5 Interior Design trends for 2022

It's time for us to pick our 5 interior design trends for 2022, following on from a year which saw the emergence of home office spaces, a maximalism approach to interior design within hospitality, and a penchant for playful post-modernism. As we look ahead to the next 12 months, a focus on satisfying the senses, the use of natural wood, and a distinct femininity in form are some of the trends we foresee taking prominence in 2022.
 

1. Sensory experiences

Interior design that satisfies multiple senses is a concept that we as designers are focusing on this year. As well as sight and touch, people are paying attention also to the holistic sensory experience of their homes, and the places they choose to frequent socially.

Two additional senses that interior designers can look to address are sound and scent. Sound has a huge influence on the experience of internal space. A room without acoustic treatment causes sound to reverberate throughout, meaning noise is amplified and conversations become difficult. In addition to soft furnishings and acoustic treatments to absorb the sound in spaces, interior designers and interior architects may also look at the perceived merits of high ceilings, as an over-zealous approach to this desirable feature can make background noise difficult to control – particularly in larger rooms. Designers are also constantly assessing machinery such as AC units on the basis of the noise levels they produce, and this is a factor that will continue to remain important as we look to provide a rounded experience that satisfies every sense.

Scent is the second of the senses that became something of a focus during the pandemic. People are using different scents in different spaces as a method of inhabiting each area of the home with an additional layer of sensory stimulation. While scent may not necessarily fall under the remit of traditional interior design, the take-home message from this trend is that interiors need to feel as great as they look. Visually stimulating colour combinations, modern high-tech performance and natural, sustainable and organic materials will go a long way to helping accomplish this objective.
 

2. Timber profiles

A complex theme to realise, sustainability is much more than a trend, it is a principle of modern design. It is the primary goal, and is very much front of mind for society at large. Sustainability has been a major concern for interior designers for a number of years, and while consideration of use of space and energy efficient systems are two factors in the quest to reduce environmental impact, the role of materials is perhaps the most pertinent component of all.

Designers are focused on using materials from renewable sources, produced in a socially responsible manner, incorporating reclaimed, recycled or repurposed materials where possible, as well as non-toxic/non-polluting products. This invariably leads us back to wood. Not only does timber provide natural beauty, authenticity and versatility, it is, if sourced from FSC-certified suppliers, a material that we will continue to see applied in a variety of ways throughout interior spaces – specifically, reclaimed wood flooring is one to watch for in 2022.
 

3. Curves for comfort

2022 could also be a year in which we see a preference for more gentle curves and rounded details as an alternative to sharp, straight edges. Femininity in form offers comfort and a more welcoming ambience which is soft on the eye, and soft to the touch.

Both in furniture and within interior architecture, curved forms are subconsciously considered as safe. And that feeling of safety when in our homes, particularly considering the fragility experienced in the past two years, is extremely appealing in 2022. As such, softer shapes and angles are likely to be a huge trend over the next 12 months, and perhaps for much longer.
 

4. The ‘grandmillennial’ look

Last year, Lead Interior Design Georgia Stephenson said: ‘More is more, less is bore…’, and this year that trend, which has since been coined as ‘the grandmillennial look’, has grown and grown. From floral patterned wallpapers to fringe and piping additions on soft furnishings, there is a kitschy feel to this trend, but it’s a trend to be taken quite seriously.

The kinds of overtly garish furniture or decorative pieces we may have found in our grandmother’s house from the 1940’s are now mixed with more contemporary faire to create this whole new sub-section of design. It’s become a hit on interior design influencer/tastemaker channels across Instagram and Tik Tok, and the origins of many established modern design trends can be traced back to these influential platforms.
 

5. Segmented spaces

And lastly, it would appear that the trend of the last decade for open floor plans is up for reconsideration. People have come to realise the importance of privacy and peace, and we are likely to see more designers directing their concepts towards segmented, traditional spaces that offer the kind of intimacy and seclusion that many crave.

While open plan living was extremely popular for a time, and is still abundant in many new builds, there is the question of whether our kitchens really do need to flow into our living spaces, or whether some form of segregation might actually be quite welcome. These are questions interior designers will likely be asking throughout 2022.