What are the hottest home looks and layouts for the New Year? In today’s post, HighCraft interior designers Jill Sanchez, Renee Sherman and Kira Koldeway reveal top design trends for 2022.
READY FOR CHANGE?
After enduring two years of uncertainty, people continue to seek out familiar things, comforting things, that make us feel good. Not surprisingly, this year’s themes might feel like a repeat of 2021 interior design trends.
“Last year’s trends leaned toward improved functionality, and creating calm in the chaos,” says Jill. “In 2022, we’re going to build on those same cravings for calm, comfort and privacy – with a few new twists.”
Kira agrees, and adds that while some homeowners may still feel a bit fragile from the pandemic, others are ready to get on with life, and build a home that’s truer to themselves.
“People are moving past the wait-and-see mentality, and into action in 2022,” Kira says. “Nobody knows what the future will bring, so many clients want their house to fit their immediate needs, personal tastes, and who they are right now.”
INSPIRED BY NATURE
The term biophila is the human desire to connect with the natural world, and Biophilic Design will be a true force of nature in 2022.
“We’ve spent a lot of time on devices, and we want to unplug,” says Renee. “Homeowners are trying to find more ways to bring nature indoors, and to expand their living spaces outside.”
An abundance of large windows, including entire walls of windows (see progress photo above), will continue to reign supreme in 2022. Expanding outdoor views, and flooding homes with natural light, will be must-have goals in many home-improvement projects this year.
Investment in outdoor living spaces steadily increased in 2021, and is expected to continue into 2022 and beyond.
Inside, floral is emerging as a prominent design motif in more and more wallpapers and fabrics.
In a recent survey, 750 interior designers were asked what design trends will remain popular in 2022. Almost all said “sustainable materials (97%) and plants (93%), which both reflect a desire to remain in harmony with the environment.”
When asked about sustainable materials, Renee shared a few innovative examples, such as tiles that incorporate discarded eggshells (above) or waste from the metal industry.
Confirming the survey’s results, there’s been a big surge in decorating with house plants. “Adding more plants to your interior is a great way to connect with nature and improve the air quality in your home,” says Renee. “And the use of larger feature plants is often the key to successful interior plantscaping.”
Jill notes a growing trend in nature-inspired lighting fixtures, like this master bath pendant made from an actual tumbleweed (above), or the metal dining room chandelier replicating a tree branch (below).
“More and more natural building materials are coming back to interiors,” she adds.
“Like natural stone fireplace surrounds, rough-hewn timber beams, and accent walls and ceilings made from tongue-and-groove wood.”
“Homeowners are embracing lighter and warmer wood tones, too,” says Renee. And the use of organic shapes (above) is yet another nod to nature.
SENSE OF TOUCH
Our homes should feel as good as they look in 2022. That means the use of fabrics and other materials that evoke comfort and invite touch.
In keeping with the theme of comfort and curves, we’ll see “More rounded shapes in furniture, lighting, and home décor in the upcoming year,” says Renee.
Say goodbye to sharp edges, and hello to welcoming forms that feel as soft to the eye as the hand. Look for curvaceous lines, round backs and wavy silhouettes – all with a soothing appeal. Watch for more velvets, tweeds, sherpas and nubby bouclés than last year.
And keep an eye out for luxurious pillows and rugs, more chunky throw blankets, anything with big texture.
“We’ve spent so much time in isolation, deprived of our sense of touch,” says Kira. “People continue to want fabrics, especially natural fibers, with lots of tactile and visual texture.”
SPECIAL SPACES
Since March 2020, our houses have become busy hubs for school, work, rest and play. Nearly everyone has been re-evaluating what they want out of life, and their home, over the last two years.
Multifunctional Rooms
“We’re going to see more dual-purpose rooms with multiple functions,” Jill says, noting that many people need rooms to pull double or triple duty at times. An office may double as a workout room, or a playroom might convert into a guest bedroom in a pinch.
Another growing trend is a designated room or secluded nook to escape far too much together time. An “away room” (above) is a cozy, often closed-door retreat set away from the hustle and bustle of a busy household. It encourages rest and relaxation, and creates a quiet escape from overstimulation.
“While open floorplans are still in the mix, people want separate spaces where they can recharge by themselves” Jill says. “This trend started to take off last year, and I think we’re going to see even more away rooms, and reading nooks, in 2022.”
Basement Hangouts
“Basement finishes will be bigger and more custom this year,” Kira says. “People are spending more time at home, so they want to maximize every inch of their house. In many cases, remodeling a basement can easily double your finished square footage.”
“We’re seeing larger wet bars, almost like a second kitchen in the basement, and a big revival of family rec rooms with all the bells and whistles.”
