Lifestyle and Interior Design Trends to Look for in the New Year
We've compiled the most up-to-date trends across home design, food, fashion, travel and gardening to look for and implement into your space.

Related To:

Photo By: Pinterest
Photo By: Photo Courtesy Nina Magon, Contour Interior Design
Photo By: Nick Glimenakis
Photo By: Pinterest
Photo By: Robert Peterson, Rustic White
Photo By: Shutterstock
Photo By: Pinterest
Photo By: Shutterstock
Photo By: Courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Miami Beach
Photo By: Kris Tamburello; Design By: Amy Lau, Amy Lau Design
Photo By: Zeke Ruelas
Photo By: Jenna Peffley
Photo By: Courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Miami Beach
Photo By: Williams-Sonoma.com
Photo By: Amy Bartlam
Photo By: Tomas Espinoza
Photo By: Robert Peterson, Rustic White Photography
Photo By: Edoardo Marino
Photo By: Shutterstock/Rawpixel.com
Photo By: Pinterest
Photo By: Great Jones
Photo By: Ray J. Gadd
Photo By: J Ashley Photography
Photo By: Phoebe Chuason
Photo By: Alexia Fodere
Photo By: Giselle Mays
Photo By: First Team Estates, a member of Luxury Portfolio International
Photo By: Pinterest
Photo By: Alex Zarour, Virtually Here Studios
Photo By: Shayla Owodunni
Photo By: Alice Gao
Photo By: Marie Buck
Photo By: Pinterest
Photo By: Jonathan Davis; Chris Foster
Photo By: Alice Gao
Photo By: Laurey Glenn
Photo By: Amy Bartlam
Photo By: Faith Blakeney
Photo By: Tomas Espinoza
Photo By: Matt Mansueto
Photo By: Ashley Monogue Photography
Photo By: Tomas Espinoza
Photo By: Jeff Herr
©Matt Huesmann
Photo By: Hot Pink Pineapples ©HotPinkPineapples
Photo By: North Fork Design Company
Photo By: West Elm
Photo By: Robert Peterson,Rustic White
Photo By: Bala Pham
Photo By: CaneCutters
Photo By: Jenna Peffley
Photo By: Shutterstock/Tatyana Mut
Photo By: Robert Peterson, Rustic White
Photo By: Jimi Smith
Photo By: Alice Gao
Photo By: Giselle Mays
Photo By: Sarai Reed
Photo By: Tomas Espinoza
Photo By: Robert Peterson; Rustic White Photography
Photo By: Anthony Crisafulli, Stelle Lomont Rouhani Architects, Julie Hillman Design, Seascape Partners, Renner Landscaping, Orsman Design, Inter-Science Research Associates, Southampton Engineering
Photo By: Angela West
Photo By: Tamara Alvarez
Photo By: Courtesy of Hilton Carter
Photo By: Angie Silvy
Photo By: Emily Basham-Hoelscher
Photo By: Eric Perry
Photo By: Ball Horticultural Co.
©2021 Nickolas Sargent Photography
Photo By: Christian Garibaldi, Garibaldi Imagineering LLC
Photo By: Suzanna Scott Photography
Photo By: Tucker English Photography
Photo By: Samsung
Photo By: FORBES + MASTERS, FORBES + MASTERS, FORBES + MASTERS
Photo By: Cosentino
Photo By: Shutterstock
Photo By: Shutterstock
Photo By: Meghan Bob
Photo By: Canary Grey
Photo By: Pinewood Forest
Photo By: Alexia Fodere
Photo By: Karyn Millet
Photo By: Shutterstock
Photo By: Jessica Alexander
Photo By: Brittany Ambridge
Photo By: Gavin Cater
Photo By: Shannon Lazic
Photo By: J Ashley Photography
Photo By: Chas Everitt International Property Group, a member of Luxury Portfolio International
Photo By: Ciro Coelho
Photo By: Design 4 Corners
Photo By: NATE SHEETS
Photo By: Robert Peterson, Rustic White Photography
Photo By: Jennifer Boomer/Verbatim Photo A
Photo By: Galina Coada
Photo By: Tim Lenz
Photo By: GE
Photo By: Lisa Vollmer Photography
Photo By: Debra Ackerbloom Interiors
Photo By: Tomas Espinoza
Photo By: Tomas Espinoza
Photo By: Tomas Espinoza
Photo By: Patrick Sheehan
Photo By: D2 Interieurs
Photo By: Helynn Ospina Photography
Photo By: Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate, a member of Luxury Portfolio International
Photo By: BBP
Photo By: Sean Vinyl Gardner
Photo By: Manolo Langis, langoworks.com
Photo By: Shain Rievley
Photo By: Ryan Garvin
Photo By: Giselle Mays
Photo By: Shutterstock
Photo By: Pearson
Photo By: Gavin Cater
The Top Design, Wellness, Food and Fashion Trends
HGTV turned to their friends at Pinterest, Yelp, Trend Bible and a host of HGTV designers to round up the latest and greatest things you should look forward to, from pearlcore and climate change gardening to curves, curves and more curves.
