2022 home décor trends.

Just in time for spring, homeowners can pick and choose among a plethora of options to update their homes with a fresh new style. Tastes are changing from stark minimalism to lush colors, patterns and textures that pay homage to centuries of European wealth and opulence, but curated with a modern sensibility. If you’ve never owned a velvet couch or had an artisan paint a floor-to-ceiling mural in your entry, this is the year to try something different.

Why is 2022 a year for change? After two years or more of pandemic disruption and global unrest, you may feel like you’re living in a bunker instead of a home. No longer does the open floor plan work as well when family members who are thrown together for long periods begin to crave privacy. You may also be spending much more time at home, which has led you to look around at your surroundings with a critical eye. What changes can make your home more comfortable, beautiful, and enjoyable?

For many, moving to a new home is a desirable option, and for others, refreshing or remodeling their current home is the answer. Whatever you choose to do, you can incorporate the latest home trends to make your personal space more inviting. Here are five concepts to consider as you plan your home’s new look and ambiance.

Il dolce far niente:  In the U.S., the culture celebrates productivity to the point that it’s difficult for us to relax once we’re home. If you feel that you have to be busy every minute, your life could use a little more of il dolce far niente, an Italian phrase that means the sweet doing nothing, or pleasant idleness. Ask yourself where in your home can you truly relax?

Emotional escape rooms: Create an emotional escape room out of a room that’s seldom used such as a second guest room. You can turn it into a small library and reading room, a massage room, or a craft studio.

Newstalgia: PureWow.com describes newstalgia as a look that “blends vintage and retro furnishings with luxe finishes and top-of-the-line tech, so it feels current and evocative.” Not to be confused with shabby chic, farmhouse chic or eclecticism, the idea of newstalgia is to design your space with furnishings that have character and that reflect you and your interests. You can upcycle family antiques with snazzy modern finishes and fabrics.

The salon: Made popular by Italian and French aristocracy between the 17^th and 20^th centuries, the salon is a place to entertain guests, converse and educate. Gatherings included people of political and cultural significance, who would hold conversations and debates on art, literature, poetry, politics, etc. You can make your living room more salon-like with the addition of game tables, books, pianos and other musical instruments, and plush, plentiful seating.

The withdrawing room: Drawing rooms are a second living area apart from the central gathering place that can be used for more privacy and quietude. This is one room that doesn’t need a television if a garden view is available.  

Vogue’s Home Trends for 2022

Vogue.com suggests that that interior designer would like to see a return to earthy colors and textures instead of the timid pastels and man-made materials like plastic and chrome. Chocolate, camel, cognac and caramel are colors that haven’t been popular since the 1970s, but their cozy vibe is exactly what homeowners want for their nests this year. Here are a few other inspirations that are turning into trends for 2022.

Nature-Inspired Surfaces and Objects: Stoneware, terracotta, clay, marble, and travertine are organic materials that add “depth, soul, and visual intrigue,” while bringing the outdoors inside.

Sculptural and Curved Furnishings: Softer, rounder shapes are more gracious, welcoming, and comfortable than stiff or sharp edges. 

Venetian Plaster and Limewash: These are made by craftsmen to evoke the elegance of the past.

Fine Outdoor Furniture: As patios, balconies, and decks get more use from families nesting at home, outdoor furniture will become an extension of the interior décor, lending sophistication and elegance to outdoor seating.

Tactile Textiles and Textures: Say hello to luxurious fabrics from the past – velvets, mohairs, raw silks and linens are making a comeback.

Dual-Purpose Rooms: Guest rooms can still serve overnight visitors to your home, but you may want to use the room for other purposes, too. Try a Murphy bed that closes up into the wall, so you’ll have room for crafts, a home office, or a quiet sitting area.

Vintage and Sustainable Accents: Vintage pieces make your home uniquely you. You can tell a story by upcycling old, damaged furniture and bask in the patina that only comes from love and age.

Color trends from Veranda.com

Gray-green. For the first time in years, multiple paint brands are touting the same hue for Color of the Year 2022– a soft gray-green that plays well with other colors and breaks the monotony of neutrals. Benjamin Moore’s October Mist, Olive Sprig by PPG, and Sherwin-Williams’ Evergreen Fog are all grayed-greens that are soothing, subtle, sophisticated, organic, and optimistic. They work best with natural colors and textures such as browns, creamy whites, and soft, watery green-blues.

Earth tones and warm neutrals. Unlike the wood paneling and brown furniture that paired with orange shag carpet in the 1970s, today’s earth tones are softer, lighter, and warmer. Warm neutrals have a yellow base, but you can pump them up with interesting textures on furniture and curtains. For a compelling accent color, try Pantone’s Color of the Year – Very Peri. It’s a periwinkle blue that makes a fine accent to grayed greens, earthy browns and warm neutrals.

Citron. A buttery yellow, citron is arguably the most controversial of color trends because yellow has been out of fashion for decades. This soft, muted yellow is uplifting and cheerful without being overbearing, and it looks great with wood tones, creamy whites and gray-greens.

Deep aubergine. Eggplant is a rich-looking color for those who want a deep, moody shade that’s sophisticated and sensual. It’s great for powder baths, bedrooms and studies.  

Chartreuse. Like lemon-yellow, chartreuse hasn’t been in the mainstream of color stories for years, but it’s ready for a comeback. It’s a bold statement color that works well as an accent for upholstery and accessories, or as a daring wall color. When you use an attention-seeking color like chartreuse, keep everything else in the room neutral.

By now, you should have plenty of ideas for ways to update your home. Think of the beauty of nature, the nostalgia of the past, old world ambiance, and treating your home like the sanctuary it deserves to be.