A lot of us have been spending more time than ever in our homes – making attention to detail and interior decor more important than ever.
When selecting the decor for your home, you want to create a space that both reflects your personality and interests and creates a mood that makes you comfortable. The interior design and flow of your home can have a direct effect on your energy levels and your mood. With just the right touches, you can stay on top of current trends, reduce your stress and increase your productivity.
So what’s in and what’s out in 2022? Here’s what you should know:
Home Decor Trends That Are Fading Away in 2022
Sometimes, it’s not the little touches and pieces of decor that you add to your home that make the difference as much as what you take away. Some older trends that are rapidly fading away include:
1. Open Shelving in the Kitchen
Open shelving in kitchens got very popular, largely thanks to Instagram posts that made them look attractive and easy – but they can be a real mess to live with on a regular basis. Spices get disorganized with time, boxes get knocked over, and you can’t stack cans or jars on top of each other without creating an eyesore.
In other words: Those beautiful, orderly shelves you see on social media are carefully curated. They don’t reflect the jumbled disaster they tend to become when a kitchen sees any kind of regular use. Unless you want to spend a ton of your spare time constantly putting them back in order, relegate open shelving to the pantry or garage, where function outweighs form.
2. Boring Neutrals, Especially Grays
Neutrals have always been popular choices for interior design – but gray became “the default wall color” of choice in a lot of American homes. Less stark (and easier to clean) than white and less boring than beige, homeowners embraced gray as their new neutral of choice in the early 2010s.
Gray has had a good run, but people are moving toward “new neutrals,” with warmer, bolder choices. While gray still has its place, people are starting to embrace deep blues and mossy greens on their walls as they aim for homes that have a restful, restorative feel.
3. Cookie-Cutter Furniture
IKEA and other furniture makers that specialize in inexpensive furniture that you assemble at home may hate to hear this, but people are starting to gravitate toward furniture that’s built to last for generations again.
Whether you embrace second-hand furniture finds in thrift stores as part of a “Cottagecore” or “Grandmillennial” aesthetic, or you go for upscale pieces made of solid materials, it’s time to eschew “fast furniture” the same way you would fast fashion and look for pieces built with sustainability in mind.
Home Decor Trends That You’re Going to See Everywhere in 2022
So what’s on the upswing in home decor? Well, just about anything that conveys your unique personality and style is to be applauded. With that in mind, you can expect to see:
1. Lots of Wallpaper
Color, patterns and anything that adds texture and visible interest in a room seem to be trending, so wallpaper is definitely having a moment.
Unlike the wallpaper of old (which usually only went on – or came off – with a great deal of effort and anguish), modern “peel-and-stick” wallpaper is easy to hang and remove. As a result, homeowners are experimenting with wallpaper in vibrant, bright florals and lively designs to add whimsy and energy to their rooms, whether they use it all over the walls or just as an accent piece.
2. Curved and Round Furniture
Forgot the boxy, angular furniture that’s held sway over the last decade or so: Furniture lines are getting softer and curvier. This goes along with the desire to make home life feel more relaxed and cozy, like a true retreat from the world.
If you’re ready to replace some of your bigger pieces of furniture, a round coffee table or round end tables and a couch with a curved back would be excellent additions to your decor. If you’re not ready for the expense, you can still capture the look using some round decorator cushions and round rugs on the floor.
3. Rich, Colorful Fabrics
This is another way that homeowners are electing to show their personalities and add texture to their rooms. Forget the monochromatic and duo-chromatic rooms of the past and play with color – and look for fabrics that have a touch of luxury, whether you’re using them on your furniture, on your drapes or as blankets.
If you’ve always wanted a purple velvet couch, this is your time! Brocade curtains with glints of golden thread aren’t out of line. Throw blankets made of faux fur or another ultra-rich fabric are also fine. Small luxuries are becoming a big trend in many homes, as people seek to reconnect with the things that bring them comfort and joy.
Final Thoughts About Interior Design Trends and the Future
Ultimately, you should take advice (even ours) about interior design trends with a grain of salt. Redecorating according to the trends may be important if you plan on selling soon, since even a few, inexpensive updates to your decor can make a big difference to a would-be buyer’s perception of your place.
If you aren’t thinking about reselling soon, then your decor is only limited by your imagination. Let your own taste and sensibilities be your guide. In the end, if you end up with a home that feels calm, comfortable and serene, you’ve done everything right.
