Interior trends have evolved significantly over the last few years, as we’ve sought solace in our homes more than ever before. More of us now work from home, have home gyms, and use our home environments in a way we never would have imagined prior to 2020.
This means that the aesthetic of our homes needs to provide both comfort and connections, and this is reflected in latest home decor trends. Interior styles that can have a calming effect on our mood, and that can connect us to the outside world, have emerged from this situation and look set to be among the big interior trends for the year ahead.
Here are 7 home decor trends – including the latest wallpaper trends – that look set to be big news in 2022:
1. Bring Nature Indoors
Bringing the outdoors indoors is set to continue as a top interior trend in 2022. Known in the industry as ‘biophilic design’, this home decor trend is all about bringing elements of nature inside to create a connection to the outside world.
Amanda Thompson of ALine Studio told Good Housekeeping: “After over a year of being shut inside, there has been – and will continue to be – a focus on regaining our connection to the natural world through the use of biophilic design principles, meaning there will be an emphasis on creating calming environments with natural lighting and ventilation, incorporating plants and creating a visual connection with nature.”
Here are a few ways to take inspiration from biophilic design and bring nature to your home decor:
- Houseplants – cacti that don’t need watering very often can be a great low-maintenance option
- Pampas grass – a neutral-coloured way to bring nature indoors
- Grow your own herbs on your kitchen windowsill
- Choose tropical wallpaper with a leaf design, such as the Rasch Jungle Large Leaf Green Wallpaper (priced at £13 for a 10.05m x 0.53m roll)
Bring natural textures to your decor through jute rugs and willow baskets, or bring an extra dimension to a room with textured wallpaper, such as the Arthouse Wave White Blown Vinyl Textured Wallpaper (£11 per roll)
2. Travel Influences
For many of us, travel has been limited in the last few years, which has led to a growing trend for global influences when it comes to decorating our homes.
Make pieces from your own travels a key feature by placing them prominently on shelves or the mantelpiece, browse antique shops for old maps to frame as wall prints, or look out for rugs, vases, and other ornaments inspired by different cultures.
We have several statement wallpaper designs that can remind you of past adventures, including:
- The A.S. Creation Cherry Blossom Floral Trail Wallpaper (£19 per roll), inspired by Japan’s breathtaking cherry blossom
- The Holden Decor Jungle Animals Wallpaper (£13 per roll) to bring a rainforest-meets-safari feel to your home decor
- Bring a cool New York City vibe to your home with a brick-effect wallpaper
3. Brown Is The New Grey
Vogue’s list of the latest interior design trends cites brown as the colour of the moment for 2022. Shades of brown from chocolate to camel are a great way to bring neutrals to your home decor, but in a much more warming way than the grey that’s been favoured in recent years.
Erick Garcia of LA-based design firm Maison Trouvaille told Vogue:
“As of lately, we are paying close attention to how design has the ability to create an energy.
“Clients are asking for warmth, comfort and airiness.”
Warm colours, such as browns, are an effective way to bring comfort and depth to your home decor. However, it’s important to find the right balance when introducing brown to your interiors, so that it doesn’t dominate and feel too dark. Here are a few ways you can do this:
- Team dark wood furniture with neutral walls
- Use chocolate brown cushions and throws to create a warming contrast against a cream sofa
- Dark brown curtains can be a good way to introduce the colour to a room with a little flexibility; enjoy cosy warmth when they’re drawn but plenty of light framed by this on-trend shade when they’re open
- Opt for camel or caramel colours rather than chocolate brown for a softer way to bring this interior trend to your home
4. Take A Trip To The 1970s
Brown is also a key part of the 1970s interiors trend that’s tipped to be big in 2022, with the decade undergoing something of a renaissance in both fashion and home decor trends.
Home interiors from this decade may conjure images of clashing browns, yellows, and oranges, often in bold floral patterns, but the ‘70s have been given a modern update for 2022.
Bring subtle touches of 1970s inspiration to your home decor with:
- Dark wood furniture – oak and teak are both effective options
- Dusky ditsy floral prints – look for soft pinks, browns, and purples for an authentic effect
- Floral wallpaper – opt for a feature wall rather than papering the whole room in a loud pattern for a more subtle nod to the decade
- Orange, mustard yellow, and brown accessories and soft furnishings
5. Very Peri
The Pantone Colour of the Year for 2022 is Very Peri, which is described as a mid-blue with a violet red undertone. Said by the brand to “encourage personal inventiveness and creativity”, the latest choice from Pantone is likely to have a big influence on home interiors throughout 2022.
Before you decorate your whole home in Very Peri, bear in mind that Pantone’s hottest colour of the moment changes every year, so think about some more subtle ways to bring this periwinkle blue to your home. We recommend introducing hints of a new colour through:
- Cushions
- Throws
- Crockery
- Tablecloths
- Vases
- Candles
6. Cottagecore
The growing cottagecore trend really came into its own throughout the lockdowns, as people romanticised an idyllic rural lifestyle more than ever. Cottagecore has been tipped as one of the big interior trends for 2022 – as it takes its inspiration from traditional cottage or farmhouse style, it’s a timeless look to bring to your home, and works especially well in a kitchen.
Bring cottagecore to your home with:
- Gingham tablecloths
- Ditsy floral curtains
- Wood effect wallpaper to add to that rustic cabin feel
- Vases filled with wildflowers
- Mismatched crockery
- A hook of aprons hanging on the back of the door
- The smell of freshly baked bread (much more powerful than a reed diffuser!)
7. Vintage Vibes
Sustainability is set to be a huge theme across food, fashion, and home decor trends in 2022. Buying vintage pieces of furniture, ornaments, art, and even soft furnishings can be an effective way to make your interior decor more sustainable and add unique character to your home.
The best places to buy vintage home decor pieces include:
- eBay – research the designers and styles you’re interested in to streamline your searches
- Portobello Road Market, London – this world-famous street is a haven for vintage homeware hunters
- Antique shops – look for sellers online and in your local area to find unique pieces
- Charity shops – you never know what you might find!
Which Home Decor Trend Is Right For You?
If you know you want to update your home for 2022 but aren’t sure which interior trend is right for you, start by thinking about whether you want to completely redecorate a space or simply update your home accessories.
The wallpaper trends we’ve highlighted have been popular for the last few years, so they’re unlikely to feel dated anytime soon. If you are completely changing the look of a room, think about what you can reuse, upcycle or pass onto loved ones to keep your home decor as sustainable as possible.
You should also think about:
- The size of your space – darker colours, like those on-trend chocolate browns, could dominate a small space, so think carefully about where you place these shades
- Think about what you use each space for – if you work from home, bear in mind that brown walls might look very dark on a virtual call, but tropical leaf-patterned walls would create a fun, vibrant background
- What do you already have in the house? If you’ve got brown throws hidden away in a cupboard, now could be the time to unearth them and put them centre stage
Explore all of the latest wallpaper trends in our collection. If you have any questions about our wallpaper, please contact us here.