Although 2021 looked more like 2020 than we expected, that has not stopped us from continuing to look into our homes for creative inspiration. We are hoping for more jet-setting in 2022, and we will continue to appreciate our homes as sanctuaries. This year, we are excited to see the houses evolve to make your Work From Home (WFH) area more flexible or create the ultimate entertaining place for future parties.
“Clients will up their game by 2022--they have been improving their nests, the ways they entertain at their home over the last two years, and we will see the demand to create more compelling designs and finishes,” states Jeffry Weisman, Fisher Weisman. Everyone has come to love their homes and will continue to do so.
We asked 18 interior design experts about their predictions for the top design trends in 2022. They shared plenty of design inspiration with us. Happy decorating!
1. You Can Find Color And Patterns Everywhere!
“Over the past few months, it has been apparent that high-end clients are beginning to embrace color,” states Tom Stringer from Tom Stringer Design Partners in Chicago. “Traditionally, home design trends have changed based on economic conditions. When things are bad, homeowners tend to be more conservative and use gray or brown tones. But when things are good, people turn to color and pattern as they are easy to modify.
Jean Liu, a Dallas-based designer from Jean Liu Design, says that “saffron” is now the new black. Dark-hued rooms throughout the house will be able to have their day after dark. In 2021, dramatic kitchens will reign supreme. Bright colors are also in fashion.
“Everyone is bold these days with strong yellows, burgundies, and hunter greens combined with bright blues as well as stripes, plaids, and checks, all in a playful kind of folk art vibe.” Chauncey Boothby, a Connecticut-based designer from Chauncey Boothby Interiors.
Boothby believes that mini-print florals, akin to Laura Ashley’s textiles we grew up with, will see a revival in popularity. Boothby also predicts that retro-inspired colors will be a top fashion.
Lilse McKenna, Lilse McKenna Inc. says, “As a textile enthusiast, I’ve enjoyed the appreciation for a pattern which we’re now seeing both among our clients and throughout the design sector.” She can recall a time when floral prints were too old-fashioned for some clients. Now we can layer different florals on one piece of furniture. Beautifully crafted textiles will be more appreciated in 2022, I hope.
2. Formality Reimagined
“We use our homes more than ever before, which has led to an increase in practicality across all design categories,” Tammy Connor from Tammy Connor Interior Design in Birmingham. Clients choose fabrics and furniture that can withstand a casual lifestyle's daily wear and tear. The result is a more utilitarian and reimagined approach to designing formal spaces.
Our editors first noticed this trend at the Kips Bay Decorator House Dallas. Corey Damen Jenkins changed a formal dining room into a welcoming, lively place to dine, entertain and study. Two tables allow for intimate conversations or study time, while the other can host the evening’s events. Cozy table lamps provide a warm glow that will keep the party going until the early hours. This space is formal but pops of modern art and a vibrant palette of colors, along with plenty of texture, keep it from feeling stuffy.
3. Inviting And Inspiring WFH Spaces
It’s no longer enough to have an “office” on the kitchen island or at the dining table. Our experts predict that the next few months will be filled with hybrid work schedules and, in some cases, permanent remote work. They also anticipate that our workspaces will become more inspiring.
“With Zoom’s rise and more work done at home, [clients] want two fully functioning offices--one each for their spouses or partners--where they can work without being disrupted or be disruptive to other members of the family,” Randy Correll, Robert A.M. Stern Architects, New York. These rooms look like libraries, with lots of paneling, cabinetry, and, if possible, a view or porch from which to take a break.
No matter how small your space may be, such as a corner or a whole room, the key to a successful WFH area has the right desk and seating. Gray Walker, a Charlotte-based designer from Gray Walker Interiors, says that she enjoys searching for functional and spacious writing desks. Gray Walker loves to find a place to work in front of a window. It’s essential to surround yourself with things you love, energized colors, and textures that feel comfortable.
“We’re seeing new uses for existing spaces in homes, such as closets--that can then be transformed into functional offices with new cabinetry,” says Allison Caccoma, a San Francisco-based designer from Allison Caccoma Interiors. It is becoming more important to make beautiful offices out of other rooms in your home. It’s essential to make it beautiful. You can paint the cabinetry green or blue and decorate it with special fabrics to make it feel like a real room. This will allow you to enjoy working at home.
4. Placing Antiques And Heirlooms Front-and-Center
Lilse McKenna says that “our younger clients are more interested than ever in antiques and, based on the supply chain predictions we’re now, I’m guessing that this will only continue into 2022.” However, there is one bright side to the crazy lead times we are all experiencing now. We have more time to find those rare pieces. In addition, clients might be more open to imperfections because the item is ‘in stock and ready for shipping (with a few scratches).
We were reminded of the simplicity and sustainability of shopping in our own homes when we first experienced pandemics. Old pieces can make your space look completely new, whether you’re pulling out grandma’s china from storage or changing a few art pieces to add color to the right spots. Even before the Pacific Coast was flooded with cargo ships, antique shops like Chairish or 1st Dibs had record numbers. This is because the younger generation prefers to shop sustainably and find unique pieces over fast fashion.
