From Modern and Formal to Rustic and Comfortable, we are all over the board in our choices this year. Living rooms and Master Suites are bringing in the outdoors through floral prints, jute coverlets and wood shades/shutters. Vintage Hawaiian prints are returning, along with floor cushions in velvet, leather and wool. Biophilic Design Principles are the underlying guide toward merging nature with our interiors. “If design doesn’t focus on aspects of the natural world that contribute to human health and productivity in the age-old struggle to be fit and survive, it’s not biophilic.” (Stephen R. Kellert https://metropolismag.com/projects/what-is-and-is-not-biophilic-design/).
Interior experts Arent&Pyke from Australia are designing toward “Nurturing the Human Condition”. https://arentpyke.com/projects/gardenhouse/. Sustainability is foremost in our purchases. Purchasing existing antiques and second-hand furniture rather than creating new. Furniture that serves more than one purpose is in demand. Armoire bars, file organizing trunks, linen closet secretary, entertainment center headboards are now serving as beautiful pieces to store respectfully.
Moroccan rugs and Chinoiserie wallpapers are returning to connect modern pieces of furniture with traditional pieces in the same room. Neutral rooms now look toward pops of color in pillows, lamps and throws. (Select a blush of color for a more dramatic look, such as a pale-yellow chair in a white and gray room.) Accent chairs are being replaced with floral and nature patterns. Single pieces of traditional furniture create elegance in a rustic décor. Leanne Ford is exceptional in combining rustic yet elegant elements. https://www.leanneford.com/projects/the-cottage
To soften a crisp white room throw a colorful Kalim or flat weave rug on the floor or the wall. Want to update a leather and brass room? Add textured floors or walls to take it from traditional to global/well-traveled living. Room too comfy? Add in a bit of glam such as brass, silver, glass tables or lamps. To “fill” a wall that looks like an empty space, try hanging pictures for a creative gallery wall. OR place bookshelves there, add colorful books and artwork, and place two slipper chairs in front for an inviting reading nook.
How will we design in 2022? With the supply chain still ramping up, and many items still in shortage, salvage warehouses and consignment stores are still showing strong sales. Crafters are choosing to paint and reupholster rather than buy new. Designers are combining modern with a twist of traditional. Retailers are telling us what colors to use this year. All of these changes create a kaleidoscope of offerings and choices. One common thread through all the design trends however, is to enjoy a comfortable home, that is fun and in concert with nature.