Cheeky, Curvy Furniture
Founded on a joyful, escapist approach to design, curved couches and chairs captivate the eye with interesting shapes and make the home into a chill-ready space.
Granny Pods
These little buildings are keeping relatives close to home and close to care without breaking the bank. And as more cities nationwide relax building codes, you’ll be seeing more granny pods popping up.
Night Travel Is Trending
According to the trend prognosticators at Pinterest, travel after sundown will be a major 2022 travel trend. Great opportunities for night photography and the peaceful solitude of road trips at night, exploring cities after dark and the thrill of bioluminscent sea creatures make this a fun new way to see the world.
Wood Brings Warmth
New applications of this organic medium are brought into the home, including (so long, shiplap!) modern, sound-insulating wood panels, wood-accented ceilings, wood room dividers and an increasing number of lighter, brighter wood kitchen cabinets to counter the dark, heavy wood cabinet look of the past.
Pearlcore
Pinterest reports that what they have dubbed "Pearlcore" is on the rise: pearl rings, pearl necklaces for men and all things pretty and pearly.
Rainbow Fashion
According to the trend soothsayers at Pinterest, 2022 will bring explosive color to our clothing. "People are headed somewhere over the rainbow this year with vibrant outfits and colorful palettes. From rainbow dresses to electric blue outfits, 2022 fashion will be all about feel-good fits with an electric kick. All genders and age groups are driving this trend."
Biophilic Design
The practice of connecting people and nature within our built environments and communities will be trending in 2022. Paris is replacing half of its 140,000 on-street parking spaces with gardens. "After over a year of being shut inside, I think 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. An emphasis on creating calming environments with natural lighting and ventilation, incorporating plants, and creating a visual connection with nature," says designer Amanda Thompson.
Therapeutic Spaces
Therapeutic spaces for rest and recuperation that allow people to recharge are ascendent. Yoga studios and wellness-inspired design, spa bathrooms, bedrooms designed for the best sleep and spaces for unplugging and napping will be important for physical and mental recovery. Atlanta artist Tricia Hersey has created a “Nap Ministry” that heralds the restorative power of rest and rest as resistance.
New Applications and Shapes for Wood
Simulated nature in veneers and wood-look materials offers second-best human-made approaches. Wood veneers mixed with hardwoods and raw, natural wood in beams, walls, room dividers, and kitchens will be everywhere in 2022.
Totally Tubular Shapes
Movement, ebb and flow and forms that diverge from the straight and rigid will define both tabletop objects and soft furniture.
Bringing the Outside In
In 2022, we will see more natural colors and elements being brought into home design. Connecting our inside spaces to the outside world brings solace and peace to our homes.
Eco Resorts at Home
Home interiors will increasingly resemble high-end eco resorts to make people feel relaxed and cocooned in nature-inspired luxury.
Micro-Farming
Indoor farming year-round will expand in the future and even move into mushroom and algae growing for health and wellness.
12 Best Indoor Herb Garden Kits
Color Blocking
Graphic, punchy, bold forms bring a fresh, youthful look to this nature-meets-tech trend with forms from nature and urban architecture blended seamlessly.
Quilted & Puffer Patterns
Bringing the look of the outside in, quilted and puffer patterns will be increasingly seen in home furnishings. Reminiscent of outdoor wear, this texture is cozy and inviting.
