Home, no matter how individuals define it, is a place for relaxation and self-expression. And design is critical in achieving these qualities.
“Our home should be a sanctuary that helps us recharge from the stresses of daily life,” said Trendalytics. “This year, interior trends are all about bringing balance to our living spaces with warm colors, natural textures and intentional decor.”
In the “Top 100” trend report, Trendalytics explores what’s to come in 2022 across various consumer markets, including home and lifestyle. Using November 2021 data, the product intelligence company says the trends selected exhibit “continued or stable growth” over the next year with 65-75 percent confidence.
From a blending of cultural influences to youth-driven fashion “cores” filtering into home, here’s a look at key themes and trends influencing interior design in 2022.
Home trends
Consumers’ quest for R&R is driving up searches for ASMR and sauna blankets, as well as searches for wellness and yoga retreats.
It is also fueling interest in Japandi, an aesthetic that combines Scandinavian functionality with Japanese minimalism. Searches for this well-balanced theme are up 256 percent, with items like boucle chairs and minimalist vases emerging as key accents, according to the report.
H&M Home’s collection for Spring 2022 dabbles in this story with vases that have abstract sculptural patterns, tufted cushions and soft neutrals with “mood-boosting” pastel colors.
This less is more approach to design is also inspiring consumers to treat their homes as modern art galleries. Searches for sculptural objects are up 92 percent, while searches for arched mirrors are up 25 percent. Interest in textured surfaces is also growing, with demand for textured wall art up 154 percent and textured vases up 58 percent.
As with fashion, photo- and video-driven social media apps are birthing ‘It’ items in home interior. “Viral trends are bringing new life to the home goods market as curved mirrors, sunset lamps and checkerboard rugs go from your social feed straight to your living room,” Trendalytics said.
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Searches for checkerboard rugs are up 105 percent, while searches for curved mirrors are up 126 percent.
Eclecticism is a part of “grandmillennial” design—a trend echoed in fashion through cardigans and thrifted items. Described by Trendalytics as “tradition with a twist,” the theme shows an appreciation for the past by mixing vintage prints and fabrics. Searches for upholstered walls are up 73 percent; searches for tufted velvet chairs are up 39 percent.
It’s a theme Ikea explored in September 2021 in “Karismatisk,” a collaboration with iconic British fashion and textile designer Zandra Rhodes. The limited-edition lineup included floral textiles and details like pleats and bows, tied together with a bold color palette of shimmering gold, warm pinks and scarlet, royal purple and cobalt blue.
Along with throwback designs, consumers are revisiting the time-honored tradition of dinner parties. “The dinner party is thriving as at-home gatherings replace going out. For those wanting to be the host with the most, tablescapes are the way to go,” Trendalytics said.
As a result, searches for tablescape decor are up 319 percent, centerpiece bowls up 41 percent and candelabras up 14 percent.
Pandemic-born escapist fashion trends like cottagecore are also filtering into homes. Nature-inspired motifs are adding a whimsical look to spaces, according to the report. Searches for cottagecore prints are up 127 percent, while searches for mushroom stools and strawberry vases are up 68 percent and 18 percent, respectively.
Interest in handmade home goods and DIY decor mirror this shift to unique and sweet details. Searches for handmade pillows are up 68 percent and searches for hand painted pottery are up 26 percent. Trendalytics points out that there is also interest in items that “come directly from the earth,” like earthenware vases and clay decor.