_Knight Frank Interiors experts list the top interior design trends in 2022
As working from home became part of our daily lexicon and an anchoring status quo in the earlier months of 2021, design trends adapted to our daily interaction with our immediate surroundings - kitchen tables, living rooms and bedrooms - and were conceive to lift and inspire when spending prolonged periods of time staring at the same four walls, proverbially and literally, as well as live practically in hybrid spaces.
In a year that saw us weave in and out of varying degrees of restrictions, teeth-grinding monotony and really, really need a hug, luxury home items filled the voids; life's little stocking fillers designed to make us feel happy - scented candles, cashmere blankets and artisan soaps, ambiently backlit by neutral, pared-down palettes designed to soothe and calm.
Biophilia - bringing the outdoors in - shot to the top of designers' menus with house-plants-as-a-trend going strong as we leant on greenery to help us better connect to nature and proxy the lack of it.
Those lucky enough to own a garden were encouraged to 'bring the indoors out' via outdoor furniture, heaters and rugs with many turning to 'grow your own' vegetable patches to better connect with nature.
Riffing off our base need for all that is organic and healthy, raw, authentic materials entered stage life to help bridge the gap between nature and staying indoors. Raw, untreated woods and natural materials - marble, stone tiles, linens and ceramics - acted as conduits to the outside and spending time in nature.
'Doing the right thing' also featured top heavy on agendas in a year that put the spotlight on small businesses and shopping local. Sustainability and a shift away from mass-produced, plastic homeware was the general direction of travel in 2021 with many homeowners opting for locally-sourced, artisanal pieces and furniture pieces made from recycled or sustainable materials such as wicker, rattan or bamboo. An interior design theme that is, no doubt, here to stay.
With climate change and living more sustainably featuring high on macro and micro-level agendas, the global emergency is prompting a wholesale review of how we can reduce our footprint in the home or workplace and the everyday choices that we make, starting with what we buy and the profligate, 'throw-away' consumerism that drains resources and clogs landfills.
Continuing to urgently dominate news agendas in 2022 and nationwide discourse on how to tackle global warming, for homeowners sustainable living, wellbeing and practical ways of reducing our footprints has inevitably come into sharp focus - a theme that will continue into the new year and beyond.
Top designers from Knight Frank Interiors predict what we might see adorning walls, bedrooms and living rooms in 2022.
Furniture pieces that are built to last
As sustainable living and ethical design becomes less of a buzzword and more of an absolute necessity rebooting how we live and consume, craftsmanship and artisan-made heirlooms will trump quick-to-ship products that might be thrown away with the arrival of the next 'must have' interior design trend.
In 2022, we’ll see a shift away from cheap, mass-produced furniture purchasing and a continued increase in demand for the expertise of skilled craftsmen and artisan producers. Local, ethical and sustainable will gradually turn the dial on appetite for low-quality, assembly-line furniture with short lifespans.
Knight Frank Interiors' designers predict a more significant focus on 'heirloom pieces' from a driveable radius showcasing the incredible talent within our communities and around the UK.
Planet-friendly materials
Whether non-toxic paints, energy-efficient lighting or filling homes with antiques or up-cycled pieces, it’s a trend as a way of life that should be explored by every climate-conscious homeowner.
Biophilia and nature-led interior design
With the pandemic 2.0 still tapping us on the shoulders, putting conditions onto everything from travel to socialising, biophilia as a way of life is a welcome and lasting symptom of Covid-19 1.0.
Proven to lift moods and boost mindfulness, our experts predict that we will continue to see plants and general greenery take centre stage in the home - the bigger and bolder, the better - adding texture, colour and wellbeing to our four walls.
From making sure the air we breathe is fresh and full of oxygen to implementing an organic colour palette, house plants and lots of natural light offer a refreshing uplift, especially renewing and healing during the dark and protracted winter months.
