Nearly two years into the pandemic, we are still spending more at home than we have in previous years. So the way our living spaces look has become more important than ever. But design isn’t exclusive to aesthetics anymore— functionality has become essential. These two factors have been the biggest influences on interior design trends.  

I spoke with some of the top interior designers, furniture designers, and experts in the industry to learn what the top interior design trends of 2022 will be. While many of the trends we saw in 2021 have come and gone, there are some which are here to stay. How long these looks will remain popular for is another question altogether. From how we live in our homes, to colors and the overall looks that will dominate, here are twenty interior design trends here to stay for 2022.

Great Rooms

As functionality becomes more important, great rooms will see a resurgence in new and renovated homes in 2022, explains Aly Moford of Pure Salt Interiors. “We’re seeing a shift away from formal living spaces that resulted in unused rooms, and instead, we are prioritizing great rooms where the entire family can lounge and entertain now that we are able to gather again.”

 The interior designer notes that although these spaces are designed to be functional, practicality doesn’t necessarily mean a lack of aesthetics. “We love to invest in a great room with great quality pieces that suit your lifestyle and tastes. The key is to balance aesthetic and practicality, for example, a linen sofa or layered rugs that feel rich and textured yet relaxed and fill the space with softness that makes you want to spend time in it.”

Maximalism

Bid adieu to boring and beige in 2022. More is more again. “Goodbye monochromatic neutrals and minimalist design,” says Roxy Owens Founder and Designer of Society Social. “Now more than ever we are seeing a return to cozy and warm interiors. Think beautifully layered spaces, a mix of prints, patterns, and colors, delicious wallpapers, textures, pleated and patterned lampshades as well as bespoke textiles.” 

Part of this will also be, as legendary designer Dakota Jackson calls it, bold statements.“Breaking through the silence of the times. With ample opportunity for reflection; a break with the past and finally a leap into the 21st Century. Bold statements— a look to the now, nostalgia a remnant of the past. I am dreaming of a rebirth of wonder and a melding of function and elegance. We’ll see springtime bursts of color, the incorporation of more art, and greater freedom to exercise personal tastes after this extended period of introspection,” he says.

Traditionally Inspired Interiors

There’s no better way to go maximalist than with a traditionally inspired interior. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean an abundance of floral prints or going full-on Grandma. Interior designer Ariel Okin tells me these can also be more subtle touches. “We are going to continue to see a rise in more layered, traditional interiors that are cozy, warm, and inviting. A blend of old and new: contemporary artwork and lighting paired with classic furniture silhouettes like an English roll arm sofa, for example. [These] are a good representation of this ‘new traditional’ aesthetic, freshened up for today’s young families.” 

Another way to add a traditional touch to any space is to add pieces with curved or more feminine silhouettes. “Think scalloped shapes and curvaceous silhouettes that lend themselves to a playful, artful, and frivolous spirit. These soft-to-the-eye styles elicit a sense of nostalgia, careful craftsmanship, and a fresh take on traditional design,” reveals Owens.

Passementerie And Decorative Trim

As minimalism and mid century styles modern fall out of favor, we will be seeing more decorative touches like passementerie and trim in 2022, according to Owens. “The design world is seeing a resurgence of texture, tassels, trim, and passementerie galore. More and more people will be dressing up their homes and trimming their furnishings.”

Woven And Rattan Furniture

Although materials like cane and rattan have been having a moment for several years, these timeless looks will only continue to grow in popularity in 2022, explains Owens. “Rattan, wicker, and grasscloth will always remain a classic. These natural materials, which bring a calm, warm and casual vibe to design, work in all types of spaces, from New York City to the English countryside to the coast.”

Bold Colors

“Color is making a comeback and the world is ready for it! I haven’t stopped painting color walls in the last decade (even for the modern farmhouse movement),” says interior designer Cailin Wilson, who is known for her bold use of color. 

“Classic colors and punchy paints can serve a great purpose in the right spaces and really make art and simple furniture pop. Pretty silhouettes and floral fabrics come to life with the right hue and can help to create a coordinated, proper space,” she says. 

However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s essential to use bold colors everywhere. Rather, it can be balanced out, according to Christopher Peacock, designer and founder of Christopher Peacock. “Whether it is custom cabinetry, or designing a complete living space, neutral tones paired with strong colors, like deep greens, rich reds, and blues will continue to be a go-to color scheme for most. Many of our clients still opt for neutral cabinetry colors in general, however take a color risk for their island cabinetry color, or a butler’s pantry. It allows the homeowner to keep most of their space very calm and relaxed, at the same time introducing a strong color element for a bit of interest.”

