High-End Interior Designers Share Their Favorite Trends

We asked the experts about the cool trends they are seeing for the new year and they shared their top picks.

By: Felicia Feaster

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Murals As a Unique Alternative to Wallpaper

Designers like Amal Kapen of Amal Kapen Interiors say that dining rooms are back. "Millennials are embracing a new traditional look that is fun and colorful," says Amal. "The embodiment of this look is mural wallpaper. This room demonstrates that traditional does not have to be boring and stuffy."

Brown Furniture Is Back

Don't turn your nose up at those hand-me-downs any more. Designer Amal Kapen says brown furniture is now a thing. "Traditional furniture, antiques and good reproductions are back in a big way — it looks especially good when you mix it with other finishes like these shell white Louis XVI style 'Amsterdam' chairs from Hickory Chair."

Skip the White Painted Trim

Rather than painting trim a crisp white in contrast to a wall color, designers are increasingly having trim match paint, or in this case, the colors in a pretty Schumacher wall covering. "We paired the mural wallpaper with another trend that helps update the space: the wall trim was custom colored with a Benjamin Moore Paint color to complement the background of the wallpaper for a more uniform, monochromatic look. The ceiling color has been tinted to a lighter version of the wall and trim color to make you feel enveloped by the sky," says designer Amal Kapen.

Don't Go Too Formal

Designer Amal Kapen says, "Pops of apricot pick up the flowers in the wallpaper and make the space feel light, cheerful and pretty. Blue can be a tricky color especially in a dining room, and it took us numerous tries to get the color right. Finally, In order to make this room feel a bit more casual and grounded, we mixed in a custom sized jute rug that helps to balance the formal pieces and silk drapes."

His and Her WFH Offices

Designer Elizabeth Steimberg of Elizabeth Steimberg Architects says, "The WFH trend has created a requirement for unique, personalized his-and-hers office areas with open views, bright outdoor light, and furniture appropriate for one’s taste and needs."

Zoom Vignettes Are Critical for WFH

In this home office designed by Elizabeth Steimberg, a floating midcentury desk and chairs face a large glass window looking into the green of a large terrace. A large art piece serves as a beautiful background for a future Zoom call.

A Home Office With a View Is Critical

"I believe that the need for light, large windows and looking out to the outdoors is extremely important for people who spend so many hours and days in that room," says designer Elizabeth Steimberg.

Black and White Kitchens Will Be Trending

Goodbye plain white and hello sophistication. Designer Jolie Korek of Jolie Korek & Company says this color contrast creates a photographic vibe. "The use of black makes the kitchen feel rich and elegant, while the white contrast gives the space a bright, airy feel. The black and white combination is timeless and works in all kitchen styles, including sleek and modern, modern naturalism and transitional. It’s easy to find a beautiful, dramatic, durable black and white stone that doubles as a countertop or backsplash and presents as a fine piece of art," says Jolie.

Modern Naturalism

A blend of earthy, wood-centric materials along with a modern look is trending according to designer Jolie Korek.

Modern Meets Organic

Designer Jolie Korek sees natural materials working their way more and more into interior design. "The modern sleek design plan is open, allowing the natural light and outdoor beauty to bring the outside in. The stone counters are elegant and organic looking," says Jolie.

Maximalist Chintz Revival

Interior designer Hollis Loudon Puig shudders at the term "Grand Millennial." Instead, she considers her style and that of her firm "Maximalist Chintz Revival” as evidenced by this whimsical yet sophisticated primary bedroom.

Sentimental Objects Will Be Trending

As more and more Americans contend with loss, objects that commemorate and honor family history will be on trend in 2022. Designer Hollis Loudon Puig framed an unworn Hermes scarf that belonged to her client's mother and encased it in a Black Forest Maple Frame. A green faux-bois Brunschwig & Fils wallpaper serves as the piece’s mat. The result is a unique, sentimental and unexpected piece that will be passed down for generations to come.

More Will Be More in 2022

Designer Hollis Loudon Puig achieved her trending Maximalist Chintz Revival style in this room by layering pattern on pattern, embracing the joys of jewel tones, and juxtaposing new contemporary styles against traditional tried-and-true chinoiserie classics.

Try Going Small for a 2022 Spin on Oversized Art

Designer Iris Dankner recommends using small art — like these 4x4 paintings — to decorate shelves and bookcases as a quick and easy way to spruce up your family space and give it a more modern and elevated look.

