With December now upon us, it’s inevitable we begin to contemplate what to expect from the New Year. Steve Hird, Director at interior design specialists, Edward Thomas Interiors outlines five home styling trends to watch out for in 2022…
1. Colours
Always one of the most anticipated interior design trends, colours for 2022 will mostly revolve around a palette of blues. The Dulux Colour of the Year, ‘Bright Skies’ is a cool, calming and tranquil blue that will provide an ideal base for kitchens, bedrooms and home offices. In fact, one of the new kitchen cabinetry ranges is a wintry pale blue and we expect this to be popular, alongside the forest green that’s been in high demand this year.
This being said, don’t discount the brighter and more playful colours. Pantone’s Spring/Summer 2022 palette focuses on cheerful pastels and refreshingly bright hues, reflecting the idea that we want to live in more light-hearted and unconstrained homes, filled with spontaneity and whimsy.
2. Hybrid styling
There’s a couple of styling concepts we expect to be explored more next year. The first is what’s known as Japandi design and is a fusion of Scandinavian functionality with Japanese minimalism. It’s about creating bright spaces with clean lines, hidden storage and a simplistic beauty. Think natural materials and patterns alongside unfinished woods, all given warmth with accent colours and textures.
The second is continuing the connection to the outdoors idea that’s been enormously popular this year but amplifying this to adopt principles from biophilic design. This might be expressed through natural lighting and ventilation, but will also include even more greenery and plants within the home; blurring the boundary further between home and garden; patterned wallpapers, fabrics and prints inspired by nature; and the widespread use of the pastel green colour family such as sage, khaki, olive and mint.
3. Multi-functional spaces
With many people still using their home as a full or part-time workplace, the need for multi-functional spaces remains prevalent. Home offices have been firmly established, but what about the other ‘zones’ in your home? We’ve all had plenty of time to learn how we use the rooms in our homes and 2022 will be the year to style accordingly.
Think wall-mounted drinks bars to help a living room provide an elegant socialising space, the study that doubles as a bedroom for a student returning from university, the garden pod that’s a creative studio and somewhere to workout, or the cosy kitchen corner that transforms into a home cinema.
4. Upcycling & Vintage
The collective emphasis on sustainability will be a big trend for 2022 and we expect some of this to translate in the selection of antique, vintage or upcycled furniture. Not only is this more environmentally responsible but it really emphasises a homeowner’s individuality and personal taste. A pre-loved piece of furniture is unique, and whether you leave it as is or upcycle to suit your lifestyle, its story will always be worth telling.
5. Bold accents & Textured fabrics
With much interior design focusing on natural materials, pastel shades and simplicity, we’ll still need to inject depth and warmth into our styling. Black or dark accents on lamps, mirrors, handles, ornaments or picture frames will all help create immediate contrast. Similarly, textured fabrics like waffle, boucle and twill ensure home comforts are equally inviting.
