These home trends—like over-the-top bathrooms and a deeper connection between your home and nature—are poised to take over in 2022
As we head into a new year, you’re probably already dreaming up ways to start fresh. And while this can come in many forms, such as reading more pages and perfecting your croissant recipe, one of the most impactful ways to make a change starts with loving where you live.
But if you’re stumped on what home trends will be hot as we head into 2022, don’t fret. We asked experts about the styles and additions you can expect to see and hear about as we flip the calendar, along with practical ways to incorporate them into your home.
In 2022, consider how to use these home design trends to make your home a more inviting and functional space.
Since we started working from home amid COVID-19, we learned how to adjust our living spaces to accommodate our shifting work and learning needs. As we head into 2022, we expect to see this mindset applied to the architectural design of multipurpose rooms so that spaces can easily transition from a Zoom background to a playroom.
“I believe that house design is becoming more like the common areas of a high-end hotel or resort, with multiple areas for sitting,” says Bob Tschudi, Angi Expert Review Board member and general contractor in Raleigh, NC.
If your New Year’s resolution is to spend more time practicing self-care, then a great way to stick to your goal is by creating a space in your home that encourages you to incorporate wellness activities into your daily routine. If you prefer to unwind with a long, hot bath, consider adding spa-like features to your primary bathroom, such as a soaker tub or a glass shower design. Or carve out space in your home to practice yoga or meditation or even store your home exercise equipment.
Do you consider your patio or front yard an extension of your home? If so, you’re on top of this entangled design trend, which encourages you to intermingle the outside with the inside of your home.
For example, more homeowners are undergoing home renovation projects to extend their living space into the great outdoors, making it feel like your kitchen is in your backyard. “Turning a back deck into a covered porch, then screening or enclosing that porch, not only extends your living space, it adds value at resale,” Tschudi says. Work with experts in the industry you’re looking for, such as an outdoor kitchen installer, to create the “open-air” living area of your dreams.
Whenever you need to update your to-do list or adjust your thermostat, smart home technology is there to help. More homeowners are adding smart devices to their homes every year, from smart doorbells and speakers to smart refrigerators and dishwashers. In fact, smart home device installations were the third-most-popular home project of 2021, according to our State of Home Spending Report.
To take advantage of this growing trend, consider installing a smart home security system or an occupancy sensor to control your home functions from your phone. “With wireless devices, any comfortable corner of the house becomes a media room,” Tschudi says. “And be sure to install electrical outlets that also have USB!”
It’s no secret that shades of green are having a moment this year, from deep emerald kitchen designs to sea green accent furniture. But who said interior design gets to have all of the fun?
If your home’s exteriors need a makeover, consider painting it a dark, moody green to add some edginess or a silvery green to contrast a neutral palette. Some of our favorite exterior green paints include Benjamin Moore’s color of the year October Mist 1495 and Sherwin Williams’ 2022 favorite Evergreen Fog SW 9130. Once you’ve settled on your home’s new shade, hire a local house painter to complete the transformation.
In addition to literally adding the color green to your home exteriors, we’re expecting to see many homeowners opt for environmentally friendly and sustainable additions for their home exteriors.
If you’re looking to get in on this trend, you have many options, and which one is right for you will depend on your sustainability goals, local climate, and budget. However, to name a few, you can add an electric vehicle charging station if you recently purchased a new ride. You can also take on the cost of a window replacement and opt for energy-efficient windows that keep your home more comfortable.
When it comes to your home garden, you can even look into a gray water system that will help you reuse some of your home’s water to keep your plants looking green and healthy.
As more people invest in their homes, some are opting for either partial or full metal roofs that can last 50 years or more. The pros of metal roofs versus materials like asphalt shingles cannot be overstated. These roofs are energy-efficient, durable, non-combustible, and built to withstand extreme weather conditions. If you’re ready to make your house a home for years to come, you may want to speak with a local roofer about this worthy investment.
If you’ve ever wished you had a fresh sprig of mint for your water or some basil to add to your pasta, you’ll want to hop on this trend. Many will be adding kitchen gardens and growing vegetables, fruits, and herbs so they can use all this yummy stuff in their daily cooking. This trend follows the shift toward sustainable eating and living in many aspects of home improvement. Not to mention, this trend is also just downright delicious.
You can start by adding a few herb plants by the windowsill or make a major upgrade to a full-fledged garden outside of your home. These additions may also be a good opportunity to finally learn how to compost to make the most of your kitchen and garden.
Food experts recommend a colorful plate, but we recommend a colorful, unique kitchen for 2022.
If you’re a fan of home decor blogs, you probably saw this coming. If your cabinets need an upgrade, we predict that you and many others may opt for a bolder hue. Gone are the days of all neutrals. Many homeowners will be painting their kitchen cabinets and accents bright, bold colors, specifically sage, dark greens, deep blues, and pinks.