Design-Forward Pets
In 2022 we will see a need for high-design to transform the utilitarian dog bed, bowl, cat climb and leash storage into something uniquely beautiful. “Investing in long lasting pet items that are designer-friendly is a great use of money, and just buying something once instead of replacing things again and again," says HGTV Dream Home and HGTV Urban Oasis designer Brian Patrick Flynn. Chic, graphic pet gear from companies like Fable will allow cat and dog accessories to better blend with our surroundings.
Wellness, Beauty and Skincare
Foams, gels, botanical ingredients and soothing scents in skincare products will bring unexpected pleasures to quotidian rituals. Smart and sensitive lighting will regulate mood and balance our circadian rhythms, adjusting to wake us up or lull us to sleep.
Learn More: 22 Skincare Products With Cutting-Edge Ingredients to Enhance Your 2022 Wellness Routine
Journaling and Letter Writing
Journaling, letter-writing and scrapbooking will take on renewed significance in an age when handwriting is often not part of the curriculum. These practices offer ways of connecting with others, expressing gratitude, encouraging introspection and celebrating memory, family and the healing power of nostalgia.
Learn More: 10 Ways Showing Gratitude Can Make You Happier
Sparkle Accessories
"Gen Z is driving a trend toward accessories that go way beyond the basic earring, cuff or layered necklace," says Pinterest. "They’re getting creative and accessorizing the whole body, from tooth gems to crystal eye embellishments."
Retro Curves Everywhere
Companies like mod bakeware spot Great Jones are bringing the trend for curves to almost every design and decor surface, including these charming stoneware Hot Dish casserole dishes.
Nootropics
Nootropics, or drugs, supplements and other substances that claim to improve cognitive function, particularly executive functions, memory, creativity, or motivation, in healthy individuals will be added to our wellness diets in 2022. Companies like Flume are producing botanically-based products for better sleep (Drift) and for better outdoor performance like Flow that blend nootropic and adaptogenic plants sourced in South America and India to sharpen focus and uplift mood — all in the pursuit of flow.
Learn More: How I Learned to Sleep Better, Naturally
Geometric Art
Geometric forms and graphic patterns bring urban vibes to the home that make every room feel like a modern piece of art.
Leather Pulls + Hardware
Leather hardware brings a modern, natural look to home design. Not only is this a unique interpretation on modern hardware styles, it will also patina over time, creating an ever-changing appearance that brings a one-of-a-kind look to any space.
Vacay Vibes
In 2022, homeowners will begin to create a feeling of summertime escape within their own spaces. Vacation vibes, from deck chair stripes to palm tree prints, will be seen throughout the home in patterns, textures and materials that evoke the look of our favorite resorts.
More Woven Materials
Woven, naturally derived materials like bamboo, cane and rattan bring added warmth to the design of a space. Lending that vacation vibe is Staycation’s complex and unique blend of bright, saturated colors with natural materials.
Terra Cotta Tile
Terra Cotta tiles exude earth tones and bring a warm, natural look underfoot. This material is inexpensive and durable, making it an easy choice.
The Pros and Cons of Terra Cotta Tile
Cake Will Be King in 2022
Sweet treat trends come and go. It's cupcakes one minute, macarons and pie the next, then donuts and cronuts. But Pinterest predicts elaborate cakes are the next rising treat trend. Tiered cakes, bubble and 3D cakes will be big with Millennials, Gen X and Boomers, says Pinterest.
Cacti Flower
With its radiant pink blossom and gorgeous green stem, including this motif in your design will radiate warmth and lend a tropical vibe to your space.
At-Home Junglescapes
In 2022, when traveling to the tropics may not be an option, bringing the tropics into the home is the next best thing.
Hardcore Tropical
Designers like Ken Fulk, who created the on-trend spaces at Miami's Goodtime Hotel, have taken tropical touches like palm trees and flower forms and made them next level. Look for even more over-the-top tropical in 2022.
Boho Gardens
This elegant, fresh take on the boho trend will see mixing of textures and colors, and emphasizes statement plants with graphic foliage, blooms with an ombre effect like sedum, and the lacy texture of Japanese maples.
