but not the morning-after hangover.

Plastic purge — Beginning Jan. 15, some Giant Eagle stores will no longer have plastic bags at registers, instead offering reusable bags for sale and charging 10 cents per paper bag, with the goal of eliminating single-use plastics by 2025. Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods are among grocery retailers making reductions in the use of plastic packaging of produce and other food items. Shoppers are encouraged to bring their own reusable bags.

Around the house

Singin’ the blues — Pantone Color Institute has named Classic Blue, “a shade reminiscent of the sky at dusk,” as the 2020 Color of the Year. The soothing shade offers “reassurance, confidence and connection that people may be searching for in an uncertain global milieu,” Pantone says.

Blast from the past — Rustic is in for kitchenware, including wooden bowls and spoons, along with antique- or primitive-looking utensils and cutting boards.

Away with white — People with kids and dogs, rejoice. Designers say the all-white kitchen trend is on its way out. Look for the return of wood cabinets, shelves and islands, along with bold, dark-colored cabinets.

Bold and bright — “Bold” is also on trend for bedding and wallpaper. Forget the neutrals, and think splashes of oversized, bright florals.

Fresh greenery — We’re officially over succulents and moving on to olive trees (real or artificial). Native to the dry Mediterranean climate, they’re somewhat neglect-tolerant and bring a sunny, seaside vibe to the home.

Personal/social

Gender neutrality — Probably more a societal shift than a trend, this one has been gaining in prominence for some time, from the use of “they/them” pronouns to gender-neutral names, clothing and parenting styles.

Body positivity — A reaction to online body-shaming, it encourages people to be comfortable in their own skin, no matter its size, shape, color or age. Plus-size singer/songwriter Lizzo has become an icon for some with her fearless fashion choices and message of confidence and self-acceptance.

Self-partnering — Coined by actress Emma Watson, the phrase “self-partnered” describes a person not in a relationship but definitely not an object for pity or match-making schemes, but rather one who is empowered, autonomous and content.

Shared housing — It’s an economic necessity for many 20- and 30-somethings, especially in cities like New York and San Francisco with astronomical housing costs, but it’s also becoming a choice for older singles who have no interest in regimented, segregated senior-living communities.

Positive social media — Enough already with the Trumpian Twitter wars — let’s all post more feel-good, inspirational messages and photos in 2020. Brandwatch says that, as of December 2019, there were 3.725 billion active social media users around the world. That’s a lot of opportunity to make someone’s day a little brighter.

Travel

Northern Lights tourism — Increasingly, the eerie-but-magnificent light display of the aurora borealis is drawing tourists to the far northern reaches of Alaska, Canada, Iceland, Scandinavia and Finland. The darker the night sky, the easier it is to see the lights, making winter the best time to go.

Ancestry travel — Thanks to do-it-yourself DNA testing kits, interest in travel to ancestral homelands (also called DNA trips or heritage tourism) is on the rise. As a bonus, people also are finding long-lost relatives in sometimes unexpected places.

Second-city travel — Instead of a pricey, overcrowded tourist destination, try a city less traveled. Feel like an explorer as you discover restaurants, cultural gems and vistas off the beaten path. Travel website Quartz suggests Utrecht instead of Amsterdam, Belfast instead of Dublin, Marseilles instead of Paris and Osaka instead of Toyko — and Cleveland instead of New York City.

Mini-vacations — If you don’t have the free time or the cash to go for a week, go for two or three days. Some experts suggest that a short break has the same stress-relief benefits of a longer vacation. In a time when so many people are tied to their jobs almost 24/7, a mini-trip is often the way to go.

Minimalism — How much do you really need for a week at the beach, or anywhere else? What didn’t you use on your last trip? Can you do laundry at your destination? Buy a smaller bag. Create a single-palette, mix-and-match travel wardrobe. Reduce toiletries, makeup and accessories.