“Antiques and vintage will be celebrated as the ultimate green’ resource in the furniture industry, and younger clients will be more interested in learning about collectible masters such as Jean Prouve, Jacques Adnet, and Gio Ponti,” Michael Cox of Foley & Cox in New York. It will be a priority to invest both time and money into the objects that make a house a place of comfort and pride.
Cox believes that the concept of quality over quantity will encourage design enthusiasts to be educated and more willing to wait for pieces they can enjoy for many decades. Cox and Susan Spath, Kern & Co. expect that the “less is more” approach will help them find a home amid a revival of maximalism. Spath believes that simplicity will allow the most striking architectural and interior elements to speak for themselves, such as the thoughtful heirlooms and antiques that personalize your home.
“We have seen many antiques stripped and bleached over the past few years, especially at antique shows,” says Liz MacPhail, Austin-based designer of Liz MacPhail Interieurs. The French and English antiques look fresh without the high varnish. It would be great to see some of these classic antiques rediscovered by our younger clients. You are perhaps buying an English dresser and mixing it with contemporary pieces. You can also say ‘yes’ to your great-grandmother’s buffet or sideboard. It doesn’t need to be in the designated stayed room. A French-style, stripped-down, marble-top buffet in your main bedroom? Why not?
5. Give Your Kitchen A Much-Needed Glow
Recently, we gathered group designers to share the design concepts that they believe will be most popular in the kitchen by 2022. We are thrilled to announce that the pre-pandemic era of all-white kitchens is over. Instead, we will see a new era in cook space design.
Liz MacPhail says, “I’m open to kitchens in full color. But I think if your white kitchen is a classic, you don’t have to rush to the paint shop.” You can always keep the same one if it’s your favorite. But, if you are building right now or thinking about renovating in the future, think beyond white. We are designers and believe that people are ready for more.
We kept hearing about some notable design trends from these creatives, including the use of statement-making stones to add drama to your countertops and backsplashes, bringing back color to the cabinetry, and making the kitchen an independent space rather than part of one large living area. This is a great idea that still deserves designer touches.
Tom Stringer says, “I see 2022 as being about expression, mixing of metals and bolder use color, pattern, and materials.” People are shifting towards residential living spaces for kitchens. They incorporate performance velvets and furniture associated with a living space.
6. Unlock The Power Of One’s Design Personality
Lilse McKenna says, “After spending so many hours scrolling through Instagram over two years, we are all tired space that lacks personality or look like spaces we’ve seen before.” “Highly personal spaces that reflect homeowners’ lives and interests are the antidote for a cookie-cutter design.”
McKenna says that understanding clients is the best part of designing a home. She can interpret their past and create a design that reflects their future. This makes the home more comfortable and allows the family to grow the house with them rather than fit one style.
Enthusiasts don’t mind covering their walls with color and their furniture in bold upholstered fabrics. They also love to decorate their rooms in various patterns to suit their taste. Kim Armstrong, Kim Armstrong Interior Design Texas, says that red will be a favorite color for design lovers this year because people feel more confident about their design personalities.
Armstrong says, “Red is an unusual color we haven’t seen since the nineties. I think it will be so exciting to see how this color can be reinterpreted for this generation.” It will be brighter and more cheery. Reds that I see in fashion are any color, from bright cherry red to red-orange. They are happy reds.”
Jessica LaGrange, the Chicago-based designer and owner of Jessica LaGrange Interiors claims that her company is experiencing a revival in colorful, patterned wallcoverings throughout the home. They are not being used in “jewel box” spaces easily hidden from the rest. White ceilings are disappearing as clients want bold colors, high gloss paints, and beautiful wallpapers to add an unexpected but welcome pop.
7. Homes That Tell A Global Story
Tom McManus, Ferguson & Shamamian Architects says that “I believe we’re all also going be influenced by a resurgence in travel in 2022.” “We have stayed fairly local over the past 18 months, and those who have begun to travel abroad have expressed how liberating that feels. Therefore, I believe we will see more exotic influences within the design.
Bloomingdales’ home fashion director Kelley Carter has spent time in an area that inspires every kind of home: the Italian Riviera. The timeless design and joyous expression of this beautiful destination will significantly influence designers and clients over the next year, she says.
Carter says that the trend will be centered on outdoor living spaces. Its design aesthetic will transport guests into the resort of their dreams. “Resort stripes will be the season’s print, complemented by tabletop finds in euphoric colors. This trend will be expressed in furniture made from natural materials, formal dinnerware made of durable melamine, acrylic, and outdoor textiles made with higher quality materials to create a more elevated outdoor experience.
Caroline Gidiere, Caroline Gidiere Designs in Birmingham, also sees a lot of inspiration from faraway places. However, her motivation is coming from Asian sources. Coolie lampshades similar to conical hats worn across the continent will be a popular choice in 2022. She also believes that scenic wallcoverings featuring images from ancient Asian history or Southeast Asian geography will replace the traditional botanical designs that have ruled the landscape for many years.
