If there is one sentence that describes interior design trends over the last ten years, it’s “anything goes.” Homeowners have been able to take liberties like never before. And many of them are thoroughly enjoying the process. 

But when it comes to design over the coming decade, things are going to change. Provided the economy continues ticking over, individuality is going to become increasingly important. 

So what trends are we likely to see in 2022 in our new, post-pandemic world?

Natural Luxury Furnishings

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In a sense, luxury furnishings have always been natural. Gold, marble and tiles are all derived from the natural world. But in 2022, things are going to get a little more explicit and exotic. It’s going to be completely obvious that an item came from the Earth and wasn’t made in some factory somewhere. 

What sort of thing are we talking about? Well, one addition you’re likely to see going forward is bamboo shelving and furniture. The material is yet to make an impact in our interiors. But more designers are now choosing to use it in its unprocessed form. And that’s exciting. 

Bolder Ceilings

In 99 per cent of homes and buildings, the ceiling is plain or brilliant white. And there’s nothing wrong with that – it imitates the light of the sun. But now many homeowners are wondering whether there’s a way to make their ceilings more visually appealing.

Crisp rooms have fresh neutral colours. But that can sometimes make them feel a little generic, regardless of how tastefully you decorate them.

However, when you spice up your ceilings, it totally transforms the feel of the room. Suddenly, it takes on an entirely different character that makes it feel more elevated and unique. 

Wallpapering the ceiling can create an even more dramatic effect. It’s a similar experience to sitting in a panelled dining room – quite something. 

Patterns Everywhere

Patterns weren’t always in vogue. Thanks to the rise of minimalism in the last decade, they took a bit of a backseat. 

But now, they’re back with a vengeance, mainly because people missed them. What’s more, we’re discovering that you can use them quite liberally, even if they don’t quite match. 

When it comes to patterns, there are essentially no rules. The overall theme of the interior should be simple. But if you have a patterned rug that doesn’t lend itself to the wallpaper, that doesn’t actually matter, according to this new school of thought. What matters is the visual disruption and “cleanness” of the aesthetic. 

Colours Replace Neutrals

In the 2010s, the goal was to make the home fade into the background and emphasise the things that it contained. But that will likely change as we move in 2022. Now homeowners are replacing neutral tones with warming colours that help to lift occupants’ moods. 

Shades of pink are likely to explode, thanks to the popularity among millennials. But we are also likely going to see plenty of corals and terra cotta colours as well, thanks to their sophistication. 

The grandest rooms are likely to do away with plain colours altogether and simply paint murals on the walls. Artists are going to find themselves in high demand. 

Chic And Country

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The British farmhouse is becoming more popular, thanks to the success of series like All Creatures Great and Small. But today’s buyers don’t want to recreate the squalid interiors of old. They want to recreate their best features while giving them a fresh look. 

The goal here is to add as much whimsy as possible. That means you’re likely going to see homeowners mixing various antiques with patterned wallpaper and primary tones. 

Changing Floorplans

The classic open floorplan was the champion of the last decade. But that’s all going to change in the 2020s. We’re seeing a retreat from fully open-planned to more hybrid spaces. 

For instance, millennial homeowners want to keep the roominess that open-plan offers. But they also want to create clear boundaries between rooms. And they’re conjuring up clever ways to do this. For instance, many are choosing to sink their living room areas into the ground by a few feet and then adding steps to the kitchen and dining room, just for visual effect. 

The other way of separating rooms is to add pillars or curtains to the interior space. Or to use different flooring materials as you move from one zone to the next. 

Sustainable Materials

High VOC paints and plastics are common in many homes, but they are not sustainable. And for many people, this is unacceptable. They want to live in beautiful homes and protect the environment for future generations. 

Today, however, people are more ecologically conscious than ever before. And that means that the market for biodegradable and compostable fixtures and fittings is growing. 

Many sustainable materials have a natural and neutral vibe about them. So they are helping to bring warmth and joy to interiors that synthetics just can’t. Harvested materials such as rattan and acacia are making more and more appearances in interiors. 

Mobile Fixtures

Imagine you could place lighting anywhere you like in your room, without having to hire somebody to do the wiring. Well, thanks to mobile fixtures, it’s now a reality. You simply install units in the wall and then charge the batteries separately once you finish using them – perfect for those living in rented accommodation. 

Timeless Looks

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Over the last century, interior design has gone through practically every evolution imaginable. It is hard, therefore, to know where it might head next. 

One option is that designers will build flexibility into their interiors by choosing timeless looks as a base. This way, they can make small changes as the fashion changes in the future, without having to rip everything out and start again. 

Homeowners also like the idea of their living spaces looking as if they come from some unspecified time in the past. Nostalgia is a powerful force and something that many people like to indulge in when they get the opportunity to do so. 

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