Going green
Good home design - the use of natural materials and colour balancing - has the power to calm, lower stress and allows us to work and play in non-traditional settings. All important factors contributing to wellbeing in challenging times.
Moving away from the pared-back colour palettes of 2021, nature-led colours are predicted to be big in 2022, with green dominating the walls and textiles of colour-confident homes.
For ultimate zen, team various hues and shades of easy-to-complement greens - olive greens, forest greens, pale sages, seafoam and aloe vera, which change with the shifting light of the four seasons. With the the existing lean towards biophilia and the ( see above) house plant trend, your home will be an organic utopia that's a fortress against the ill effects of the winter months ahead.
Creating a zen environment
Above: Dulux's Colour of the Year 2022 - 'Blue Skies'. ©Dulux
As many return to the office, multi-functional home spaces forged from necessity have once again returned to their intended use. Living rooms, devoid of a desk and office chair, revert to place of relaxation and coming together while areas of the bedroom set up as makeshift gyms are cleared to reinstate your temple to serenity and rejuvenation.
Spreading the cheery message of zen, positivity and lightness en masse is Dulux’s Colour of the Year 2022 - ‘Blue Skies’, a refreshing cool blue that works with four complementary hues. The paint brand's colour experts agreed on the "light, airy and optimistic blue that’s good for the soul". It is also described as being conducive to 'fresh ideas' while connecting people to the outdoors after months of feeling trapped.
Knight Frank's interior designers are often asked to implement serene and soothing colour palettes - a trend set to continue well into 2022. Try using comforting and inviting shades which are delicate to the eye. This is achievable by including warm paints encompassing off whites and ivories, creams and warm greys or through the use of light timber, teak, patina and matte tones to create more layers and a welcoming atmosphere.
Bespoke and personalised design
Mass-produced, carbon-copy furniture pieces sound the death knell for personal expression and identity. Standing on the shoulders of the 'built to last theme' is bespoke and personalised design alongside 'investment pieces'. Whether using bespoke furniture, sourcing art, or styling pieces such as sculptures, a trend Knight Frank designers forecast for 2022 is an increased demand for personalisation and storytelling.
Layering with patterns and textures
Interior designers often turn to the fashion industry for inspiration when designing a new scheme. An interior trend you can expect to see throughout next year is layering with the return of monochrome, bold colours, and textures.
The key to success is to think of each element in the space such as the wallpaper, paint, flooring, soft furnishing accessories as a layer. Then, to master the art of layering, you need to learn how to use each of these elements individually and build them up cohesively. A nod to the 70s, consider adding bold, eclectic and interesting patterns and palettes with a similar colour scheme - hello, burnt oranges - to bring harmony and depth to the room.
Multi-functional, hybrid spaces
As we reclaim spaces in our home lost to makeshift offices, gyms, restaurants and cinemas for over 18 months - good, versatile functional design will endure. In particular, multi-functional spaces within existing rooms that are discreet, practical and good looking.
With flexible working becoming the status quo, homeowners are investing in clever solutions for homes offices that blend with the exisitng spaces they inhabit and create clearly delineated work/live/play zones.
Clever partitioning, repurposing tight spaces such as under the stairs or repurposing broom cupboards into stylish office spaces will be a priority for those that look towards innovative design to live practically and 'do hybrid' with style.
Minimalism
After a chaotic 18 months that turned the world as we knew it on its axis, there is a refreshed focus on order, clean living, safety, sterility and peace of mind. Starting with a solid decluttering - minimalist proponents know that throw away objects don't bring joy - stripping back our homes to bare walls and essentials is not-so-strangely cathartic as we reclaim spaces used for lockdown activities and feel more organised and in control.
To achieve the 'ultra-minimalist' look, keep ornaments to a minimum, keep items that you only truly need and choose muted tones for walls such a beige, creams, powder shades, warm woods and neutral textiles.
In need of a helping help from a professional? Contact Knight Frank Interiors who can help create a vision for your home practically and responsibly. Or why not start your search for a new home in 2022?