Puff Hair Styles
Space buns, natural hairstyles and high puff hairstyles will be big in 2022, say the experts at Pinterest. People will celebrate their natural texture with these fun looks that bring a fresh new perspective to beauty.
Gardening for Mental Health
Gardens will feature movement and sound (grasses, wind chimes), fragrance (nostalgic classics like lilacs and gardenias), happy pinks and yellows and the benefits of plants as medicine.
Scalloped Design
Look for scalloped drapery, bedding and wall treatments throughout the Endless Summer desin trend.
Tropical Prints
This design trend makes your home feel like an endless vacation. Maximize the year-round summertime look by incorporating a tropical leaf print wallpaper into your home.
Rich, Moody Rooms
Homeowners are looking for a way to escape the world and awaken the senses. Multisensory design will be more edgy and psychedelic with high contrast colors, like black and blue, Op art and a moody nightclub vibe.
Prismatic Forms
Creating an optical illusion and ever-changing art dominated by sunlight, this vivid design element is a show-stopper.
Checkerboard Prints
Checkerboard print is playful, graphic and punchy, taking your design to the next level.
Ribbed Effects
Not only does this pattern add drama to any space or object, it also provides texture that can't be ignored.
Tubs on the Way Out
With so many of us no longer having the time for a luxurious soak (and wanting to save both water and clean-up) the tub may soon go the way of the dinosaur and be increasingly replaced with a shower-only set up.
Showers for Two
The shower half of this wet room has more than enough room for two. There are even two handheld shower faucets and two separate niches for toiletries. Larger, two-person showers are a major 2022 push, say the experts at the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA).
Glass-Free Wet Rooms
A pony wall separates the freestanding tub from the open spa-like shower, with a variety of shower fixtures to suit any mood. Glass-free showers are also less costly and easier to clean, say the experts at NKBA who see this trend rising in 2022.
Universal Design
Design experts at NKBA say homeowners building or renovating homes are looking to incorporate Universal Design features into their spaces so that they can welcome guests and family members of all ages and abilities and also create a home where they can age in place. Universal Design features that are trending in the bathroom include nonslip floors, grab bars and built-in shower benches.
Green Is the New White
Homeowners will grow tired of white kitchens and gravitate toward naturalistic shades of green and blue, design experts at NKBA predict. Green will be big not just in kitchens, but throughout the home where shades from seafoam to emerald will be trending.
Translucence + Transparency
Ethereal, delicate and sensual will be buzzwords in home design in 2022 and will be seen in stained glass, translucent resin, sheer chiffon, pastel glass, fragile eggshell and porcelain surfaces and inky brushstrokes and watercolor treatments that lend calm to the home.
Soft Pastels Paired With Soft Design
Home design will begin to mirror our internal quest for tranquility. Look for colors that relax and calm like vanilla, blush and seafoam, balanced with saturated pastels of merlot and gray lilac.
Wavy, Undulating Forms
Flowing, wavy forms will dominate home decor. These shapes are more attractive to the eye and less jarring than harsh, sharp angles. Organic, flowing, playful forms bring joy to interior design.
Ribbon Shapes Will Abound
“Getting away from rigid lines seems to be a huge way to make spaces feel more balanced with a mix of fluid lines and rectilinear shapes,” says designer Brian Patrick Flynn of the new ribbon design trend.
Boucle Will Be Big
This cozy fabric is sensuous and comforting to the touch, like wellness in fabric form.
This Cozy Chair Is Perfect for Fall and We Found a Dupe for Nearly Half Off
Floral Shapes
Abstracted florals, leaves, grasses and also dried florals will be popping up everywhere in 2022.
Ancestral Eats
This classic South African dish, bunny chow, features curry served in hollowed out white bread. Trend experts at Pinterest say that the growing interest in identity and heritage will drive the trend for Ancestral Eats in 2022, with South African, Filipino, Arabic, Norwegian and Russian foodways all on trend.
Raw, Earthy Looks Will Reign
Look for neutral color schemes and organic-with-an-edge materials to dominate in 2022, with a growing trend for stone vases and lamp bases, marble countertops, reclaimed wooden beams, chunky knitted throws, stone figurines, wood tables and chairs.
