At the beginning of a new year, I always love to share upcoming trends that we can expect to see in the design world. Trends can help give us some fresh ideas and even influence our decorating choices for colors, furniture styles, and accessories. Research shows that our homes have a direct influence on our moods and overall well-being. As we head into the third year of dealing with a pandemic, it’s not surprising that the trends for 2022 are all about making us feel emotionally at ease. Let’s check out the top 5 interior design trends for 2022.
Before we start, let me share one important thought about trends. Sometimes trends are so great that we want to incorporate them into our home decorating right away. Other times, we may despise a trend and wouldn’t even consider it. Here’s the thing…it’s your home, and you should decorate it the way you want. If you choose to implement these trends, great! If not…no problem. I believe it’s much more important to focus your efforts on creating a home that you love and that reflects your personality. For my tips on timeless decorating, click here.
1. Earthy Color Palettes
In 2022, earthy color palettes are going to be huge. This movement really started to emerge last year, and we will continue to see a shift toward using more browns and greens in our homes. All you have to do is look at the 2022 paint colors of the year to see that gray-greens will be a dominate color. These colors are meant to feel like a warm, cozy hug, creating a sense of bringing the tranquil outdoors in.
You’ll be seeing colors like sage green, olive, emerald green, terracotta, chocolate brown, and light beiges used more and more in 2022. What colors are on their way out? Cooler shades of gray and stark whites will be heading out of style, in favor of warmer, more relaxing shades.
2. Furniture with Curves
Another hot interior design trend for 2022 is going to be more curved lines for furniture, especially for sofas and accent chairs. Curved furniture is nothing new…it’s been around since the 1940’s, as manufacturers began to introduce new furniture shapes to the world. The trend reemerged again in the 1990’s and is back again in 2022, with a more streamlined look. Curved furniture is a great way to break up a sea of straight lines in a room, and give it a more organic, soft feel. Plus, a unique shape can help add a little “wow factor” to your room.
A great example for today’s trendy curved furniture is the Infiniti Curve Back Sofa from Crate & Barrel, available in a ton of colors/fabrics.
You’ll also be seeing plenty of curves in coffee tables, light fixtures, accent chairs, and even beds and dressers. Check out this cute little desk from Target with curves in all the right places. I even saw a recent episode of Fixer Upper: Welcome Home that used a curved kitchen island. And, I think arches for doorways and bookcases are going to have a moment this year. So, keep your eye out for all kinds of curves in 2022.
3. Natural Materials
Natural materials in our home decorating have always been valued for their ability to connect us with the calming, restorative aspects of nature. There is something both beautiful and intriguing about the raw, imperfect look of organic materials, such as stone, clay, botanicals, and rustic wood. They bring a unique texture into our homes, and can breathe life into a space that feels otherwise stale or uninviting.
To be on-trend in 2022, make sure your room has plenty of plants, neutral earthy colors, and natural, textured accents. Here are a few of my favorites to get you started:
4. Leather Furniture & Accessories
I’ll admit, I have a thing for leather furniture…always have, probably always will. So, I’m pretty excited about the trend of “leather everything” in 2022. Leather can bring an old world, comfortable feeling to a room, and its warm tones can add a cozy, rich look to a room that is feeling too cold. There’s also something very magical about the combination of black, white and leather, like in this gorgeous living room from Craftberry Bush.
You could argue that leather has never really gone out of style, but it certainly will be more popular in 2022. So, don’t be afraid to splurge on that beautiful caramel-colored leather furniture you’ve been eyeing, because it’s a classic that will always look great, no matter the year. The sofa above is from Article, but you’ll find a couple of other great options at Burrow and Wayfair.
5. Grandmillennial Style
Design experts predict that we’ll start to see a lean away from minimalism, and a trend toward maximalism, as Grandmillennial Style continues to become more popular. What’s Grandmillennial Style? It’s a look that has often been referred to as “granny chic,” using a plethora of antiques and vintage patterns, mixed in with some modern elements. Younger generations seem to be embracing traditional design elements, while incorporating fresh looks from recent years, and the result is a bit quirky and unique.
I personally don’t think minimalism is going away anytime soon, but I have seen a “more is more” movement in the works. Look for bold, floral wallpaper, vintage patterns, and antique decor to take center stage in 2022, but in a more modern color palette. Garage sales and thrift stores will be great places to find vintage decor, as well as stores like 1st Dibs and Chairish. Mix in your vintage finds with some more streamlined, modern furniture shapes and you’ll be right on trend for 2022.
What’s Out in 2022
Here are five interior design trends that will be OUT, or on their way out, in 2022.
- All-white everything – yes, this includes kitchens. Instead, go with colorful, painted cabinets, and/or add some wood cabinets in your kitchen
- Open plan living – people are starting to opt for some segmentation in their homes once again, probably due to the pandemic
- Open shelving – definitely out for kitchen storage, but still ok for decorative displays in any room
- Gray walls – gone, poof, out of style. Now it’s all about soft whites and very light neutrals, as well as, darker, earthy shades
- Shiplap – sorry Fixer Upper fans
Now that you’ve seen the top 5 interior design trends for 2022, and five things that are going out of style, what do you think? Will you be making any changes to your home decorating this year to keep up with the trends? Just remember, trends come and go, so make the changes you love and skip the ones you don’t. One great way to incorporate a new trend is in your accessories, like throw pillows, rugs, and artwork. For tips on how to create a flexible design that will allow you to subtly incorporate trends over time, check out my post on Timeless Decorating.