19 Interior Decorating Trends in 2022 - QC Design School

Dream of a career in home design? Want to take on a project in your own home?

Here are 19 upcoming interior decorating trends in 2022 that need to be on your radar!

19 Interior Decorating Trends in 2022 That You’ll Love

1. A Feature Wall

Feature walls (also known as accent walls) have been popular for many years now, and this trend won’t be going anywhere in 2022! In a nutshell, it’s one wall in a room that has a different color, shade, texture, material, or design in comparison to the other walls in that space.

When done properly, an accent wall will stand out and draw one’s focus immediately to it; creating a natural focal point of the room. If you’ve never put together a feature wall before, here are some handy do’s and don’ts from The Spruce!

Interior decorating trends in 2022 image 1 Feature accent wall in bedroom

2. Textured Wallpaper

Textured wallpaper is meant to give a 3-dimensional illusion. To the touch, the texture can either be raised and pop out, or be smooth and flat. Either way, it adds depth to a space and is a popular interior decorating style that’s here to stay!

Textured wallpaper example, interior decorating trend

Not sure whether a fresh coat of paint vs. wallpaper is the right interior decorating trend for you to try in 2022? Here’s an article to help you decide!

3. Bold Colors

Another way you can add some POP to a room in 2022 is to make use of bold, vivid colors. The key here is just to make sure you don’t overdo it! For example, a smart idea would be to incorporate bold colors as accent colors.

A great tip for finding proper balance is the “60/30/10 rule”, as discussed in this article by MYMOVE. Here’s how they define this rule:

“You choose one color – usually your most neutral shade – to be the dominant color and cover 60 percent of the room. Then you have your secondary color, a slightly bolder shade, cover approximately 30 percent of the room. Finally, your accent color, which is your most eye-catching shade, should make up the last 10 percent of the room.”

Interior decorating trends in 2022 bold colors in living room

4. Tasteful Animal Print

Look, I won’t mince words: when used excessively, animal print can quickly become, well, tacky. However, if used sparingly and smartly, it can actually be quite visually appealing!

So, if you’d like to add a bit of character to your home in 2022, here are a few quick ways you can tastefully incorporate the ever-popular home design trend that is animal print:

  • Add animal print accent pillows to your couch or bed
  • Use neutral animal prints in accessories and/or decor
  • Decorate your living room with an animal print rug, with a pattern inspired by zebra stripes, leopard spots, etc.
  • Pick one type of animal print (e.g., tiger stripes) and use only that, rather than a confusing mish-mash of different prints
  • Choose ONE element of the room to incorporate your animal print into, such as a furniture cover, piece of artwork, etc.
Beautiful pillows of a leopard color, interior decorating trend

5. Two-Toned Wood Furniture

Another popular interior design trend in 2022 will be two-toned wood furniture. Here, a beautiful contrast of light vs. dark wood is used together to create an eye-catching, slightly quirky, yet overall harmonious effect.

If you’re someone who’s more prone to modern, minimalist, contemporary, and/or natural home design styles, then this decorating trend is PERFECT for you!

Interested in DIYing your very own piece of two-toned wood furniture? This article by Bloom in the Black provides some interesting tips and tricks you might find useful!

Interior decorating trends in 2022 image 5 two-toned coffee table in living room

6. Mixing Textures

Texture is used to add dimension and depth to a space. Moreover, it gives the space a specific, intended feel. Without it, a room will feel bland, boring, and flat. Thus, in the world of interior decorating trends, it’s not only vital to use texture, but mix different textures together.

Luckily, there are countless ways you can layer your textures! For instance, you can combine different linens within a bedroom or living room. If you have a smooth duvet cover on your bed, you could always cover your pillows in a thick wool pillow case.

Other examples would be to combine textures in your decor, accessories, and/or furniture. If, for instance, you wanted to create the feel of a rustic space in an otherwise urban kitchen, combining rattan chairs with a wooden dining table would do the trick! If you’d like to add dimension to your living room or home office, add some artwork that gives a 3-D illusion.

You get the idea!

Vase on metal table and grey lamp in spacious bedroom with white carpet and gallery on wall above bed, mixing textures concept

7. Earth Tones

What’s better than bringing the outdoors in? If you’re someone who wishes to deepen your connection to nature and add a calm serenity to your living environment, working with earth tones is definitely an interior decorating trend you’ll want to try in 2022!