Naturalistic Gardens
A lush, naturalistic look will take hold in garden design, marrying a human touch to nature with wild, perennial gardens in the style of Dutch designer Piet Oudolf’s spaces.
Learn More: Are These the World’s Most Beautiful Gardens?
Nature + Tech
Vegan “leathers” — like this caramel vegan leather chair made from pineapple, apple peels, and cork — will allow a warm, contemporary look thanks to new technologies. A Dutch designer’s stained glass-inspired solar panels show nature and tech working in harmony. Cutting-edge, realistic artificial grass will provide design options for high-drought areas.
Artificial Grass Will Grow in Popularity
“Artificial grass and xeriscapes and zeroscapes* will continue to explode because of present and future water shortages," says garden designer and Discovery+ show Clipped judge, Fernando Wong.
*Xeriscaping: Replacing lawns with soil, rocks, mulch and native plants to eliminate or reduce the need for irrigation and maintenance. Zeroscaping: A landscape design popular in desert settings with dirt or gravel and few to no plants.
See More Photos: 40 Beautiful Artificial Turf Designs
Nature Goes Graphic
Forms seen in nature are increasingly brought into decor in an interesting, graphically sophisticated way, with abstracted mushroom lamps and leaf wallpaper. The ahead-of-the-trend curve Goodtime Hotel in Miami combines nature and whimsy to clever ends at poolside.
Mood Altering Lighting
Smart and sensitive lighting will regulate mood and balance our circadian rhythms, adjusting to wake us up or lull us to sleep. On the other end of the spectrum, bold indigo, purple and pink lighting will bring a vibrant, upbeat nightclub aesthetic to the home. Rather than lighting to calm down or wake up and tap into our circadian rhythms, this is lighting to create a mood, to transport us to another reality and blur the line between the digital and physical realms.
Sunshine-Inspired Interiors
Hopeful and full of energy, arcs and curves that evoke the sun and bright colors pouring into the room gives this trend its bright spirit.
Candy House Color
Mellow pastels are often paired with high-energy color in the “candy house” trend. Combos of vivid and softer pastels layered with deep rich raspberries and goldenrod yellows deliver the proper sugary vibe.
Happy Vibes
“The washed out neutrals with white that have dominated the design world, those have caused the pendulum to swing the other direction to embrace happy hues,” says HGTV designer Brian Patrick Flynn.
Upscale Relaxation
People are investing more money in their outdoor spaces, which are becoming as luxurious as their indoor spaces.
Monochrome Gardens
“On a design level, people are going away from color and doing more all-green gardens with one color such as white. The demand for resort style pools and amenities will also continue to be in high demand," says Palm Beach-based garden designer Fernando Wong.
Backyard Jungles
Homeowners are creating a comforting sense of enclosure outdoors with plants for the feel of an exotic tropical destination close to home.
Exotic Statement Houseplants
The influence of garden trendsetters like Hilton Carter and Justina Blakeney will help popularize living room-consuming junglescapes that are filled with unique plants, like rubber trees and palms.
Gen Z Yellow
The 2022 answer to Millennial Pink: a vibrant, neon yellow, often described as Gen Z Yellow, will pop up more and more as a punchy accent, often combined with seafoam and eggplant.
Nightlife-Inspired Spaces
The party’s always happening at home in 2022 and design will feature trippy home decor elements, glowing cocktails, home bars, moody decor and disco balls.
Psychedelic, Op Art and Glitch Design
The hallucinogenic patterns of Sixties-style graphics have combined with contemporary digital-centric glitch art to create new patterns that share a fascination with strange, disrupted, moire and perforated patterns and a sense of movement.
Home Bars (in Every Room) Will Be Big
A mini fridge in this primary bedroom offers cocktail potential at any hour of the day. “This is huge because of how people seem to be hanging out at one another's homes rather than going out in groups," says HGTV designer Brian Patrick Flynn.
High Contrast in the Garden
Dark foliage plants will contrast with bright blooms. Black materials like black stones and pebbles will be prominent in garden design.
