Our homes and our lives are tightly intertwined, so it’s no surprise that interior design trends have changed as our lifestyle has altered. After spending so much time at home over the past two years, we’re putting an even bigger emphasis on interiors that make us feel cosy, happy, and safe. So, going into 2022, we’ll be letting our lifestyle take the lead, looking at how our lives can be enhanced by our homes, and how we can make our interior design work for us.

Here ceramics and homeware brand Denby shares some key interiors and lifestyle trends we can expect to see in the new year.

Japandi

Going into 2022, the Japandi look is going to play a key role in interior design. This trend combines the minimalism and functionality of both Scandinavian and Japanese aesthetics, to create the perfect harmony of nature, function, and simplicity. Expect to see a warm yet minimalistic colour scheme, with organic hues such as cream, stone grey, and forest green taking the lead.

In both Scandi and Japanese cultures, there’s a great appreciation of handcrafted furniture and accessories, and it’s this focus on quality and craftmanship that will be a major driving force behind the Japandi trend. We’ll see a bigger emphasis on handcrafted pieces made to last, rather than cheaply made, disposable homewares designed for fleeting trends. More people will want to know the story behind their pieces and the hard work and love that has gone into them.

Designed to last, Japandi-style interiors will also have a key focus on sustainability and timelessness, so look for high-quality homewares that are made to be reused. We’ll see a more careful consideration of materials, with natural substances such as wood, clay, and wool coming to the forefront, as well as furniture and accessories designed with clean lines and shapes that can be restyled for years to come.

Sustainability and balance

Sustainability has been on our radar for a few years now, and next year we can expect to see it make an even bigger appearance. As a matter of fact, 82% of shoppers have said that sustainability is a bigger focus for them now than it was before the pandemic.

We’ll see a greater emphasis on reusing and upscaling homewares going into the new year. For those looking to update their interior design while still being sustainable, finding ways to rematch old pieces will be key. This includes mixing and matching tableware pieces and coordinating furniture from different styles and periods. Thrifting and upcycling will be a major part of this and is a big reason why we’re seeing a retro revival, with vintage 70s pieces finding their way back into our homes.

Having said that, it’s human nature to crave newness, and while buying new may not fit in with traditional views on sustainability, this trend isn’t just about making use of what we already have, but rather shopping with a conscience. This means choosing pieces that are designed to last and are made with the planet in mind. We’ll see more people reflecting over their purchases, whether that’s by only choosing pieces they need and love, or by investing in durable pieces that are made within the UK and have a low carbon footprint.

Mainstream maximalism

While minimalism has been all over social media and interiors magazines in recent years, expect to see maximalism make a comeback in 2022. We’ll be straying away from the traditional matching interiors of the previous decade, and instead focusing on honest interiors that tell our own story. It’s something we’ve seen make an appearance in 2021 with the rise of cluttercore and cottagecore, and it’s set to remain as we choose interiors that reflect our lifestyle and personality, rather than pieces that adhere to a cohesive trend.

The updated maximalism trend will bring together furniture and accessories that have multiple origins and histories to create the perfect blend of the past and modernity. Again, 1970s style is set to enjoy a revival next year, with bold prints and upcycled furniture sitting alongside modern pieces.

To get the mainstream maximalism trend at home, disregard a consistent style and instead choose pieces that you love and that bring you joy. Display them front and centre to create a home that reflects who you are as a person, as well as how you use the space. Buying only pieces that speak to you is a sure-fire way to ensure your interiors are here to stay for years to come. Statement gallery walls and open shelving will create a layered look and provide you with the perfect place to show off your treasured memories.

Future-proof spaces

So far in the 2020s we have adopted trends that are not only for this decade but are here to stay for the next, and as we focus more on sustainability and joyful spaces, future-proof interiors have become more important than ever. The home is now the hub of all aspects of life, from work to entertaining and relaxation, and now that we’ve had time to acclimatise to this new way of living, we have a better understanding of how we can make our homes work for us.

2022 will see the fall of open plan living and the rise of broken plan. Using shelving, screens, and large pieces of furniture as partitions, we’ll be better defining the spaces between living and working. Broken plan is all about creating an environment designed to do a multitude of jobs, while giving us that extra privacy to do each one without disruption.

Flexible living also extends to furniture and homewares, so expect to see versatile pieces that mix comfort with function and style. Whether it’s fold up desks that tuck away into a corner each evening, or furniture that doubles up as storage, it’s all about making the most of every inch of space to make your home work for you.

Curated kitchenware collections

Many of us have taken the past couple of years as an opportunity to develop our cooking skills and experiment with new ingredients and cuisines. And, going into 2022, we’ll be showing off our newfound skills by inviting our friends and family over for a feast. In fact, 25% of us plan to have more dinner parties next year than we did before the pandemic, according to the Waitrose Food & Drink Report 2021/22.

What’s come out of this is an increased need for specialist dishes and cookware as we seek to make each recipe as authentic as possible. This means a bigger and better array of dishes in the home, whether it’s specialist cookware, traditional serveware, or drinkware in certain shapes and sizes, the tableware will be just as much a talking point as the food itself.

Expect to see bigger, more curated homeware collections that encompass an eclectic and authentic look. We’ll see a much more relaxed and fun take on tableware and table settings, with people opting for authenticity over cohesion, with a casual mixed and matched look taking over.

“The past couple of years has seen us spend much more time at home, and a need for balance has come out of that. As a result, many of us have been reviewing how we can make our interiors become much more harmonious with our lifestyles. An increase in home working and time spent on hobbies has given us the opportunity for self-reflection, allowing us to decide what we really want from our homes.

While the fundamental lifestyle changes that we’ve adopted over the past couple of years might be here to stay, 2022 gives us a chance to get back the good things that we’ve missed. Entertaining will be a major focus for interior design, as we all take the new year to make up for lost time with our nearest and dearest. Cooking and function will be a key part of this, as we look to make our homes serve the purpose of work, rest, and play all in one.

Going into 2022, there’ll be less of a focus on trends in the traditional sense, with people opting for interiors that fit around their lifestyle. Sustainability has been a major driving force behind this shift, and whether it’s Japandi, maximalism, or future-proof spaces, choosing pieces carefully will be key. We’ll take more time to reflect on how each piece fits within our design narrative, as well as the impact it will have on the planet. One thing’s for sure, our homes will become a sanctuary of joy and safety, and a collection of things we love.”

Richard Eaton, Design Director at Denby