One benefit of almost two years of hiding in our houses is that we are all paying more attention to them, creating spaces and adding beauty, serenity and happiness to our furnishings.
Although big trends in interior design are slow to come in and last a while – think of the moody gray palette introduced by RH at least two decades ago – we see great interest in a lot of new things.
Interior designers Linda Eyles of Houston Eyles Design’s Linda Eyles Design, Pamela O’Brien of Pamela Hope Designs, and Mary Patton of Mary Patton Design recently took the time to talk about design elements that will be strong for 2022.
Black accents and deep, rich colors are on trend for 2022, as evidenced by this home bar – another major trend – designed by Houston-based interior designer Linda Eyles of Linda Eyles Design.
Julie Soefer
1. Black as an accent
Nickel, chrome, brass, antique bronze, and matte black were equally loved in lighting, plumbing fixtures, or cabinet fittings (and often used in interesting combinations). However, expect to see more black in an otherwise white kitchen or bathroom to contrast with the sleek palette.
“If you have an all white bathroom and you have black faucets and controls in the shower, faucets on the sink and black lighting and hardware, you have all these little black dots in the room,” said O’Brien. “Black works best as an accent in some areas. You might use it in the hardware and in the sconces, but then use chrome or polished nickel for the plumbing. The addition of black and warm tones is a reaction to the severity of the cool tones and grays … we want warmth back. “
A little ahead of its time for its 2019 Las Vegas Kitchen and Bathroom Show, GE created emerald green cabinets for a vignette with its high-end GE Cafe range of stoves and hoods. More colorful rooms – especially in green – will be a big trend in 2022.
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2. Greens big moment
Green was chosen as the color of the year 2022 by Sherwin-Williams, Benjamin Moore, Glidden, PPG and Behr. From pale sea glass to medium-toned sage or deep olive or moss green, nature’s favorite color awaits you in all its splendor in the coming year.
O’Brien recalls a Kitchen & Bath International Show in Las Vegas in 2019 when GE painted the cabinets of a display case in emerald green. Apparently every passerby took a picture of it and every blogger who saw it posted a post about it, she said.
“Color is happier and more alive, and it’s time for it. It’s time to be more playful and really celebrate the release of the last few years, ”said Eyles. “We’ll still see some of the nature-inspired tones, but I think it’s going to be punched more and with more unusual pairings.”
Patton said her first use of green was in the modern mid-century home she and her husband renovated in Old Braeswood.
“I’ve never had a green room. I’ve never wanted or even thought of a green room in my life, ”Patton said, noting that she used Farrow & Ball’s Vert de Terre on the walls and green-printed bedding from the Biscuit homestead. “There is definitely a shift away from blue and towards green.”
If you can’t bring yourself to buy a green rug, sofa, or chair, add green accessories like a vase, pillow, or plant. You can’t go wrong with a violin leaf fig tree. Snake plants are also good choices, although people with pets should stay away from them as they can be toxic to cats and dogs.
Maximalism – a design style that believes “more” is “more interesting” – is gaining popularity in 2022, says Houston-based interior designer Linda Eyles of Linda Eyles Design.
Julie Soefer
3. Maximalism – to a certain extent
Along with green, expect rich shades of a range of colors – deep grays, purples, turquoise, and teal can stick around for a while too. Designers have used pretty ribbon trimmings on curtains in recent years, but gold bars – gold, rope-like fringe – and tassels are making a comeback, Eyles said. It won’t be a full 80s flashback, but it will feel a bit like it.
The combination of patterns and colors in a room – or in a combination of pillows on a sofa or bed, for example – will also be popular.
O’Brien offered a simple lesson: pick a unifying color, then find a firm fabric, especially one with texture like velvet. Then you will find two or three more of the same color in different sized patterns, floral, geometric or otherwise. She used a sports metaphor for size ratio: one with a pattern the size of a volleyball, a second with a pattern the size of a softball or baseball, and possibly a third the size of a golf ball or marble. That unifying color and variation in the scale are key.
4. Colorful stone slabs
The waning enthusiasm for completely white kitchens means that ever more interesting decisions are being made with natural stone or artificial stone slabs. Designers and their clients might want a panel with a white or lighter background, but they opt for ones with more dynamic grain, even with color.
Patton said she works with three clients who are building new homes. One chose marble with a white background and thick chestnut and red veins, another with a black background and brown tiger stripes, and the third picked stone that looks like “blue cheese”.
Houston-based interior designer Linda Eyles talks about design trends for 2022.
Julie Soefer
5. Wallpaper
This ongoing trend will deliver large format patterns and luxurious textures. These days it’s hard to find a powder bath without wallpaper – smaller rooms where we can let off steam. Dining rooms and foyers are other popular places. Murals – in wallpaper or hand-painted by artists – are other great options for dining rooms.
Curved or rounded furniture and bold colors will be a popular trend in residential homes in 2022, says Pamela O’Brien of Pamela Hope Designs, an interior designer based in Houston. In this house there is a round swivel chair in front of a light blue-green lacquered bookcase.
Julie Soefer
6. Soft, curvy furniture
The curved sofa designs by Vladimir Kagan and other iconic mid-century furniture designers have since been copied. The increasing popularity of vintage pieces, as well as contemporary and modern design, means that curvy furniture – including sofas, chairs, and pieces of furniture – can be found in furniture showrooms and our homes.
Antiques and brown furniture – used sparingly in rooms – are back in trend. Here is an example from Houston interior designer Mary Patton of Mary Patton Designs.
Molly Culver Photography
7. Antiques and vintage finds
Antiques and vintage pieces are currently popular for several reasons.
First, the classic shapes have never really gone out of style and their brown wood instantly warms up a room. You can also often find great pieces at reasonable prices. And with supply chain problems, you don’t have to wonder if or when a new buffet, console, or table will ever hit the market.
Many consumers who are concerned about the carbon footprint of buying a home full of furniture also see a relief in keeping older pieces out of landfills. They can be reworked, painted or reupholstered at any time.
In addition to their practical side, they give a room personality and style. Just don’t overdo it – you don’t want an entire room full of brown furniture.
Houston-based interior designer Linda Eyles talks about design trends for 2022.
Julie Soefer
8. Multipurpose rooms
In March 2020 we were surprised when we suddenly had no real job or could not help our children with schoolwork. Since then we have developed new ideas for living and working.
If our bosses once resisted the idea of productively working from home, now they know it can be done. A home office – or two – has become a necessity. In the past, a flexible space meant a potential playroom for children or a craft room for mom. Now it can mean anything.
Smaller group entertainment means we turn unused spaces into cocktail lounges – maybe a cozy sundeck or the dining room that you never use – unless we’ve already converted them into new home offices. When building a new home, a little extra square footage can help you live and entertain on a whole new level.
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