The 7 Top Home Decor Trends for Spring 2022

After two years of a global pandemic, where the population was largely shuttered indoors amidst an ever-changing negative news cycle, our homes became our sanctuaries. So it’s not surprising that some of the biggest home trends of 2022 focused on making the most out of our spaces. But as the weather gets warmer, it goes far beyond turning your guest bedroom into a home office-slash-gym. We’re ready to go bold with an unabashed injection of joy.

We asked the experts, and the most popular spring decor trends of 2022 seem to fall into one of two camps. They either evoke a sense of nostalgia, pulling from our cultural (or even personal) past, or they don their rose-colored glasses and look toward the future with an unapologetic whimsy. If you’re in need of a spring refresh, here’s what's trending and how you can incorporate it into your home.

1. Maximalism

The Roaring ’20s were defined by the opulence and extravagance of Art Deco design—and the reboot takes a page from the same playbook. We’re no longer living within the confines of minimalist design. Almost every designer we surveyed said the spring of 2022 is all about maximalism.

“The key to executing this is layering prints with textures and using more colors to define the personality of the room,” says Cameron Johnson, founder behind Texas-based furniture rental and interior design firm Nickson Living.

With this trend, more is more. Don’t be afraid to layer a statement couch with an intricate patterned wallpaper and a healthy dose of well-placed knickknacks. Because the difference between cute and cluttered is a fine line, there’s no shame in hiring a local interior designer to sort it out.

2. Scalloped Edges

This spring, curves are definitely in style. Scalloped edges have been trending since at least 2020. In 2022, it’s part of the larger growing surrealism movement, which plays with unconventional shapes and bold color combinations. 

“It feels extra fresh as the weather gets warmer,” says Beth Martin, an interior designer based in Charleston, North Carolina. “This look works so well because it can offer a bit of a contemporary vibe to more traditional rooms while adding whimsy to more modern spaces.” 

Though it’s contradictory, scalloped edges manage to feel both vintage and brand new depending on the setting, so the trend lends itself to all different kinds of decor. Don’t know where to start? Try a mirror or picture frame.

3. Fresh Flowers

Florals for spring isn’t the most groundbreaking trend, but there’s a reason we keep coming back to it year after year. According to research from Rutgers University, putting a few fresh flowers in your home can instantly lift your mood— and actually increase life satisfaction. 

Angi pro Barbara Fight, who runs New York-based decorating and organizing service Organically Organized NYC, suggests putting daffodils or tulips on end tables, nightstands, kitchen tables, and even in the bathroom. 

“It’s an inexpensive way to add pops of color and to bring nature inside,” she says. Just make sure to take measures to prolong the life of your flowers, since they typically only last around 12 days.

4. Carnivalcore

On the surface, the recent popularity of Carnivalcore makes sense. The trend, which involves incorporating circus-inspired elements in your space, rose from the depths of TikTok to combat the negative news cycle. It focuses on bold colors (like bright primary shades) and nostalgic prints (like checkerboard patterns or circus tent stripes). 

“Carnivalcore is probably the most popular uptrend we've seen so far this spring, mostly due to TikTok videos about this decorating style going viral,” says Stefan Bucur, the designer behind the home and garden blog Rhythm of the Home. “... The best way to describe it is a celebration of fun with touches of postmodernism and vintage vibes.”

The simplest way to channel carnivalcore is literally—think: ceramic clowns, circus-inspired art, or, as Bucur suggests, balloon-themed accents and a vintage cotton candy machine. For something more toned-down, shift your focus to vibrant accents like a colorful headboard.

5. Regencycore

When season 2 of “Bridgerton” premiered on Netflix, we collectively spent 251 million hours watching the series. This smash success for the streaming service bled into our clothing and decor. Enter: Regencycore. Regencycore pulls design elements straight from early 1800s England (aka the Regency era)—from porcelain tea sets and antique plates to gilded mirrors and floral upholstery. 

To get the look, take a trip to your local thrift store. Toronto-based Kitchen Designer Teri Simone recommends refacing your cabinetry with cottage-style doors, displaying vintage porcelain, reaching for floral fabrics and wallpaper, and adding gold or brass accents. You may even want to tap your local furniture refinisher to restore that old antique furniture that’s been sitting in storage.

6. Pastels

You may think of pastels as a given for spring, but they’ve taken over 2022 in a big way. It’s no longer just all millennial pink all the time. Though Pantone’s Color of the Year, Very Peri, helped shift the conversation toward lavender, we’re seeing a blend of shades—from seafoam-y greens and baby blues to soft oranges and yellows.

If you’re not into the maximalist look, Simone recommends playing with the idea of Danish Pastels. “The Danish Pastels trend incorporates the minimalist Scandinavian white walls and furnishings, with pops of luminous pastels to create a calming yet playful atmosphere,” she says. It’s whimsical, it’s fun, and it’s totally 2022.

7. Biophilic Design

Consider this a leftover from the peak of lockdowns. When people were stuck at home, they brought the outdoors inside to join them by incorporating nature into their living spaces with a concept called biophilic design. Biophilic design urges homeowners to re-think their relationship with nature by embracing natural elements like organic fabrics and textures, reclaimed wood, earthy tones, and houseplants (which are both good to look at and good for you).

Want to incorporate biophilic design in your home? Try adding some plants (or even an indoor vertical vegetable garden) along with nature-inspired art and natural wood, bamboo, or rattan accents. Also, mind the color scheme. 

“Shades of green are becoming the new neutral and pair well with the natural materials trending such as rattan,” Johnson says.