Here are the home trends to expect in the coming year, according to some of our favorite interior designers.
Let’s put a bow on 2021, our second year of pandemic living. As many elements of daily life began to ease back toward normalcy—bolstered by vaccines—we started to venture out into the world and gather again with family and friends. But for many, our homes remained our center of existence.
The desire for comfort and stability drove many of our decorating and design choices this year, and these same themes will continue to dominate interior design trends in 2022, experts say. “The last couple years have given so many of us the opportunity to reflect on who we are and how we want to live,” says interior designer Joshua Smith. “Our homes should inspire our mind and nourish our spirit, and that can be expressed in so many various ways for different people.”
To determine what styles, colors, and materials we can expect to see more of in the coming year, we tapped a variety of interior designers and industry pros for their expert insights. These are the top 8 home design trends experts say are about to be everywhere.
1. Shades of Green
If the picks for 2022 color of the year are any indication, green is having a major moment right now. Paint companies including Sherwin-Williams, Benjamin Moore, PPG, and others named a shade of green as the top color trend for the coming year, and designers like Ginger Curtis of the Texas firm Urbanology Designs say the lush hue is starting to edge out blue as the most popular color to decorate with. To explain this newfound affinity for green, she 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.
2. 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. “Right now, recovering from the global health crisis and economic strain, people want to be embraced by the furniture, lighting, and fabrics that we interact with in our everyday environment,” she says.
3. 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. In addition to these more conventional shades, Texas-based designer Kim Armstrong also predicts we’ll see blush emerge as a go-to neutral. Incorporate variations of tan or taupe with soft pink undertones to warm up a room and establish a happy vibe, she suggests.