Sustainable Kitchens Will Become the Norm

Designer Evan Mason says sustainability and great design will increasingly merge in the kitchen. She sees energy-efficient appliances, LED task pendant lighting, undercounter and recessed lighting, superior ventilation, clean, filtered water, and materials that will not emit fumes coming to the fore. "A large picture window behind the energy efficient, induction stove and a fleet of glass windows up to the cathedral ceiling" continue the wellness vibe. "Did you know that even seeing green reduces stress?" asks Evan.

Need-Specific Design

"The pandemic forced so many people to look at their home with a new perspective. No longer able to go to the movies, the theater, a restaurant or even to visit family, the home became the epicenter of everyone’s life. It was their refuge. It was their safe zone," says designer Laura Michaels. "What happened from there was a deluge of design jobs to make that home fit all needs. It needed to be a movie theater, a restaurant and a family home with all the accoutrements to satisfy every family member."

Lipstick Red

Barbara Lewis of The Lewis Design Group says that a bold shade of red is “classic, yet current.” For this New York home, The Lewis Design Group coated the library walls in a high gloss lipstick red shade that makes the room pop with drama. Like a great lipstick color, painted red walls command attention and are unabashedly chic, says Barbara.

Go Bold in the Powder Room

For those not ready to take the plunge in painting a large space red, the powder room offers a smaller scale room to experiment with this bold color. In this chic powder room by The Lewis Design Group, mischievous monkeys on the deep red wallpaper backdrop are great conversation starters.

Multipurpose Spaces

This office by Mar Silver Design was created to respond to the new needs facing all of us. Mar Silver designed a space that is focused around the homeowner’s art collection and would serve as a space for mediation, a home office and a study. She used a somber tone of black-on-black to highlight the art, and used all custom furniture to create the room to the client’s need. The custom Mar Silver table is a layered charred wood that draws attention to the bronze and black sculptures.

Make a Space Serve Your Unique Needs

For this stylish space, Mar Silver designed a special cabinet that not only acts as an altar for the client’s sculptures, but also conceals yoga mats, office materials and personal items, allowing the client to go from morning yoga to a 9 a.m. Zoom conference to relaxing in the evening and bingeing her favorite Netflix series.

Mar says this is one of the biggest trends happening today: homes as individual sanctuaries that promote serenity and wellness, using soothing color gradations of black to charcoal grays to set a tone of calmness.

Decor That Complements Nature

RCQ Design's Rina Capodieci-Quinn says that layering patterns and fabrics to complement your natural surroundings and taking inspiration from the outdoors is a big 2022 trend.

More Windows

Designer Rina Capodieci-Quinn created this upstate New York sitting room that is designed to highlight the mountain views by using a rotunda lined with 180-degree windows. The windows open the space up to the stunning views, and the use of natural materials such as wood, stone and metals help bring the outdoors in.

Pink Is Trending

Lauren Berry of Lauren Berry Interior Design made pink the focal point in this California bedroom for two young sisters.

Balance Work and Play (Even for Kids)

Designer Lauren Berry took advantage of all we've learned about having children at home during Covid to create this large bonus room. She converted the space into a dazzling glamping-inspired space with bunk beds, a teepee with sleeping bags, creative play spaces, a study, arts and crafts table and dedicated reading areas.

Places to Rest and Relax

A large pin board and magnetized white board to draw on also doubles as a place to display art, notes Lauren Berry of this highly-functional kids' space. There are also built-ins for storage, a reading nook with a chaise for two and wall-mounted book storage/displayspace to make this kids' room multi-purpose and a great place to hang out, study, rest and relax in a busy home.

Lighter Woods

Wide reclaimed floorboards are trending. The use of ceruse-stained oak wood brings in a naturalist feel in this Montauk beach house designed by Jolie Korek. The modern, sleek design plan is open, and allows the natural light and outdoor beauty to bring the outside in.

Color Bursts

Lucinda Loya of Lucinda Loya Interiors created this room loaded with personality and a highly refined, organized chaos.

Pop Art-Inspired Spaces

This home designed by Lucinda Loya features complementary colors in every aspect of the interior. The velvet blue couch and the red and white starburst rug complement each other with their well-matched textures and patterns.

Bold Color

Pops of bold color blend well together with the right designer touch.

Sustainable Gardens

Designer Frederico Azevedo of Unlimited Earth Care designs site-specific, sustainable gardens and landscapes that use native and well-adapted plants to create a heightened sense of natural beauty. He says that garden design in 2022 is about bringing life outdoors and curating beautiful, adaptable spaces for entertaining, activity and daily life.