The new year is on its way and it’s time to start looking at the interior design trends 2022. With two rather difficult years behind us, it’s essential to create a home that we’re comfortable with. And the home decor trends of 2022 reflect that sentiment.
The disruption of our routines due to the pandemic has fundamentally transformed how we work and live at home, and the design trends and innovations of the year ahead will all reflect these shifts—perhaps permanently. The home may be more of a refuge than ever, but the more time we’ve spent staring at the walls, the more many of us have become visually restless and eager to make changes to our interiors.
Multifunctional Spaces
Last few years we had to change our rooms to add a home office or a study/teaching space for the children. We expect that working from home will remain a fixture in our lives. But this isn’t the only reason for creating more multifunctional spaces.
Meaghan Roddy, the West Coast head of design at Phillips, reports that the interior designers she speaks to have more projects than they know what to do with and that, thanks to the pandemic, “there is more focus on ‘home,’ and not necessarily entertaining in the home but about really living and working in a home space and having the flexibility to do both comfortably.”
We are rethinking the way we live. It is less about how we think certain rooms should look. And more about how we feel in our homes and how we can create the most comfortable home that suits our own personal needs.
Warm Neutrals
Crisp whites, steely grays, and other cool neutrals are long-time favorites that deliver a clean, contemporary look, but preferences are starting to shift in a warmer direction. “I predict that we’ll see the resurgence of warmer color palettes and a subtle shift back to creams, beiges, and nudes,” Smith says. Expect to see these comforting neutrals—as well as richer, earthier shades including taupe, camel, and rust—applied to walls, upholstery, and other furniture to foster a cozy, inviting atmosphere.
Layers of Texture
Of all the 2022 interior design trends, texture was mentioned most often. South Carolina interior designer Caroline Brackett predicts “anything furry, nubby, or cozy” will be popular in the coming year, while Erin Coren of Curated Nest Interiors sees more fringe and decorative trim on the horizon. “Layers and textures are everywhere right now in fashion, and interior design is usually not far behind,” Coren says. Even walls are receiving textural treatments through techniques like lime-washing and paint products that mimic plaster finishes, says California designer Lindye Galloway. To achieve a cozy, layered look through furniture and accessories, look for a variety of materials such as natural stone, leather, wood, and metal, as well as highly textured fabrics
Curved Lines
In furniture, patterns, and architecture, the angular, geometric shapes popular in years past are being replaced by softer, wavier lines. Curves were called out in Pinterest’s trend prediction report for 2022, which noted significant surges in search interest for curved walls and living room couches over the past year. Now, soft lines, arcs, and curves are popping up across furniture collections from a wide variety of retailers, notes North Carolina interior designer Kristin Bartone. She traces this trend back to our collective desire for comfort amid stressful times, as curves and rounded forms inherently feel softer and more calming than sharp angles and straight lines.
Biophilic Design
Also distinguished as a top trend in the 2022 Pinterest Predicts report, the biophilic design aims to bring the outdoors into your home through natural materials, colors, and—of course—plants. Moving beyond a few pots on the windowsill, plant parents are now experimenting with plant-covered walls and unique hanging installations. Bartone explains that this nature-inspired trend is rooted in our basic human makeup. “Historically, being connected with nature has provided food, clothing, and shelter,” she says. “These connections are imprinted in our brains and we are subconsciously comforted by these colors, textures, and patterns.”
Shades of Green
Consumers’ love affair with soothing greens and blues and earthy tones continues, but it’s not necessarily simply a case of aesthetic preferences.
“Research shows that natural color schemes and organic forms like those found in nature reduce stress, lower blood pressure and heart rate, increase productivity and creativity, and make us happier,” says Michelle Lamb, who is the editorial director at The Trend Curve.
Our connection to nature and the world around us has never been more important – during the pandemic, or post. To explain this newfound affinity for green, Curtis of the Texas firm Urbanology Designs notes that the color is “a comforting reminder of the outdoors and our need for a connection with nature.” After the COVID-19 pandemic compelled us to move many social gatherings and activities outdoors, we’re bringing nature’s influence back indoors with us, Curtis says.
Vintage & Antique Furniture and Decor
Expect to see more vintage and antique furnishings and decor in the home trends for 2022. Instead of purchasing all new furnishings, people are increasingly sprinkling in antiques and vintage pieces among more modern designs, says Milwaukee-based interior designer Anna Franklin. “Antiques and vintage-sourced decor and furniture is not only eco-friendly since you are repurposing items, but it allows there to be a juxtaposition between old and new in a space,” she says. Plus vintage and antique furnishings add a lot of character to your home interior.
Source: thenordroom.com, bhg.com. elledecor.com