Check out the full gallery of this Ultimate Basement Hangout
“Our clients don’t want their basements to feel boring or dingy,” she adds. “They want to feel transported.”
As an example, one family recently asked HighCraft to create a speakeasy-style whiskey cellar in their Fort Collins basement (above).
Tour the entire Speakeasy Basement Remodel
Another client asked our team to design a colorful library, music room and rec room inspired by modern artist Piet Mondrian.
Explore this project in The Art of the Basement Remodel
Exterior Spaces
“As Renee mentioned earlier, we expect exterior living spaces to be in high demand in 2022,” Jill says.
“Homeowners want to increase their livable space, and one option is to expand their footprint outside.”
“Swimming pools, outdoor kitchens, and outdoor living rooms with fire pits, create comfortable places to hang out with family and friends,” she says. “We’re getting more requests for accessory dwelling units (like the pool house above), which can add value, flexibility, extra income and more living space to a property.”
Check out 10 Ideas for Outdoor Living Spaces
LANDSCAPE PALETTE
This year’s most popular colors are inspired by – you guessed it – the natural world, and are all about feeling calm, grounded and hopeful.
“We’re moving away from cooler gray tones, and gravitating toward warmer whites, beiges and earthy neutrals, especially terra cotta,” Jill says. “We’re seeing this in all aspects of design, including paint colors, cabinet finishes, fabrics and tiles.”
Soft neutrals have a tranquil, naturally calming effect. But as we head into 2022, “We’re also craving pops of color, especially optimistic shades,” says Renee.
Blues and Greens
“Now that each paint company has released their color of the year, we can see a clear trend,” Renee adds. “Every color of the year in 2022 is either blue or green.” But that comes as no surprise to Renee. Blues and greens tend to be soothing, and both colors are readily found in nature – two recurring themes of 2022.
Pantone Color Institute, the international authority on color trends, announced Very Peri as their top pick for 2022. It’s the boldest of the industry’s top picks. According to Pantone, the vibrant periwinkle hue “is a member of the trusted and beloved blue family,” yet “displays a spritely, joyous attitude and dynamic presence that encourages courageous creativity and imaginative expressions.”
The UK’s Dulux Colour chose Bright Skies as its 2022 Color of the Year, describing it as “a light, airy and optimistic blue that’s good for the soul. It promises to open up and revitalise your home.”
The Sherwin Williams 2022 Color of the Year, Evergreen Fog, is “Soothing, subtle, and a prefect shade to freshen up any space.”
October Mist, Benjamin Moore’s 2022 Color of the Year, evokes “the silver-green stem of a flower [creating] a canvas for other colors and your imagination to blossom.”
PPG’s 2022 Color of the Year, Olive Sprig, is described as a “sophisticated grey-green [that] represents healing, regrowth and resiliency post-pandemic.”
And Behr announced Breezeway as its 2022 Color of the Year – yet another mellow green – because it “evokes feelings of coolness and peace while presenting a desire to move forward and discover newfound passions.”
Learn how different colors can affect emotion and mood in The Meaning of Color in Your Home
Black Accents
In striking contrast to the paint industry’s serene blue and green color picks, “Black accents are really taking off,” says Jill. “We’re seeing a lot more black hardware, plumbing fixtures, window frames, trim, doors, lighting fixtures, and interior and exterior metal railings.”
“The black accent color makes a bold statement, but it’s also crisp, clean, and pretty timeless across many designs and styles. Black accents add depth and interest.”
VINTAGE REVIVAL
So much loss has made people long for what used to be, and the global shipping disruption is inspiring consumers to repurpose what they have.
In 2022, people will gravitate toward simple pleasures and carefully curated items that trigger a wave of nostalgia. According to Dwell, “Many of our experts agree that a growing number of consumers are seeking out vintage, antique, and handcrafted furnishings and décor for their homes.”
Also watch for playful patterns in upholstery, accent rugs, and vintage light fixtures re-emerging in a spirited new way.
Renee is a huge fan of upcycling old furniture or materials into something new. Not to be confused with Modern Cottage or Grandma Chic styles, this old-meets-new design trend has earned the nickname Newstalgia.
“I think we’re going to see a big surge in restoring and repurposing existing or found items this year,” Renee says. “People are growing tired of meaningless retail therapy. They want the items in their home to reflect who they are. They want each piece to have soul.”
“Many people want an interior design that evokes a sense of comfort and a connection to simpler times,” Kira had forecasted back in early 2021. She also added, “Right now we’re seeing more family treasures and heirlooms, handed down through generations, as focal points in home design.”
Kira’s prediction was accurate in 2021, and she expects more of the same in 2022.
Whether you build new construction, or remodel what you have, HighCraft’s experienced design-build team is here to help with your project, large or small. Contact HighCraft with questions or to schedule a free consultation.