For one thing, earth tones (i.e., browns, coppers, reds, taupes, oranges, greens, grays, and even some blues) help warm up cooler, neutral tones. Secondly, they’re naturally perceived as being settling, relaxing colors. When incorporated into your environment, you’ll be able to benefit from their soothing influence and be more at peace within that little safe haven you call your home.

Interior decorating trends in 2022, living room with earth tones

You can take this interior decorating trend one step further by also adding some live greenery to your room(s). If your green thumb is relatively new, here’s our Green Guide to working with plants at home!

8. Multipurpose Spaces

Ever since the COVID pandemic began, more and more people who were confined to their homes realized the need for multifunctional spaces. Whether it’s a living room that can double as the kids’ in-home classroom, or a spare bedroom that also operates as a home office – using a single space for more than one purpose can be extremely savvy and beneficial.

This is particularly the case if you live in a smaller home or apartment, where every square inch counts!

Ready to go through your home and decide where you can create efficient, multipurpose spaces? DKOR Interiors offers these 5 tips to make the process a breeze!

Interior of room with comfortable designer workplace

9. Sustainable Design

Eco-friendly design is a process wherein the item itself (e.g. furniture piece), its installation, and (if applicable) its eventual disposal do not harm the environment. Doing our part to care for the planet is always an important (and popular) interior decorating and home design trend. As such, we can say with absolute certainty that this will remain the case in 2022 and beyond.

So, how can YOU incorporate sustainable design into your home? Here are some suggestions:

  • Use upcycled or re-used items for decor and/or accessories!
  • Focus on plant-life as your home decor!
  • Maximize natural light whenever possible!
    • You can also paint your walls in darker colors, in order to better absorb natural light.
  • Avoid anything that contains volatile organic compounds (a.k.a., VOC content)!
  • Invest in furniture made from all-natural materials!
  • Source local products and resources, in order to help lower vehicle emissions that would otherwise be needed for longer travel!
  • Use environmentally-friendly paint and/or wallpaper made of recycled or FSC-certified paper!
Interior decorating trends in 2022 image 9 eco-friendly living room concept

10. Convertible Furniture

Similar to multipurpose spaces, convertible furniture has been growing quickly in popularity… and with good reason! Not only can it help you save a TON of space; it’s also productive and super efficient.

Some common examples of convertible furniture include:

  • Storage stools and ottomans
  • Shelf lamps
  • Futons, as well as couches and/or chairs that convert to beds
  • Coffee tables that can convert into dining tables
  • Coffee tables that can convert into side tables
  • Multipurpose folding desks/tables
  • Expandable furniture
  • Stairs with build-in storage
  • Sofa bunk beds
Modern architecture interior with luxury hallway with glossy wooden stairs in multi-storey house. Custom built pullout cabinets on glides in slots under stairs. Use of space for storage.

11. Warm-Toned Kitchens

It goes without saying that crisp, white kitchens are an interior decorating trend that’ll forever remain timeless and in-demand. That said, the tide’s been changing, with current interests shifting more towards warmer, comfy, and cozy kitchens instead.

Thus, as we approach 2022, warm-toned kitchens will continue to be on the rise! If you’ve been wanting to add some warmth to your kitchen space, you can always switch up the color of your wall paint or add a warmer accent color to the trim. Another great option is to swap out your furniture and/or decor with wooden, natural alternatives and – as we talked about before – earth tones!

Interior decorating trends in 2022 image 11, warm-toned kitchen

12. 70s Interior Decorating Trends

Now, I’ll be the first to say that this particular home design trend isn’t for everyone. However, those with a love of all things retro have made 70s interior design come back to life over the past year – often, with a bit of a modern spin added to it. So, if you fall into this category, why not bring a little bit of the past into your present as you move forward into 2022?

Interestingly, many of the ways you can create a retro feel in a modern home draw on trends we’ve already looked at in this article. Combining textures, using warmer colors, utilizing specific types of furniture (such as rattan or wicker items) are just a few examples. Another idea is to use more antiques within your decor pieces.

If you’re interested in learning about even more ways to create a 70s style within your home, this article by Better Homes & Gardens has everything you need to get started!

Vintage interior decoration with a retro sofa, old posters, macrame plant hangers, retro print cushions.

13. Black Accents

The beauty of this trend is that you can approach it from whatever angle best suits your personal preferences. There’s definitely no shortage of ideas out there! You can easily add black accents to any room through the use of paint, furniture, accessories, decor, artwork, etc.

And if you combine the two? Talk about a stunning final result!

