Donna Sheehan (Photo by Leslie O’Conner) and Christine Conte (Courtesy Christine Conte Interiors)
As we go out with the old and in with the new year, we asked a few interior designers what trends to look for – and what to avoid – in 2022. Here’s what they said:
Inner Sense Interiors
Wallpaper is back in vogue for 2022, says Donna Sheehan, of Inner Sense Interiors in Bellport.
“With new designs possible through more sophisticated computer graphics, wallpaper offers an easy way to make a design statement,” says Sheehan.
Warm colors – whites, beiges, golds, copper, and brick tones — are back, says Sheehan.
Greens also take a more prominent place in design, which includes decorating your space with plants.
“One large plant in a room, like the fiddle-leaf fig tree, makes a bold statement,” says Sheehan. The Bellport designer sees a nod to post-modernism in furniture and forecasts plentiful sinuous features, from rounded headboards to round coffee tables. Eco-friendly design utilizing wood, stone, and other natural materials is a sign of the times, as is thrift-shopping and antiquing, a nod to the delays in furniture shipments in 2021 and beyond.
Clutter – excess accessories and pillows — is out for 2022, says Sheehan. Also passe: word art. Those decorative signs that seem to label everything around the home have got to go.
“If you are having a hard time purging, keep one favorite and eliminate the rest,” she advises.
Christine Conte Interiors
Natural textures are hot for 2022, says Christine Conte of Huntington-based Christine Conte Interiors.
“Rattan, caning, wicker and rush are showing up strong in furniture and lighting, a look that is pretty and green-friendly when it comes to sustainable selections,” says Conte.
Light wood finishes and white paint, whitewash, or white-stained furniture are very popular options for achieving the light and airy look. Curves are also in, advises Conte.
“The curved sofa is back, along with curved angles on furniture and curved hardware,” she says.
What’s out for 2022: industrial-looking furniture and distressed barn doors.
“Today’s barn doors are much more sophisticated and come in beautiful finishes with high-end millwork details,” she explains.
Giovanni Naso Interiors
Bold colors and patterns – everywhere – are hot for 2022, says Sharon Munson, design assistant for Giovanni Naso Interiors of Bellport. Formality should be reimagined, says Munson.
“Formal rooms are being reinvented and reimagined for a utilitarian approach,” says Munson, adding that furniture and fabrics are now being selected for durability, not just for show. As more people are working from home, they’ll want to create inviting and inspiring workspaces, from turning a closet into a functional office to converting underused rooms into home offices.
Antiques and heirlooms are taking center stage, notes Munson.
”The early pandemic days reminded us of the simple and sustainable activity of shopping our own homes to refresh a space,” Munson says, adding that the pandemic has also changed our attitude toward outdoor living areas, which are now an essential component of new residential projects.
For kitchens, definitely go with color, advises Munson.
“Warm, moody, and vibrant kitchens are being ushered in with more color and personality for 2022,” Munson says.
From paint colors to other design elements, green is definitely in and offers a great way of bringing the outdoors in.
According to Munson, these trends are out for 2022: shiplap on walls (go instead with tile, plaster, or rattan); all-gray or all-white kitchens; barn doors (replace them with pocket or French doors); accent walls (stick with monochromatic walls that blend seamlessly with decor); and matching furniture sets, which simply don’t showcase personal style.
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