Social Closets
Closets are no longer just about organization. They are also increasingly designed and decorated social spaces where dressing and meeting with friends becomes an event. Designer Nicole White created a boutique-worthy experience in this gorgeous closet featuring a large artwork by Kabriah Asha and a statement ribbon candy light fixture. She has installed a long mirror on the left for capturing selfies and used open glass storage to highlight jewelry, shoes and other accessories to create a boutique display case effect. She recommends using brass hardware for rods and hooks inside closets to enhance the luxe factor. A makeup station with oversize mirror and seating creates a fully-functional space. White's advice for homeowners who want to take their closet to the next level? "Treat the closet as a room."
Learn More: 32 Showhouse Design Trends That Will Help You Up Your Style Game
Black Accents Are Everywhere
More design-forward than all-white looks, black makes any design more elevated in molding, vases, railings, chairs, dressers, floors, door frames, paint, credenzas, curtain rods and more.
Ceilings as the Fifth Wall
Paint, murals, decals, woodwork, wallpaper and wood take advantage of this unused space and create a cocooning effect.
See More Photos: 8 Reasons Designers Are Painting Ceilings
Flex-Housing
With 3-D printed homes, modular homes and prefab housing becoming more popular, homeowners can find adaptability, lower price and innovation in their idea of home. This 2,400 square foot house in Seattle is a Greenfab prefab house with excellent energy performance.
High-Design Appliances
Everyday appliances will be more colorful, sleek and multi-purpose, worth the extra cost for homeowners spending more time at home.
Heritage Design
Longing to connect with their ancestors and origins, homeowners will work to bring fabrics, objects and meaningful design that reflects their heritage into their spaces. "Beautiful spaces are great, but if people can't see themselves in it, it's hard for them to connect to it. If you can incorporate pieces of humanity and pieces of people's culture or their past or their history…then those spaces are that much more successful," says Carmeon Hamilton of Design Star: Next Gen.
European-Style Solid Surfaces
Brand experts identify grout-less, European-style continuous solid surfaces in bathrooms and kitchens as the future for max post-Covid cleanliness and sleekness, with less grout meaning easier maintenance. Touchless and voice-activated systems offer additional germ-protection.
Scandi-Inspired Parenting
Scandi-influenced design has made major inroads into our homes. But in 2022 we will see Nordic parenting styles including more nature play and outdoor napping catching on in America. Outdoor napping and forest playing will bring fresh approaches to human interaction and innovative products in the same way the Scandinavian approach influenced interior design.
Front Yard Hangouts
"With so many people working from home now and not interacting with lots of other office mates, this is a way for neighbors to help break up long days working inside by hanging out before or after work," says designer Brian Patrick Flynn of the shift in 2022 from backyard to front yard socializing.
Open Floor Plans in the Rearview
With WFH, distinct work and relaxation zones are critical, and we will see new ways to break up space with dividers and taller furniture, as well as a move to homes that feature discrete spaces for work, play, entertaining and rest.
The Move Away From Ownership
Renting, borrowing, repairing, reusing and free marketplaces like Olio will replace IRL objects. Companies like Conjure are creating high-design products for style-minded renters in urban centers.
Communal Living
As counterbalance to Covid-era solitude and economic devastation, community will be an antidote. As we realize our global and also local interconnectedness, community will be expanded and reshaped. Greenspaces that are accessible to all, regardless of race and socio-economic status, will become more important. The European model of multiple generations in the same home will grow in America, novel ways to address aging, and a culture of sharing will lead to more and better ways to live, including co-housing, co-living (sharing space) and homesharing.
Splodgy Shapes, Blobs, Wobbly Lines, Palm Leaves and Cacti
A sense of fun and a tropical vibe come through in patterns and designs with biomorphic and organic shapes, from wallpaper to furniture and decorative objects.
Gaming Rooms
The younger 9 to 24-year-old Gen Z audience will want spaces devoted to gaming and virtual reality as home theaters and rec rooms make way for gaming rooms. This generation's love of physical spaces that can shift mood based on lighting, and a natural affinity for the virtual worlds of gaming and the digital realm are especially appealing to this digital native generation.
Colorful Kitchens on the Rise
According to the experts at NKBA, 43 percent of designers predict more colorful kitchens will rise in popularity in the next 2-3 years. Green and blue cabinets that reference nature will be especially popular.