This trend plays into what Gordon was mentioning earlier and brings up again the importance of keeping these colors desaturated to make sure you’re not going overboard: “Keeping the colors desaturated means making sure that colors are muted, with a bit of gray mixed in—instead of a pop of iridescent green, consider a muted fern or avocado.”
From larger-than-life metal hoods to those embracing wooden hoods, you’ll see a larger focus on this functional addition. Whether you want a local kitchen remodeling pro to install your range hood to blend in with your cabinets or be a decor piece of its own, one thing is for sure: Many will expand beyond cookie-cutter range hoods and consider these a functional and beautiful part of their kitchen.
Homeowners will be adding more storage in virtually every nook and cranny of their kitchen. Think more cabinets, hanging racks for pots and pans, and uniquely sized storage containers designed for that little space in the back of your pantry. Bonus points if these containers have multiple functions. There’ll be no more throwing plastic containers into a pile in your cupboard...we hope.
Your bathroom is more than a space to get ready in and take bubble baths, and in 2022, this space will get the interior design love it has always deserved.
Wood is seen as a hot design trend in many areas of the home, but will be especially popular in bathrooms, complementing airy and light spaces. If you’ve got your eye on a gorgeous wood vanity, then you’ll want to speak with a local bathroom remodeling contractor about how to install it in your space, treat it properly to avoid water damage, and give your bathroom an upgrade.
Experts note that many homeowners will move away from designs that include a lot of grout and instead are going for more granite slabs. Similarly, they are also opting for a more open design, forgoing shower doors and shower glass. Both of these choices are not only minimalist and stylish but require less cleaning, which is great news for anyone who hates breaking out an old toothbrush and cleaner.
Bathroom sizes are expected to continue to increase, becoming full-fledged spaces in their own right. And with all that extra space will come additions like glam vanities, comfy seats for getting ready, and drawers for storing every beauty product you could possibly want.
“If there's enough room, converting a combined tub and shower to a separate tub and tiled shower with heavy-plate glass walls is a common conversion,” Tschudi says. “As for value, the two key areas in a home that buyers home in on are the kitchen and bath, so any money invested there will pay off.”
More thought may be put into bathroom design and decor as well. Experts are seeing the bathroom as a major investment area for 2022, with people adding luxe fixtures, over-the-top shower stalls, and big, comfy bathtubs. “It's no longer overly expensive to add things like a heated floor, a multi-head shower, bidet, a vessel or slipper tub and luxury surfaces such as quartz and granite,” Tschudi added.
As we enter another year of many working from home, many will be ready to level up their home workspaces and make them their own.
It’s only human to get a little bored of the space you work in every day. We predict that home offices will get much chicer with better layouts, luxe, investment-worthy materials, and generally more thoughtful decor. In other words, you may soon kiss your hastily thrown together desk set-up goodbye, and you won’t be alone.
If you’re looking to get cracking on this one early, upgrading items like your desk, chairs, and photos can make a big impact. If you’re already pleased with those, you can move on to wall photos and even paint.
Many of us can’t have full offices or don’t want to devote an entire room to them, but these workspaces still deserve some TLC. Expect to see pieces that allow you to tuck your office equipment away on the weekend, such as cabinets and desks that close at the top, so you can use the room for something else when you finally log off for the day.
“The home office needs to function as an office first and a home space second, but it should look like a home first and an office second,” Gordon says. “Decide what pieces you need, such as a desk, a chair, and a file cabinet, and then select each of those pieces in a style that works well with the rest of your home. Don’t be afraid to include a fair amount of color, accent pieces, and artwork to really make it feel comfortable.”
Your living room has always been a place where your family comes together and relaxes at the end of the day. These upcoming trends focus on making this room even more of a comforting gathering place.
Like in many other rooms, we expect to see a shift toward incorporating sustainable and natural materials in living room decor. Expect to see more materials that will last longer and reflect the home’s surroundings. Store shelves may be filled with pieces made of materials like wood, cork, recycled glass, and metal.
If this term sounds familiar, it’s because this is a home addition that’s been around since the 18th century. With the resurgence of vintage and maximalist style, we expect to see wainscotting make a comeback in living rooms and dining rooms. This time it will be dark and create a moody contrast in the room with colors like brown, gray, and deep purple.
While its purpose is mainly decorative, this wall design can also be practical, as it helps you avoid scuffing on your wall and trim.
New year, new coat of paint. Elevate your living spaces by incorporating one of this year’s paint color trends into your home.
In 2021, we saw more and more homeowners embracing the trend of painting a statement wall black to contrast the neutral tones of their flooring and countertops. But don’t put the paint can in the basement just yet—use it to darken your home accents.
Black accents make your home features pop without clashing with the other elements in the room. By adding a dark accent paint color in surprising spots, like an arched doorway or your home’s siding, you’ll create a look of confident sophistication that fits both minimalist and maximalist designs. If you’re wary of completing the project yourself, call a local interior painter to tackle the project.
