5 interior trends (or new classics?) for 2022
I started this post with the title ‘5 interior trends for 2022’ and the obligatory sentence or two about it being okay to not follow trends (and an admission that I tend not to, preferring a slowly-curated interior). But as I continued to write I realised that, with the exception perhaps of No.1 Colour, these aren’t or shouldn’t be ‘trends’ these should become ‘mainstays’ - classics for the long term. Read on and let me know what you think.
1. Colour
In my last post I wrote about the 2022 Colour of Year, as set by Dulux. Well, obviously Dulux is not the only paint brand to have the marketing brainwave of ‘Colour of the Year’ – a number of the big brands do it. So if the optimistic blue of ‘Bright Skies’ is not your bag why not consider Farrow & Ball’s ‘Babouche’ or ‘Incarnadine’ or Benjamin Moore’s ‘October Mist’, all of which are key contenders for gracing our homes in 2022.
Babouche (No. 223) takes its name from the distinctive colour of the leather slippers worn by men in Morocco. Used on walls and ceilings it is guaranteed to bring sunshine into your life, but I also love it used in smaller quantities as seen on the image on the right – a little burst of pure happiness.
Incarnadine (No. 248) described by Farrow & Ball as ‘classic & glamorous’ is the richest crimson. Beautiful here, on the left, in what looks to be a classic, dining or drawing room setting and used, with such humour, on the right – a fabulous ‘big top’ bedroom - a room for dreams to be made and met.
Benjamin Moore’s offering is very much up my street – the soft, earthy green ‘October Mist’. A wonderfully calm colour, I can just hear it whispering ‘and relax . . .’ as I gaze at its sagey softness. Sitting at the centre of the colour spectrum it symbolises stability and harmony and will work well combined with other colours, be they natural or vibrant.
2. Biophilic design
Biophilic design is more than just ‘bringing the outside in’ & adding to our small armies of potted house plants. According to Oliver Heath, an expert in the field of sustainable architecture it’s about “making and strengthening a connection with many aspects of nature. It’s about natural light, views on nature, plants, natural materials, textures & patterns.”
So expect to see buildings in the future that are designed with a focus on good ventilation and natural light rather than artificial lighting and air-conditioning. Floral ceilings and staircase gardens may come to the fore as we seek ways to connect more closely with nature in our homes.
However, this ‘love of life’ does not have to be taken quite so literally and certainly not always in plant form; it can also take shape in our homes more generally as ‘nature inspired’ design.
3. Nature inspired design is proven to have huge benefits to our mental health and general well-being. A report written in 2020 by Graham Lowe Ph.D. shows how increasing our use of wood and nature-inspired materials in our immediate surroundings can be good for our health - lowering blood pressure, improving performance, as well as having positive neurological, physiological and psychological effects.
Nature-inspired design can mean incorporating more wood or plants into our room schemes or it could be as simple as painting a room in a green or earthy hue, but think shape and texture too. Curved furniture, wood panelling, scalloped detailing, nature motifs, the use of stone and organic materials are all ways that we can bring nature-inspired shapes and textures into our homes.
Ellen Degeneres’s Los Angeles Dream Villa
Clements Design (above) are masters at luxury nature design. Bordering on gallery-like, the pieces within their rooms function almost as sculpture. Note here the curved sofa, natural fabrics, organic shapes, the tree as focal point bathed in natural light.
4. Sustainability
With our increased awareness of climate change and the impact mass production has on the environment, it is not surprising that the world of interiors, like so many other businesses, is shifting towards creating a sustainable future.
Eco-friendly and sustainable fabrics are fast becoming the materials of choice. Furniture made from reclaimed woods and accessories comprised of recycled glass and metal (think aluminium) are all hot choices for 2022 and beyond. Bamboo, cork, terrazzo tile, wool, linen and hemp are just a few of the beautiful and responsible materials to consider bringing into future schemes.
Hemp insulated walls in a house in Israel by the Tav Group
And of course with the spotlight firmly fixed on sustainability there is a natural move towards, my fifth and final mainstay –
5. Antique & vintage
Not exactly new, the delights of buying antique, vintage or pre-loved have long been advocated by interior designers as a financially savvy way to add individual character to your home.
But happily in 2022 antique and vintage finds will have an even greater revival as Gen Z and millennials turn to second-hand marketplaces as their preferred resource for an environmentally-friendly home.
Mid-century remains a firm favourite but Instagram has also been full of images of bobbin-legged furniture in recent months with both antique & contemporary versions filling the grid (still in love with @wandalust’s bobbin leg benches) - so expect a revival of 17th century styles - turned twist or double twist legs perhaps - it’s the attention to detail that is capturing the imagination of these new antique loving, green-thinking generations.
So, what do you think? Trends or mainstays?
For me, being inspired by nature, living with nature, protecting nature, re- & up- cycling are classic interior choices for now and for generations to come.