See More Photos: Top 36 Kitchen Paint Colors
Cat Rooms and Dog Spaces
According to Pinterest, 2022 will bring homes centered on our beloved critters. In 2022, people will redesign their homes with their fur babies at the forefront, from luxury dog rooms to “catified” homes.
See More Photos: Dogs + Home Design: 50 Adorable Photos
Couples Counseling
According to the trend experts at Pinterest, 2022 will bring a fresh interest in going deep into relationships. Pinterest experts predict that "people across all age groups will transform their relationships — with their partners, with their loved ones and with themselves."
Bold Backsplashes
NKBA thinks bold backsplashes and statement walls will be trending in 2022 kitchens.
See More Photos: Gorgeous Kitchen Backsplash Options and Ideas
Matte and Brushed Finishes
Shine is out and black and matte finishes or brushed finishes in pewter, nickel and stainless will be popular in coming years, according to NKBA.
Natural and Organic Style
Fifty-seven percent of NKBA designers are saying natural and organic styles will dominate both kitchen and bath design in the next 2-3 years, driven largely by millennial tastes. A desire for spaces that offer serenity and sanctuary is key.
More Dedicated Work Spaces for Kids
Following the pandemic, the need for a space where kids can work without distractions is newly apparent and a trend that designers think will continue into the future.
Large Windows in Kitchens and Baths
The NKBA predicts more, larger windows in kitchens and baths to let the light and nature in. A desire to connect with the outdoors even when inside is undoubtedly one of the results of our Covid-era isolation.
More Wood in the Bathroom
The NKBA sees natural wood looks becoming more and more popular in bathrooms.
Beachy Baths
According to the NKBA, designers are seeing a move away from gray and white in the bathroom to more skin-flattering teals, peaches, greens, blues and other colors evocative of the seaside.
Natural Wood Grain Cabinets
As opposed to stained or painted bathroom cabinets, designers are seeing more natural wood grains in bathroom cabinets, according to the NKBA.
Quartz Is King
NKBA predicts the growing popularity of light quartz with a waterfall edge as a countertop surface. Easy to clean, these surfaces also provide a sanitary surface. The same applies in bathrooms, where consumers are looking for light quartz countertops sitting on top of a contrasting vanity.
Look for an Explosion in Luxury Vinyl
This luxury vinyl hardwood-look flooring is 100 percent waterproof and features an attached cork underlayment that is naturally resistant to odor-causing mold and mildew. According to the NKBA, luxury vinyl is predicted to become the most popular option for kitchen floors, and is quickly rising in bathrooms, too.
Wood Vent Hoods Will Grow in Popularity
Wood vent hoods continue to be hot kitchen accessories, according to NKBA, and are now as desirable as stainless steel vent hoods in kitchens.
Goodbye Upper Cabinets
Designers with the NKBA say that deeper bottom kitchen cabinets and no more upper cabinets (harder to access as you age) means kitchens are adapting to Universal Design as an aging population grapples with accessibility.
Recycled Countertops
The NKBA says that countertops made from recycled paper and other repurposed materials appeal to eco-conscious consumers. These consumers are also looking for VOC-free paint, LED lighting, dedicated recycling areas and energy-efficient windows and doors.
Sinks With Workstations
According to the NKBA, sinks with galley and built-in workstation features are on the rise.
Microwave, Refrigerator and Dishwasher Drawers
The NKBA says these drawers are growing in popularity for their ease in fitting into a pantry or kitchen island.
Refrigerator Cabinet Doors
An integrated refrigerator is hiding behind elegant cabinet doors in this home, which the NKBA reports is a growing trend slowly edging out stainless steel refrigerators.
See More Photos: 20 Kitchens With Hidden Appliances
Toe Kick and Voice-Activated Lighting
Toe kick lighting (as well as voice-controlled lighting), for sanitary and ease purposes, is evidence of a rising kitchen and bath trend, according to the NKBA.
Floating Vanities
Look for floating bathroom vanities to rise to the top of the heap in 2022, according to the NKBA.
White Undermount Sinks
Sleek and classic, this undermount bathroom sink is part of a growing trend, says the NKBA design experts.