Earth Toned Paints

Although color will be popular in 2022, it doesn’t necessarily mean that consumers have abandoned light and neutral paint colors altogether, Jamie Davis, Cofounder of Portola Paints tells me, “We’re seeing trends in earthy, warmer, and organic colors as opposed to a few years ago when cleaner, brighter colors were more sought-after. Our shade White Cliffs used to be our most popular color, now customers are gravitating towards Figueroa, a more organic shade. A brighter shade of white would never feel as warm and inviting as an organic shade of white.”

Going Green

In 2022, “going green,” refers to both sustainability and color. In terms of color, Owens tells me green “Looks particularly striking when paired with the warmth of natural materials like rattan, grasscloth, and burlwood furniture.”

 The sustainability part of “going green” relates to choosing high-quality materials that won’t have to be replaced for decades, or as Nancy Epstein, Founder of Artistic Tile says, even for generations. “We’re pleased to see a growing emphasis on environmental awareness in product selection motivating designers and their clients, and it’s a motive that squares with one of our core philosophies: build well, with the right materials, the first time. Build for inheritability.” 

Epstein also notes that part of this also means eschewing trendy looks for more timeless design concepts. “Projects that use natural stone and glass products with timeless designs have staying power. There is a growing awareness that the impact of constant renovation to keep apace the latest trends is unsustainable and poor environmental stewardship. By choosing what they love the first time, they are also participating in a reformed economy — one in which we no longer embrace the fast-casual, disposable approach.”

Vintage Furniture 

Still, there is no greener choice than going with vintage, explains Emma Kemper, Principal Designer of Emma Beryl, “Embracing vintage furniture pieces has so many benefits. It is sustainably responsible since you aren’t using resources to build a new piece of furniture, and from an aesthetic perspective, it is such a wonderful way to make your space feel timeless. When you include pieces that are from all different eras it’s impossible to date your space and the design feels unexpected and fresh.”

 Another way to incorporate vintage pieces into your home is to scour places like Facebook Marketplace, Next Door, or Offer Up. Many individuals also sell new or gently used furniture from mid-tier and high-end retailers. While these may not necessarily be vintage or antique, buying secondhand is always easier on the environment and the wallet. 

Reclaimed Wood

Using reclaimed wood is another way to take vintage and sustainability to the next level, explains Becky Shea Founder and Creative Director of Becky Shea Design. “You’re using wood that is already in circulation, which doesn’t require cutting down trees— a momentous effort in responsible design. What I find most attractive and believe is drawing folks to explore this timeless trend are the warm and inviting sensibilities inherent in the material, all of which is unique in character to each piece. I believe you’ll be seeing more unique applications of reclaimed wood in the form of subtle detailing that adds beautiful character to any space.” 

Dark Woods

Lotta Lundaas, Founder and CEO of Norse Interiors says that darker wood pieces will be popular in 2022. She suggests pairing wood with clear furniture, light fixtures, and vases. “Organic-shaped furniture will continue to be on-trend, and we’ll also be seeing calming earthy tones you would find in the desert, like sand, subtle shades of brown, and burnt tones.”

Social Media Inspired Spaces

There’s no doubt that Instagram has a major impact on interior design in hospitality and retail spaces. While many stores closed in 2020, there was a resurgence of retail in 2021. The stakes are so much higher involving the design of these spaces because business owners want customers to share content they create in the store on social media. This is especially true for independent brands such as OXB, a line of sweat-proof jewelry, which opened its first boutique in the RiNo Arts District of Denver in 2021. 

The store has an industrial-chic look with beautiful brick walls and athletic-inspired touches. It creates a warm and welcoming space for women to shop, create their own pieces, as well as feel inspired and supported in their fitness journeys.

“Our space gives us the old-school gym vibe with the industrial feel of high ceilings, wood floor, the fluorescent lights. You can find a nod to sports throughout the store with vintage lockers and sports equipment, our ‘you’re a knockout’ selfie mirror, and accessories. The nod to sports carries throughout the entire brand,” the brand’s co-founders Maggie Kyle and Laura Treganowan tell me.

