By Anthony Moretti
Spring is always an exciting time for interior design because it’s the start of a new season, a clean slate, and a refresh of all old trends. In 2022, we’re seeing some continuing trends from the past couple of years, like home offices and double-duty spaces, but we’re also seeing some fresh new takes emerging, partially as a response to previous design ideals.
Maximalism, bold colors and patterns are back in style, as minimalism recedes. Incorporated in a larger 1970s inspired wave or stand-alone, 2022 trends seek to cheer us up by adorning our homes with color, texture, and eye-catching details.
Home Offices & Multi-Use Spaces
Continuing the 2020-2021 trend, home offices and multi-use spaces are more in style than ever. Born out of necessity, with more and more people working or studying from home, the trend is leaning heavily towards repurposing existing rooms and spaces in your home, redividing them, and generally making the most of what you have.
If additional rooms do not exist to serve as an office, then a corner of the kitchen counter works just as well, as long as it’s properly set up. The living room can become a makeshift office by day, and TV room by night, by commandeering full use of the coffee table.
But more than anything else, creative use of space is encouraged, such as closet offices. With the addition of electrical sockets, lighting, and a desk chair, any closet can serve as an office that can be closed away at night.
Sustainability
Less of a trend, and more of a philosophy and necessity, sustainability is big in interior design. Reclaimed furniture has been a trend that’s been growing for a few years, but now with the return to natural elements and earthy, wooden pieces, it fits right in.
Vintage furniture is also encompassed in the same trend - the “reuse” part of “reduce, reuse, recycle” motto. The styles of yesteryear are back, including English traditional and 70s inspired design, so borrowing or inheriting from homes before us is not only acceptable, but encouraged. Authentic pieces are always more coveted than brand new recreations.
Indoor-Outdoor Living
Speaking of pandemic-related home changes, embracing the outdoors and expanding living space into the backyard is still one of the biggest trends in interior design. The pandemic has forced us to change the way we see our homes and the space we inhabit, and it has led to a re-prioritization of sorts.
Outdoor kitchens continue to be incredibly popular, especially for spring-summer, along with fire pits and outdoor dining. Outdoor furniture has also had an upgrade. It’s no longer the non-descript, faded patio furniture we all know, but luxurious, elevated pieces that will make even the smallest backyard feel like an exclusive VIP location.
In keeping with the quirky office trend, the spring-summer season is also seeing a rise in the garden office. You get to enjoy more space, more sunshine than you would in a regular office, and privacy for your meetings, lengthy phone calls, or secret projects.
Biophilic Design
There is, perhaps, no other trend more appropriate for spring than biophilic design elements. In layman’s terms, that’s design that incorporates natural elements indoors. That includes a lot of wood, other natural textures like stone, marble, or terracotta, and plenty of greenery.
The lean into nature is not surprising, after the eventful few years we’ve had. Nature is calming, serene, and reassuring, which is great energy to add to a space, especially since we all spend so much more time at home.
Plants are never out of style, but they are especially coveted during spring. It’s the easiest way to liven up a room and bring in a grounding element in a space that is otherwise impersonal and cold. In addition, it ties right in with the trend leaning towards sustainability in the home.
Shades of Brown
Playing right into the return to nature and the penchant for outdoor living, shades of deep brown and cognac are everywhere this spring. Albeit a surprising choice for the season, considering the more traditional soft pastels, delicate florals, or vibrant, refreshing colors, brown is hot, and a throwback to 1970s inspired interiors.
We will see it sprinkled in large pieces of wooden furniture, like coffee tables or consoles, but this also marks the return of the brown leather couch. This old stand-by of bachelor pads and 70s homes is making a triumphant return, tying right into the natural leanings of current interior trends. It’s a great compromise piece to blend both masculine and feminine influences in a shared space.
Smart Homes
In 2022, smart homes are almost no longer a trend, but a given. Homeowners and home buyers alike seek these modern touches that simplify everyday life and make it more comfortable and convenient.
Whether it’s a kitchen equipped with smart appliances like a fridge or a smartphone-operated coffee machine, or smaller devices like a smart thermostat or smart doorbell, these devices can make a big difference.
And that’s not only in terms of comfort, but also in terms of style. Integrating state of the art tech into home design is a must for the modern home buyer, so if you’re updating your home in 2022, keep an eye out for smart tech.
Grandmillennial Style
Grandmillennial popped up recently as a concept, and it has already taken the world of interior design by storm. But what is grandmillennial, exactly? Grandmillennial serves as a portmanteau for “grandmother” and “Millennial”, if you will.
In a nutshell, a type of 1940s-1950s-inspired maximalism, as a direct response to the years of almost oppressive minimalism that has led all trends in both interior design and fashion. Grandmillennial is all about your grandma’s explosion of florals - couch, curtains, wallpaper - but in a more modern and sophisticated way.
Other characteristic elements include fringe and piping, heavy, textured fabrics like damask and brocade - essentially anything that brings a touch of glamor to the “more is more” aesthetic and elevates it for 2022.
Bold Colors & Maximalist Patterns
Apropos of reactions to minimalism, bold maximalism is clawing its way back into people’s good graces. Beige, cream, and ecru may be elegant, but Kelly green, mustard yellow, and periwinkles inspired by Pantone’s 2022 choice, Very Peri are coming in to add visual interest.
Patterns are en vogue as part of a greater retro maximalist resurgence, and while florals are definitely represented prominently, we can also look forward to seeing striped, as well textured wallpaper, with gold accents, foil applique, and other luxurious detailing.
Bottom Line
The last few years have impacted not just our lifestyle, but our homes, and that is prominently reflected in interior design trends for 2022. Beyond changes like home offices, spring is all about refreshing, revitalizing, and blooming, and all the trends for this quarter reflect that.
Some are, perhaps, expected, like natural elements and biophilic design, or outdoor living, which has been very popular in recent years. Others are more unique, or even a mash-up of the old and new, like the grandmillennial style.
But they all have one thing in common - considering the amount of time we spend indoors these days, they are meant to make our homes more comfortable, more enjoyable, and more visually interesting.
Compass
2350 N Lincoln Ave, 3rd Flr. Chicago, IL 60614
Jake Tasharski