Smart Home Toilets
Smart and low-flow toilets are becoming popular among environmentally conscious consumers, according to the NKBA.
Rain Showerhead
The NKBA says that 68 percent of its designers report homeowners want a rain showerhead in their bathrooms.
Technology in the Bathroom
Voice-activated lights, mirrors that hook up to Bluetooth, mobile apps to start the shower and to heat the floor, integrated speakers and even this shower’s innovative waterproof TV are big tech pushes in 2022, says the National Kitchen and Bath Association.
Larger Kitchen Islands
Larger kitchen islands, and even double islands, will be a major trend in 2022, according to the NKBA.
See More Photos: 100 Beautiful Kitchen Island Inspiration Ideas
Bright and Bold Wallpaper Designs
Interior designer Jeremiah Brent of The Nate and Jeremiah Home Project and Yelp is predicting bold, bright wallpapers will be on trend in 2022.
See More Photos: 20 Gorgeous Nature-Inspired Wallpaper Patterns
Handmade Imperfection Will Rise in Importance
“I can see a new wave moving towards the celebration of perfectly imperfect composition, and interior designers leaning more on local contractors and artists for customized and handcrafted pieces.” says designer Jeremiah Brent.
Closets and Dressing Rooms + Bathrooms
The NKBA sees bathrooms connected to closets or dressing rooms as a growing trend.
Move Over Hygge, Hello Lagom!
Lagom is rooted in the Swedish idea of "just right." Lagom is about focusing on needs rather than wants and knowing when you have enough. Rather than blind accumulation, lagom emphasizes buying only the items you need to live. Designer Jeremiah Brent and Yelp predict that minimalist, decluttered spaces, and useful design like Murphy beds will nudge out hygge as the big Scandi design trend of 2022.
Home Electric Charging Stations
Designer Jeremiah Brent and Yelp are predicting electric charging stations as one of the most sought-after home updates in 2022.
Brown Is Back
“I think brown is back! We all love gray, and I'm not saying a light gray wall or a beautiful gray kitchen cabinet is over, but I do think people are gravitating toward warmer tones and earthier hues," says Jasmine Roth of Help, I Wrecked My House.
Wood Beams (Even Faux)
“Use texture," to stay current with trends advises designer Heather Rae Young of Flipping 101. "I like wood. Maybe an accent ceiling. Even if they’re not real beams, put in beams to have some accents on the ceiling.”
Climate Change Gardening
Design and planting will adapt to withstand weather extremes such as drought, fire and flooding. This includes more permeable surfaces and fire barriers around the home. Climate change-friendly plants like yucca, ninebark, and gaura will be selected for their adaptability.
Planting Trees
As climate change escalates, a concern for preserving and growing our tree canopy will increase. “I’m trying to make trees the next big trend in landscaping. Trees are our lifeline for many populations of wildlife that are now clinging to our suburbs as their final refuge,” says HGTV designer John Gidding.
Modern Cozy
“I think with everything we’ve been through the last two years, people are yearning for a family home that feels cozy but doesn’t sacrifice distinction and sophistication in its design and decor. Digging deeper into this trend, we will see that softness can exist in modern spaces and exude layers of warmth throughout our living areas,” says HGTV designer Breegan Jane.
Learn More: HGTV Star Breegan Jane's Home Is as Bright + Chic as You'd Think
Mixing Faux Plants and Real
“Faux plants have come a long way. I see clients mixing and matching, especially for hard-to-reach places. Live plants where you can reach, faux plants on the high shelves," says designer Jasmine Roth of Help, I Wrecked My House.
Hot Plant: Birken Philodendron
Plant designer Hilton Carter says that "While you may not be able to get a Birkin bag, you can get yourself a Birkin philodendron plant. I think this plant is ready for its moment."
Extreme Sustainability
In an effort to minimize the impact of humankind on the environment, progressive companies will begin to find new ways to tackle issues like waste, pollution and global warming. To that end, London-based design firm Pearson Lloyd and Bene have collaborated on work accessories made from discarded food packaging saved from the trash heap. These design-forward desk products are 3D printed from a cornstarch-derived bioplastic.