8. Nature-Inspired Soothing Spaces
Mia Jung, Ike Kligerman Barkleyin New York says that being locked up for long periods has made it more enjoyable to be outside and enjoy the natural world more than ever. This is also evident in the pursuit of organic forms and natural materials.
Sarah Trumbore, ST Studio Inc. According to Massachusetts, her clients are drawn to neutrals and greens. Gray Walker says her new projects are more connected to nature than ever. She uses floor-to-ceiling windows much more frequently, indoor gardens, and a mixture of natural materials to bring the idea of outdoor living and organic elegance into every room.
Rozit Arditi, Arditi Design New York, says that inspiration comes from nature in more than just colors and shapes. It also applies to sourcing and clients who are more aware of sustainable practices brands. Designers and clients have a greater responsibility to learn how to create homes that honor nature rather than burden it.
9. Bold Design: Lean Into Fantastical Elements
"In 2022, I believe that we will witness elements in design blending fantasy and surrealism," says Houston-based designer Dennis Brackeen of Dennis Brackeen Design Group. “Wallpapers are more in fashion than ever before, and I’m seeing some unique products thanks to digital printing technology today. So lookout for new collections that reference motifs from the classical to the surreal.
The Kips Bay Decorator Show House Dallas offered a glimpse at this trend in an early stage. Brackeen’s morning space (shown here) incorporates fantastical shapes and home accents, creating a unique room. Ken Fulk brought a lot of fantasy elements to the Show House’s den. He included astrological, neoclassical, and Art Deco elements to create a stunning place to study or get lost in your thoughts.
10. Greater Investment In Outdoor Rooms
Jean Liu says that once outdoor living areas were a topic that was not discussed in our projects, clients would often be short of money or suffer from severe decision fatigue. The pandemic has made outdoor living areas a higher priority in the house. Every new residential project is now spending severe dollars for outdoor living. We don’t see this changing in 2022.”
Liu says backyards and patios can now be treated as indoor spaces. She regularly purchases whole sets of acrylic and unbreakable glasses- and tableware for entertaining and dining poolside. In addition, outdoor furniture has become more luxurious and beautiful with the introduction of performance fabrics that can be used outdoors and indoors.
Tammy Connor says that clients are asking for outside rooms to have the flexibility to function both as traditional interior spaces and as a central point for family gatherings and relaxation. “Recently, we have been sourcing as much from our indoor-outdoor fabric library as we do from our traditional interior upholstery fabric library.
Randy Correll says that outdoor spaces no longer have a single grill or small bar area. He has been installing full-sized kitchens, pizza ovens, and other outdoor party equipment on the patios and porches of his clients’ properties in anticipation that the demand will increase in the coming year.
11. Everyone Is Going Green
You’ve likely noticed a trend in the Colors of the Year announcements by significant paint companies: Every company promotes shades green. It’s not surprising, designers have already mentioned how much we all are inspired by nature. However, we also love the more unusual hues like Chartreuse or emerald to bring in the outdoors.
In keeping with the inspiration of the great outdoors, designers are becoming more certified in sustainable and green design practices better to equip their clients with happy, healthy homes. Michael Cox also says that this speaks to the interest in major home renovations that started last spring.
Cox states that clients will feel more secure and confident during the pandemic recovery. Their focus will shift from quick-term ‘fixer-upper’ solutions to long-term dreams and aspirations. They will be willing to spend the time necessary to design homes that will last generations. This will result in a renewed appreciation for history, quality, manufacturing integrity. B Corp certification will be a benchmark to help customers find companies that value craft, employees’ well-being, the environment, and other factors.
Jean Liu notes that green building practices are continuing to be a focus. For example, sealants will be used on floors and not stains. This could mean choosing tiled walls for bathrooms with high traffic or adding reverse osmosis systems to the faucet to improve water quality. Any sustainable traction design was gaining pre-pandemic has only amplified as we all began to worry more about air quality and circulation, environmental toxins, and our health in the spring of 2020.
12. Embracing Those Curves
Dennis Brackeen says that although curvature furniture has been around for some time, he thinks we will see more of it in 2022. Also, look out for curved lines in architecture. You will feel free from the constraints of a rigidly-structured space.
The modern age has brought curvy furniture back to life. The celebrity-loved designer Brigette Romek has just released her first furniture collection in collaboration with MGBW Homes. It features sculptural seating that is both timeless and trendy. But, of course, we also see more sculptural pieces everywhere, from vintage resale websites to significant collections by Gen Z’s next great designers. Caroline Gidiere predicts that Charles Zana’s pieces will be a significant source of inspiration for all design lovers.
Jean Liu says, “This trend of rounded edges is going to continue to be an integral part of the design vocabulary next year as we have seen around kitchen islands, arched, or pill-shaped mirrors used in projects and even more reeded details on cabinetry, millwork, and cabinetry.”
Armstrong points out that the whole spectrum of curvature will be present in architecture, such as doorways and cabinet designs. She also notes that furniture that wraps around you “like a cuddle” and patterns that range from tiles to fabrics will show this holistic approach to design. These soft and comforting lines are a welcome change after the past year and a half of hardship.