THE SPRUCE - Make Your Best Home
In anticipation (and to get ahead of the trends), we asked some of our favorite designers and creators to share their predictions for 2022 furniture and design trends. Keep reading for their guesses as to what silhouettes, materials, and styles we’ll be seeing next year.
Curvaceous Lines
Betty Brandolino, founder and creative director of Fresh Twist Studio, tells us, “A trend we’re seeing in furniture design … is the implementation of curvaceous lines in upholstered furniture silhouettes and case goods. For example, we’ve noticed the emergence of rounded sofa backs and curved sideboards, to name a few.”
Kristin Bartone of Bartone Interiors agrees. “Curved furniture with soft lines will be popular in 2022,” she says. “Nearly every manufacturer, from ultra-high-end down to more budget-friendly vendors, incorporated soft lines, arcs, and curves in all of their furniture. This was introduced last year but has really taken off.”
Ginger Curtis of Urbanology Designs has noticed the same thing—and on a small scale, too. “We’re also seeing fluted and ribbed detail on sofas, chairs, fireplace fronts, cabinetry, [and] vanities,” she says. “It creates art deco–like detail. This pattern can also be traced back to centuries past, when it was originally used to adorn Roman columns.”
Textured Surfaces
“Textured textiles, such as boucles, tweeds, and crushed velvets, were presented by nearly all of our vendors at High Point Market in October, which indicates that we’ll be seeing more texture in furniture pieces moving forward,” Brandolino tells us.
Caroline Brackett of Caroline Brackett Studio of Design agrees. “In textures, anything furry, nubby, or cozy is very on-trend,” she says. “Comfort, in general, will be popular in 2022. Not that you have to sacrifice style, but now that everyone is spending more time at home, furniture needs to be comfortable.”
“Boucle wool fabric is being used in a variety of ways—on furniture, pillows, etc.,” adds Curtis. “The texture is great and it adds warmth and coziness. Since this is becoming so popular, we will look for less expected ways to use this material. It’s an incredible design element, but I will be looking to keep it fresh and unexpected!”
Personality and Sentimentality
Gray Malin, artist and photographer, feels we’re just going to see more and more of people’s personalities in their own spaces—and items and furnishings with nostalgic or emotional significance will have a new place of pride. “Sentimentality will also be more apparent,” he says.
“Gone are the days of making your home look like a catalog or staged room in your favorite home decor store. Instead, homes will be more unique and reflect a space where people feel comforted, themselves, and authentic,” he tells us.
Investment Pieces
“Although some things have gotten increasingly casual over the past decade, I think the trend to incorporate more luxury and formal items into the home will get more and more popular in the new year,” Malin predicts. “People are starting to value the idea of investing in higher quality pieces that are well made, durable, and long-lasting, versus a piece of fast furniture that is trendy in the moment but will not last very long.”
