Nine design trends for 2022

Well, 2021 is over, and good riddance! It’s time to think about a new year and a fresh start for decorating our interior spaces. I did some digging to find out the word on the street for design trends to keep an eye on for 2022, so here goes!

Throw pillow and knit blanket. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022.

Bromeliad plant. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2021.

The need for a home office

Lately, there has been a need for a dedicated office space—and office furniture—for working at home. According to Architectural Digest, for those fortunate enough to have the square footage, a private space for a home office—shut off from noise and distraction from the rest of the house—is in high demand. This isn’t technically a new trend for this year, but we will continue to see the demand grow as more at-home workers look for solutions to balancing life and work.

Image by inkflo on Pixabay.

Multi-functional furniture and spaces

So what if you are NOT one of those lucky enough to have the square footage for a closed-off office? Many people working from home right now are looking for realistic ways to create dedicated zones—rather than just makeshift work areas—that allow them to have a comfortable workspace but not have their living spaces cluttered with bulky office furniture. The “new norm” will be finding ways to blend the styles by using multifunctional furniture and creating a shared hybrid living/working environment (also known as entangled design). Furniture will now have to be capable of double duty while still being comfortable for everyday use…AND remain aesthetically pleasing. In this new environment, adaptable storage is imperative to keep the clutter down, and open spaces—once highly desired as part of the open floor plan—now have to become sectioned off for flexibility of use. At the same time, there is a need for our homes to be more multi-generational, with spaces being shared with adult kids and elderly parents, who all may live under the same roof. I found some interesting examples of multi-use spaces here on bobvila.com.

Second hand dining room set doubles as my "office" in a shared multi-use space. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2021.

What is old is now new

So Covid happened…and now we are having difficultly finding the things we need at the stores. And maybe we are also starting to realize that older furniture and home goods are simply made better. So why not buy something of better quality for a cheaper price? 

I’m talking about thrifting and buying antiques, which has become a big thing lately. There is a renewed market for vintage decor and furniture, and people are getting more creative in decorating their spaces. It’s a more traditional route, to be sure, but it also embraces the idea of repurposing and recycling. Having second-hand—and sometimes historic—decor in your home gives it a sense of safety and security, a state of mind firmly planted in the past. This trend is close to my heart, as my entire dining room and most of the living room have been thrifted!

Wire basket from a thrift store. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2021.

Retro curvy organic shapes

Retro styles from the end of the twentieth century are making quite a comeback. Toned-down versions of the curvy furniture styles of the 70’s and 80’s will be seen more and more in sofas, tables, mirrors, countertops, arches, and lamps. (Remember the mushroom lamps?) Wavy edges and organic shapes are upstaging the popular linear, rustic, and Scandi styles.

Image by Africa Studio on Adobe Stock.

Individuality and imperfection

If you’re a type A personality who likes perfection, close your eyes for a few years! The new trend toward vintage and second-hand furnishings, by necessity, embraces the beauty of imperfection. Furniture now has a story. It’s well-worn in all the right ways and has an air of comfortable luxury. Rather than just buying off-the-shelf decor and furniture from big box stores—where your furniture is the same as the next person's—it’s time to embrace individuality and intention in the design of your interior spaces. Intentional design will go hand in hand with statement pieces, wabi-sabi decor, and layers of luxurious textiles.
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Cabinet pulls and paint distressing from a recent diy project. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2021.

Image by Marco Montalti on Adobe Stock.

​DIY and handcrafted

And what goes well with individuality and imperfection? DIY and handmade decor. Yes, that is a trend now. Let’s just say that with more time on their hands and more trouble sourcing decor and furnishings on the traditional market, people are developing a new appreciation for handcrafted DIY furnishings and decor. Arts and crafts are having a moment, and I love it! (BTW…Visit my homepage to find my shop with beautifully handcrafted items by Di’s Studio Designs!)

Waterfall themed handcrafted decorative candleholder by Di's Studio Designs. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2020.

Sustainability

The idea of sustainability is nothing new. The concept has been around for a while, but it’s always been in the background, relegated to commercial projects. However, there seems to be a movement towards making our homes more sustainable and eco-friendly, and that’s always a good thing! The younger generations are thinking about how to leave a smaller footprint, and they care about how ethically sourced materials can help save the planet. The focus for some people is on recycled and reclaimed materials and adaptive reuse, up-cycling whenever possible. For others, it’s simply about having a more energy-efficient home and lower utility bills. Either way, it’s good to finally see residential projects embracing something that used to be relegated to just new commercial buildings.

Biophilia and well-being

If you’re not a fan of plants, follow me on this one…It’s well-documented that plants and greenery improve the well-being of the people they keep company. They are a little tricky to learn to care for, but once you get past that, they are the perfect houseguest! They make you feel better just looking at them, and they clean the air in your home. But if you cannot—or will not—have houseplants, use windows and doors to open up your space to outside views.

Ponytail palm. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2021.

Bringing nature inside—in whatever manner you choose—and using natural materials in your furnishings—helps create calming interiors. We’re seeing the return of wallpaper, particularly with floral, plant, and nature-inspired prints. If wallpaper is not your thing (I can’t blame you), try other options--earthy textures, lime wash, and plaster walls, any of which can help you create textural walls that add to the nature-inspired value of your interior space (as shown in this article by Architectural Digest).

Earthy color trends

Building on the biophilic design theory, the trending colors for 2022 embrace green, blue neutrals, and colors that remind us of nature. We’re seeing more warm tones (including terra cotta) and are moving away from cool grays and whites. Bright spring-like colors that make people feel uplifted are also making an appearance. A few nature-inspired color trends for 2022 are…

Emerald Green (Etsy Color of the Year for 2022)
Very Peri (Pantone Color of the Year for 2022)
October Mist (Benjamin Moore Color of the Year 2022)

Image by FollowTheStock on Adobe Stock.

What are your thoughts about the 2022 design trends? Do you agree or disagree? Do you have a favorite? Feel free to continue the conversation by dropping a comment below!
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Related blogs you may want to read:
Eight ways to create cozy winter interiors after the holiday decor comes down
Winter color palette ideas for your home decor
Nine hygge decor ideas
11 interior decorating tips that help reduce anxiety and depression

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