Every year, we wait in anticipation to discover which color the Pantone Color Institute will name as its official color of the year, plus how their choice will set the tone for color-based trends in the new year. With that in mind, we expect to see people embracing the vibrant and daring color influences of Pantone 17-3938 Very Peri in their home designs.
“Very Peri is particularly bold,” Gordon says. “We’ll likely see the color show up in textiles, tile, and other materials. Overall, the idea of “maximalism” seems to be taking off, and bold colors like Very Peri fit into that trend nicely.”
In fact, Very Peri fits into what we’re predicting for 2022 paint trends generally: color, color, and more color. After several years of creating a neutral base in every room, it’s time to go bold with bright shades of dusty pink, deep green, sunny yellow, and burnt orange.
Of course, it can feel intimidating to suddenly infuse your living room or kitchen with a striking pop of color, so don’t hesitate to consult an interior designer before diving into the project. To ease into this trend, start by incorporating bold paint colors through an accent wall or giving a worn-out piece of furniture an eye-catching makeover.
Take your interior design style to the next level with biophilic decor and maximalist-inspired statement pieces.
Let’s face it: We’re all pretty obsessed with our houseplants, and that’s not going to change any time soon. In fact, we predict that the biophilic trend of bringing nature into our homes will grow stronger this year and extend to plant-based decor and vibrant green paint hues.
To stay ahead of the curve, consider adding various pots and planters made of natural fibers, floral-inspired wallpaper, or even an indoor grow room to your home. Whether your goal is to use plants to create a healthier home or simply grow an indoor jungle, you can use this trend as an excuse to bring home more houseplants.
In 2022, the maximalist aesthetic is staging a comeback. Maximalism is a diverse and loud style that encourages you to combine colors, patterns, and statement items to create an aesthetic that’s all your own. After years of decorating with neutral tones and minimalist designs, we’re ready to deck out our homes with punches of bright and jewel-toned colors, patterned wall coverings, and eclectic decor pieces.
“There are two ways to incorporate color into a space without going overboard—either use it in small doses or keep the colors desaturated,” Gordon says. “Small doses means using a pop of color in accessories, such as pillows or even window treatments, but more adventurous people may want to consider adding a large pop of color with a rug, or even a brightly colored sofa or chairs.”
To start incorporating maximalist designs into your home, talk with an interior designer and make a plan to take your aesthetic from drab to fab.
The new year is the perfect time to refresh your home decor. Check out the trending decor pieces, furniture items, and DIY displays for 2022.
Shopping vintage is a sustainable trend that’s sweeping every aspect of our lives, including clothes, accessories, furniture, and home decor. These one-of-a-kind vintage furniture and decor pieces not only help the environment by avoiding furniture waste but also add personality to your space.
“There is a cycle to everything, so vintage and antique pieces should be back in vogue pretty soon looking at the way the pendulum swings,” says Jonathan Gordon, the founder and owner of Design by The Jonathans. “There is a wonderful upcycling and recycling element that is driving this as well; reusing and refurbishing existing pieces fits very nicely into this way of life.”
To jump on this trend, consider repurposing a piece of furniture to create a statement item that matches your design aesthetic. If you find a hidden gem at a flea market but can’t decide how to execute your vision for it, hire a local furniture refinisher to bring it back to life.
Let’s make a pact to leave scratchy and uncomfortable furniture in 2021. Instead, we predict that more people will lean into the cozy vibes and add upholstered pieces made of soft-to-the-touch fabrics like velvet, chenille, and sherpa.
If you’re ready to incorporate comfy fabrics into your living spaces but not sure where to begin, consider starting small by adding a velvet chair or a sherpa ottoman into the mix. For a more sustainable option, hire a professional upholstery service to strip an outdated item and give it a new, cozy covering.
If you’re a fan of interior design blogs or #homedecor TikTok, you’re probably seen pictures of curved couches and chairs all over your feeds. Mid-century inspired furniture with rounded edges has been popular for several decades, but the curvy line trend will now extend to rugs, wall art, and even patterns on hardwood floors.
“Curve is all the rage now—from the slight angle of a curved sofa back or a funky curve in a live edge table,” says Rebekah Perry Clark, who is the owner of Decorating Den Interiors. “Less expensive options to create the look are with curvy mirrors, lamps, and funky candlesticks.”
If you’re not in the market for new furniture but want to participate in this trend, talk with a local general contractor about transforming your ho-hum doorways into archways. Curved doorways add height to your room, creating the illusion of more space. Plus, your contractor can likely complete this project within a day, depending on the number of archways.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many people rediscovered old hobbies or started new ones to pass the time. Now, we’re putting all of those projects on display, from paintings and coasters to crocheted blankets and ceramic pots.
Not only does this DIY trend encourage you to create instead of buy household items, but it also allows you to personalize your home with unique pieces that represent your true self. If you need help creating a place to display your homemade items, consider hiring a local carpenter to build a set of shelves for you.