If you want to elevate a space and make it more sleek and stylish, there’s rarely a better color to achieve this than black. Yes, warmer, earthy tones are set to sweep the interior decorating world in 2022. But all the same, black accents will be just as popular, too.

Interior decorating trends in 2022 image 13, living room with black accents

14. Minimalism

Minimalism is one of those interior decorating trends – and lifestyles in general – that’s been popular for decades. Ever since the emergence of the KonMari Method, however, minimalistic living has taken the world over by storm; with no signs of slowing down in the years to come.

Similar to modern interior design, minimalism is basically creating and living within a simplistic, uncluttered space. You focus on the things you need, rather than the material items you simply want. Characteristically, minimalism is known for clean lines and a monochromatic color palette. Bolder colors can still be incorporated sparingly, but are typically done so via accents.

Minimalism concept, interior decorating trends

Did you know that QC Design School’s self-paced, online Feng Shui Design certification course will arm you with all the tools needed to not only become a master of minimalism – but help paying clients incorporate it into their lives as well? Check out the full program details here, enroll today, and graduate in as little as 3-6 months!

15. Rounded Shapes + Edges

Whether it be furniture, decor, accessories, or artwork – rounded shapes give off a softer, more welcoming vibe. Though this interior decorating trend has been around for a long time, it’s been making quite the comeback as of late, and will continue doing so in 2022.

For example, if you feel your living room could use a little softening up, invest in a couch and/or loveseat whose rigid lines are offset by gentle, curved edges. These days, it’s super easy to find gorgeous, affordable furniture without those pesky, pointy corners.

Interior decorating trends in 2022 image 15, living room with furniture of rounded shapes

16. Home Offices

By early 2022, it’ll be 2 whole years since the COVID pandemic hit the world on a global scale. Over that period of time, many of us adjusted our way of working by instead doing our jobs remotely, from the comfort of home.

Since we’re not out of the woods yet, work-from-home environments will more than likely continue to be the norm as we move into the new year. Moreover, once things do return to normal, many businesses may either continue offering remote working conditions to their employees, or adapt a new, hybrid work model.

If you’ve been working from home, it’s essential that you set up a functional, motivating, and comfortable space from which you can do your job. Looking for some tips to get started? We offer 5 here in this helpful blog article!

At-home office, interior decorating trends

17. Home Gardening

Home gardening has also grown especially popular as a result of widespread quarantines and social distancing restrictions. In terms of interior decorating trends in 2022, our list would be incomplete if we didn’t include it! If anything, this trend will only become even more popular next year.

Outside of your home, developing a beautiful garden and lawn space will improve the overall curb appeal of your property. That means that if you ever decide to list your house on the market, its heightened value will allow you to get even more money for it!

But even if you’re not looking to move anytime soon, a well-maintained landscape will make you that much prouder of your home.

Home gardening can also be done indoors as well. You can grow your own greenery, which can be used as energizing, peaceful decor pieces. Additionally, you can even grow a mini garden for things like herbs, to be used when cooking delicious meals.

Interior decorating trends in 2022, home gardening

Fun Fact: QC Design School recently launched a Landscape Design Course! Click here for more info and start your journey towards becoming an International Landscape Design Professional (ILDP)!

18. Herringbone Floors

The one disclaimer we’ll give about herringbone floors is that, thanks to their pattern, a room can quickly feel too noisy if too much else is added. So, in order to let the floor’s shape do all the talking, compliment it with minimal decor and a more neutral color palette.

Much like retro 70s home design, herringbone floors have been making quite the comeback and will only be even more in-demand throughout 2022. Resembling the bone structure of a herring fish, this style of flooring is made up of an arrangement of rectangular blocks that have been cut at a 90-degree angle.

Herringbone PVC flooring with decoration, interior decorating trends

19. Spaces with Personality

Sure, depersonalization has its use – namely, in the world of professional home staging. But if you’re working within your own home, or helping a client decorate theirs, this is the LAST thing you want to do!

After all, who wants to live in a home that doesn’t have any personality? That sounds boring to us!

For example, if you’re a quirky, artistic individual, don’t be afraid to add some of that fun funkiness to your home! Play with different colors to use in different rooms, try out different things to hang on your walls, see what styles of furniture best represent your personality, etc.

After all, this is your space. It should reflect – at least, to some extent – who you are and what you’re all about!

Interior decorating trends in 2022 image 19, music-themed bedroom

Tell us your thoughts in the comments down below!

Which trend(s) discussed in this article appeal to you most? Can you think of any others to add to this list?

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