A new year heralds a new beginning. In 2020 and 2021, the world grappled with a deadly pandemic that killed millions and infected more. It led to historic mass unemployment and economic recessions. But it was also a good year for home renovations.
As people spent more time indoors, there emerged new needs. Households with multiple members needed more room to move around, to work, to study, and to play. The open-plan layout became a liability when what people needed was privacy and not the illusion of having one big room. As the world nears the third year of the COVID-19 pandemic, here are the trends that will dominate interior design.
‘Soft Contract’ Furniture
The past two years transformed the home into a school and office, too. When the virus started spreading like wildfire, many cities went into lockdowns. Places where outbreaks can occur, including offices and schools, were closed for several months.
So in the past two years, bedrooms, living rooms, dining rooms, and garages were turned into multipurpose spaces.
The next year will continue to lean toward offering versatility. Nowadays, interior designers are seeing increased interest in flexible-use objects, or soft-contract furnishings, that are meant to be used for both work and relaxation.
Furniture that offers a single function is a thing of the past. Now, a couch has to be comfortable enough to be an office chair, and a coffee table should be a desk.
Spa-like Bathrooms
Over the years, the bathroom has stopped being a space designed only for cleaning oneself. It has been transformed into a space for self-care.
More licensed plumbing contractors are receiving requests for the installation of specialty features that turn their boring bathroom into a home spa. The past two years have been stressful to say the least. People were stuck at home, left to find ways on their own to relax their pandemic anxiety and lift their mood. Unfortunately, spas and other beauty and wellness services were mostly closed to prevent the spread of the virus. As a result, nowadays, people relax at home. This trend will continue throughout 2022.
Bathrooms, in the next year, will have detailed mosaic tiles, luxurious hardware, marble or granite countertops, and European shower doors with minimal framing and thicker glass. Also, expect beaches and stools in the bathrooms to further its status as a space dedicated to self-care.
Crafting Is Very Much In
A lot of people prefer to decorate their homes with handmade pieces. Part of it is because of the pandemic when people suddenly had more free time to do whatever they wanted, and they chose to spend their months of staying at home by learning a new hobby.
Handmade items show personality better than decor purchased from Ikea, West Elm, and other big-box retailers. Crafted decors are unique, and they are made with love and personal touch.
Some interior design experts believe that the popularity of handmade and crafted objects is also an influence of the pandemic. Stuff that is made by someone you know or you emit warmth. People are more conscious of their humanity. Now, they want to surround themselves with items that are made lovingly by humans.
Natural Remains Strong
Homeowners should also expect natural materials and texture to continue to be popular in 2022. They have been showing up in interior design magazines and trade shows for years, but they are unlikely to go away any time soon.
Anything made of rattan, caning, wicker, and rush will be popular. These materials will appear in furniture as well as lighting. Light wood finishes or white-stained wood furniture will also gain fans because they lend an airy look into the space.
The popularity of natural materials in interior design is a reflection of the increasing awareness of the public on issues concerning the environment. Wood is a far better material than plastic because trees are renewable sources, as long as they are sustainably and responsibly harvested. There are also tradesmen who use reclaimed wood or driftwood to create furniture and decor while minimizing their environmental impact.
Moreover, natural materials bring the natural environment into the house. It is called biophilia, or love of life and all that is alive. Homeowners are incorporating biophilia into interior design by adding more plants and choosing natural materials.
The upcoming will be exciting for interior design. The pandemic will continue to influence the choices that people make, but new preferences will emerge as people start to venture outside their homes and recapture their normal habits and routines.
