Home Trends to Watch for in 2022
Home design trends are driven by factors that are usually beyond our control. A good example of this is the ripple-effect caused by the COVID pandemic.
In 2021, the pandemic seemed to slow down and then, almost overnight, a variant came rushing back. This affected the health of workers in all industries, including the building trades. It also impacted manufacturing globally. The effects of this disruption on consumers will likely be evident for decades to come. However, in the short run, it has driven trends in every part of daily living.
Shortages in both construction workers and home products that are stuck offshore due to our inability to “yank the supply chain,” are bound to impact the design trends for 2022. Even with these challenges, there are fascinating new technology and home design styles. Here are some home trends to watch for this year.
1. Sustainability Rules
Homes that are constructed with sustainability in mind have proven to incur lower maintenance costs, reduce spending on utilities and provide owners with a higher return on their investment. In the coming year, we can expect to see the use of eco-friendly, natural construction materials such as brick and stone for exterior walls. On the exterior of homes, we can expect to see a rise in drought-resistant landscaping including turf, and inside, natural elements such as repurposed natural finished wood and low maintenance flooring are going to be in high demand.
2. Must Have for the Healthy Home
There’s nothing like a pandemic to get your attention about the importance of health! The home is the new “ground zero” for healthy living and home designers and builders are offering many new products.
There are several innovative, healthy home products that will be hot in 2022. One of these reduces the number of pathogens that can be spread in the home from tile. The PROTECT® ceramic tile products with Microban® block the metabolism of the bacteria. Another example comes from builder Landsea. The company will feature a “whole home” air purifier that enables air quality and respiratory health. Additionally, The American Institute of Architect’s latest Home Design Trends Survey “shows the powerful impact the pandemic continues to have on our living spaces, compounded by other natural disasters. This quarterly study showed a sharp uptick in demand for outdoor improvements, and safety features like backup generators.”
3. Multifunctional Rooms
According to this design publication, “Single-use spaces seem to be a thing of the past. In the light of architectural strides and design, we expect interior design trends in 2022 to feature nifty ideas on multifunctional rooms.”
This multifunctionality applies to furniture as well. That office desk, found in the home office/home gym, might also serve as a very cool workout bench. Such is the case with several innovative room and furniture designs found in the House Beautiful Whole Home.
4. A Royal Flush
Since it moved indoors, the bathroom has become an important room for day-to-day living. However, according to Houzz magazine’s “Bathroom Trends” survey, the typical bathroom is also dreadfully boring. That might change in 2022.
In this article, “New York architect and interior designer Adam Rolston of INC Architecture & Design has noticed a bathroom boom too. ‘Recently, we’ve seen around a 10-15 percent increase in bathroom size,’ he said. Palatial or not, bathroom décor is echoing elegant living spaces with statement chandeliers and whimsical plumbing fixtures, elements that add personality. Designers ‘mix nostalgia with forward thinking, Rolston said. He juxtaposed neoclassical fluted millwork against sleek stacked vertical tiles in a recent project.”
5. Bringing the Outside In
Social distancing encouraged homeowners to discover the “Joy of Cooking,” outside. As a result, outdoor entertainment space is hotter than the Renaissance Cooking Systems (RCS) grill featured in this year’s House Beautiful Whole Home.
As further proof of the demand for outdoor entertainment space, in the American Institute of Architect’s 2021 survey, it was a top trend, with demand for outdoor spaces increasing from 61 percent to 70 percent among respondents compared to last year.
While this trend will continue to sizzle in 2022, it is part of a larger trend: Bringing the outside in. Several design sources, including this one suggested that homeowners “Go the extra mile with your nature-inspired looks next year and bring authentic greenery into your home.” This include iron doors with large pane glass for front and back entryways.
6. Performance Art in the Kitchen
Those designers who predicted that the kitchen would become the new entertainment mecca in a home should consider purchasing a lottery ticket as soon as possible! Living in a pandemic world has transformed the kitchen into just that. For proof, consider one of the hottest design trends in the kitchen - two islands.
The Wall Street Journal notes that one is for food preparation and the other is for gathering and entertaining. “There’s a dinner-theater component to double islands,” said Chicago designer Marshall Erb. The newspaper adds, “The pandemic’s effects on how we live has also altered the kitchen equation. As demand for hyper-flexible spaces rises, double islands have become “a place for stay-at-home work, schooling, cooking and eating,”.
Of course, this trend gives new meaning to “dinner and a show.”
7. Furniture Throws a Curve
If the pandemic has taught us anything it’s this: We need a little more softness and comfort in our lives. This may explain the highly reported interior design trend of curvy furniture. This design publication notes, “Furniture and decor with softer edges are both feminine and forgiving. The first can complement angled pieces more, while giving a romantic feel to a room. Rounded furniture is also another heirloom from the modern era making a comeback. However, this time around the curve extends beyond sumptuous C-shape sofas to include anything from soft-edge tables to reimagined contemporary chairs.
8. Working from Home Still Going Strong
The trend towards working from home, which started in 2020, is picking up steam. Home offices come in all shapes and sizes. The goal is to make your space work for you. So, when designing your own office, keep in mind that functionality, practicality, and aesthetics are equally important. Workers are still looking for creative space to meet deadlines.
9. Herringbone Is Back
There are few elements of a home more functional than flooring. Judging by the excitement among designers about the return in popularity of the herringbone pattern for flooring - first chronicled in the Roman Empire - it is also one of the most timeless.
Popular interior design site, Decorilla, notes that “Herringbone floors are another replay of the hottest trends of the modern era. Not only these, but many geometric patterned floors are making a come-back in home decor trends of 2022. To pull off a large-scale pattern, stick to a neutral color palette to let the shapes do the talking. The resurfacing of old favorites set against contemporary lines showcases contrast at its best.”
10. Minimalism - Less is Still More
For several years, many designers have praised the positive visual impact of minimalism in home design and decor. This continues to resonate with designers around the world. Those homeowners who embrace this trend also fervently favor another lifestyle: decluttering.
One designer noted, “Minimalism done right enhances the livability of a space despite featuring fewer creature comforts. By highlighting the central purpose of a room it’s easy to focus on basic day-to-day needs and chores.”
