Fresh off the year's first design shows, we're bringing you our look into the design crystal ball.
If the House Beautiful team prides itself on anything, it's having our finger on the pulse of what's happening and trending in the interior design world. Whether it's talking to designers, visiting trade shows, or obsessively perusing catalogs for our favorite home brands' new collections, we're all about scouting what's next. With many of our editors fresh off Paris's Deco Off textile fair and Maison et Objet trade show, we've got lots to report—as do our favorite designers. As we look ahead to the warmer months, here's what to expect in terms of color, pattern, and every part of home design.
1
Rich, Deep Colors
We began to see this trend pick up steam last fall, but it’s not going anywhere. “Think spring colors but darker and richer,” says Boston designer Cecilia Casagrande. Instead of light blues and greens, we’re loving earthy combinations like dark ochre and saffron, as seen in OKA’s new Connecticut shop here, or deep coral and denim blue (which we say tons of in Paris!). The richer, the better. As Maryland designer Dennese Guadeloupe Rojas of Interiors by Design puts it: “Gray is packing up and going on vacation!”
2
Modern Takes on Traditional Textiles
“I like to call it the modern tapestry look,” says Casagrande of another theme she's seeing: those rich hues being rendered in traditional textile media like brocade or quilts. There's no better example of this than hip Parisian firm Uchronia's collaboration with heritage textile brand Prelle, which has been weaving silk in Lyon since the 18th century. We expect to see this translated into richly-textured home fabrics as well as quilt-motif decor (a trend that's already hit the fashion world with brands like Bode and moments on the red carpet).
3
Focus on Texture
The obsession with bouclé is nothing new—the nubby fabric can now be spotted everywhere from Pierre Paulin to H&M Home. But we're starting to see phase two of this trend now, with updates to bouclé including richly-colored and even metallic ones on furniture and textiles. In this chair by Studio Pool for Theorème Editions, the fabric gets a jolt in black-and-white with a contrasting metal cube as its back. If you think bouclé is passé, consider instead crocheted, appliquéd, and crewel textures, all of which are on the up and up.
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4
Murals and Embroidered Walls
Speaking of all that texture, it can go beyond accessories, too. Now that the past few years have fully brought around the return of wallpaper, designers like Next Waver Travis London are calling the next phase of that with 360 murals, all the better if they're 3D, like this embroidered monkey motif just launched by de Gournay.
5
Mediterranean Inspiration
One star from Maison & Objet was Mykonos-based designer Themis Z, the first Greek company to show in the luxury section, a well-deserved coup for the Greek design scene that's been growing steadily over the past few years. Elsewhere, everyone from Bröste Copenhagen to Les Ottomans (shown here) were looking to the lemon tree-lined coasts of Amalfi for motifs from tabletop to carpets (though worth noting that even the bright yellow citrus was often rendered in the more muted tones of the season).
6
Neoclassical Nods
Speaking of the Greeks, this spring sees designers looking to them in more ways than one. In addition to the Greek Isles, creatives are looking (way) back in time, pulling elements of classic Greek and Roman design, as well as the neoclassicism which they inspired. In France, the Invisible Collection showed its latest line, with Mobilier National, in front of a backdrop of neoclassical panels at the woodworker Féau Boiseries. Elsewhere, we're seeing the nod to neoclassical in elements like fluting, marble pedestals, and Greek Key motifs.
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7
Painted Wood Furniture
If neoclassicism feels too formal, how about a touch of whimsy? From Round Top to the Paris Flea, we're spotting increased interest in painted wood furniture reminiscent of Scandinavian Folk Art pieces. Here, designer Elizabeth Hay uses a painted bench to add extra pattern to a cheerful dining nook.
8
Warm Wood Tones
The wood doesn’t all have to be painted, though: “Clients and designers are craving warm minimalism, with its cozy, intimate brown tones," says Molly Torres Portnoff of DATE Interiors. Indeed, while five years ago headlines were deriding the downfall of “brown furniture,” it seems the tide is turning, with preferred tones shifting from the cool pale ash of the past few years to warmer ones. Just look at this cheerful California home by Next Waver Francesca Grace, where burl, cherry, and other warm tones create a happy space. Or, to put it simply, as Ahmad AbouZanat of Project AZ says, "More vintage wood pieces!!"
9
Party Pantries
"The 'co*cktail room' will pave the way for adult spaces," predicts Jason Roske, owner of KC Auction Company. But that doesn't have to mean a whole room: Just look at what designer Katie Davis did with what she calls her "fancy pantry," a narrow galley space that converts from storage spot to built-in bar! We're calling 2022 the year of the party pantry.
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10
Geometric Motifs
While we love a good floral, in the words of Miranda Priestly, it's not exactly "groundbreaking" for spring. If you're in search of something a bit more mod, we're seeing geometric pattern play aplenty for those who prefer a more linear motif. Take, for example, Christopher Farr Cloth’s collaboration with the Josef and Anni Albers Foundation, which reinterprets the artist couple’s abstract art and fiber works, respectively, into dazzling graphic patterns for walls and upholstery.
11
Plants as Sculpture
The obsession with houseplants isn't going anywhere—but it may get more creative. "People are embracing nature more with plants and using trees in a sculptural way," says California designer Linda Hayslett. In this Jamaican home by Ishka Designs, a potted tree acts almost like a work of art.