White And Brass

Say goodbye to black lamps. White and brass lighting will become white hot in 2022, according to Ben Marshall who is the Creative Director of HVLG. “Bright white and warm brass [are] iconic! While brass has been trending forever, this glam combo is gaining momentum.” Mitzi has lots of white and brass lighting from lamps to sconces and fixtures perfect for incorporating this trend into any space.

Boho, But Make It Luxe

 In 2022, boho will be going luxe according to HomeGoods Style Expert and Interior Designer Beth Diana Smith. “I expect to see globally-inspired neutral rooms: think Boho but with a luxury vibe that feels like a monochromatic exploration of texture. By layering beautiful pieces with ample texture in hues of alabaster, cream, white, and taupe, a space feels warm, inviting, and ready for relaxation.” 

The key to this type of style is having well-executed, intentional details. “For example, focus on the thickness of your area rug (think something you can wiggle your toes in!), or lean into chunky knit throws for your sofa or even stagger oversized, woven La Jolla baskets in the corner as a practical, yet stylish décor option. I always find the perfect, globally sourced baskets at HomeGoods for under $30 making them an easy way to test this trend. The best part? They double as storage for excess items that don’t need to be on display,” explains the designer.

Wallpaper

Wallpaper has been a major trend in recent years and we will only see more of it in 2022. “Many have grown tired of their plain, neutral-colored walls and are looking to bring a sense of happiness and vibrancy to their interiors. This is especially true after the events of the last two years,” says Myriam Badault SVP of Decoration for Diptyque. 

 The renowned fragrance house launched its own line of wallpaper in 2021. The collection was inspired by Diptyque’s early 1960’s textile patterns, original artworks by the co-founders, and well-known brand motifs, to create a series of fresh and modern patterns.

Murals

Murals have become a bold way to take wallpaper to an entirely different level. While this trend is rather popular for children’s rooms and nurseries because the average person is less afraid to take design risks in these spaces— we are also seeing more murals in living rooms and dens. They are a great way to tell a story through design.

“A mural is a fantastic way to create a feature wall and really set a mood. Using the colors in the wallcovering/mural as inspiration you can accessorize and layer your mantle accordingly to achieve a space that feels loved and lived in,” says Jill Steinberg, Chief Operations Officer of Fine And Dandy. 

“It’s also a great opportunity to personalize your space and make it distinctly your own. Books, found objects, botanicals or sculptures can work well together to form interesting vignettes, and curating these collections from things you love is truly satisfying! We added custom library mural panels to create the ambiance you might find in a beautiful old library.” she says.

Imperfection

Rocky Rochon, Principal and Founder of Rocky Rochon Studio and The Paint Laboratory believes imperfection will start to trend in 2022. “What I see as going away is the idea of the sterile or one-dimensional white home environment, often seen as ‘perfection’. 2022 will bring more imperfection, which to me is a more soulful, natural environment, more personalized interiors that reflect the character of the inhabitants, not a pre-packaged idea of what a home should be,” he says.

The 360 Of Home

“Now as we step forward into 2022, we’re looking at the 360 of home,” says designer and Owner of Lemieux Et Cie, Christiane Lemieux. “The 360 of home therefore, is not just the new sofa you finally purchased for your space after years of fantasizing about a design upgrade (sight) or a beautifully scented candle you’ve been burning to soothe and relax you (smell) or anything else that we do to enhance our usual senses. The 360 of home hinges on a different sense— namely, overall, how does your home make you feel? We now spend really quality time at home. We should feel sustained and inspired by our personal spaces.”

Whole Houses Moving Outside

While outdoor spaces have become more important during the pandemic, this will be taken to a new level in 2022. “For outdoor spaces–we’ll see basically our whole houses moving outside,” says interior designer Caitlin Scalon, Principal of Caitlin Scanlon Design and Partner of Maquette. “Kitchens, lounging spaces, kitchen gardens, outdoor televisions, and killer audio will be standard. In warm climates like Florida and California, I can imagine even outdoor, not necessarily full home offices, but zones where you can take your work outside, sit comfortably, and be productive while taking in the beauty of nature!”

Raw Materials

Renata Vasconez, Partner IG Workshop tells me we will see more raw materials and looks inspired by raw materials in 2022. “The use of raw materials and unpolished surfaces bring a sense of calmness and simple yet sophisticated living. This is also paired with the use of a much warmer color pallet. We went from emerald to mossy greens, from pastels to terracottas. Another big trend that is here to stay are the round silhouettes. Not only in furniture pieces but also in architectural details such as archways and doors seem to be now the preferred style in both traditional and modern design.”