2022 Interior Design Trends: This Year’s Top 10 Must-See Looks

There’s a whole batch of 2022 interior design trends already making waves, so today I wanted to delve into some of the big ones so you can embrace them at home yourself this year.

It’s interesting to see how so many of these design trends have been shaped by the recent pandemic (I hate to bring it up, but it’s true).

More time at home the last two years has certainly changed the way we interact with our interior, and many of these trends are helping to improve things on the home-front.

Scroll on as I showcase what’s going to be big in 2022, with a focus on not only what’s happening internationally, but here in Australia too.

1. The Built-In Home Office Nook

Under the stairs, in your walk-in robe, or maybe in your kitchen; the home office nook is going to be a huge trend in 2022.

This isn’t just your ‘pop a laptop on your dining table’ approach to working from home. This home office nook is a permanent, built-in solution that houses all your work essentials in the most stylish way possible. It’s less ‘officey’ in look and feel, and more harmoniously worked into a space.

It’s time to start looking at an unused pocket in your home to figure out where you can squeeze this trend in. Because while this is going to be a big moment in 2022, it’s also a timeless design feature you’ll appreciate for years to come. Working from home isn’t going anywhere, let’s face it.

Click here for video tips on what to consider before installing permanent joinery at home.

2. Large Lashings of Gumnut Green

We’ve experienced sage in years gone by (how good did it team with white and blush?), but in 2022 the new colour trend is taking green in a richer, muddier direction.

And it’s not just being applied to bedding, art and soft furnishings (though we do love it in smaller doses), but in more permanent fixtures. Think kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities featuring this colour, as well as entire rooms splashed in gumnut green paint.

This 2022 interior design trend is a direct response to us being cooped up inside the last two years. We want to feel connected to nature again. And a large dose of gumnut green is going to get you there. 

Gumnut green will bring instant calm and a sense of serenity to your space, which is just what the design doctor ordered after two years of stress and uncertainty. 

3. Travertine Replaces Marble

One of the big interior design trends for 2022 here in Australia is the influx of travertine. Now, it doesn’t have to replace marble altogether (they do work together in a room beautifully), but you’d be wise to consider it as an alternative.

Travertine brings a lot more warmth to a space than marble, is super durable, and is pretty comparable in price to the marble stone you know and love.

It’s a sturdy material to apply to flooring (both indoors and out), but it also excels in furniture pieces. Expect to see a lot of travertine coffee tables and side tables dominating the interiors world in 2022, as well as vases, trays and other smaller decorative objects as well.

Local brand En Gold is producing some delicious travertine furniture, as seen above, if you want to check them out. 

4. Oversized Feature Lamps

Forget art or a feature wall being the focal point in a room. In 2022 interior design, it’s all about rocking an oversized table lamp. Actually, it’s about rocking multiple large lamps across the rooms of your home. This is not the time to play small, people.

Bedside tables are prime real estate to place large lamps with big round shades, but don’t stop there. There’s a big more toward showcasing large lamps on kitchen benches. Plug it into a power point in the corner have it purely for show on a kitchen island (no bulb required!).

You can also go major with large lamps in your living room, and never forget the visual impact of a mega lamps on a console table inside your front door. 

This is a great trend for renters as well, if you want to make a statement but can’t install a pendant light. Remain on-trend all while getting your bond back; it’s a win-win!

5. Local, Handmade Homewares

Didn’t the pandemic make you want to support local more? With the future of so many small businesses up in the air, 2022 is the time to start ordering handmade magic from your creative community.

This trend allows you to have decor in your home that means more and has a story to it, all while keeping someone’s dream alive. These heartfelt pieces can work alongside your existing store-bought items, so don’t be afraid to mix and match.

Order a tapestry for your wall, buy a handcrafted vase or vessel, or nab a cushion cover you won’t see in the stores. Etsy is a great place to find local creatives, but also consider commissioning an artwork from your fave artist. Trust me, they’ll appreciate the support!

Image above is of the divine Arcadia Scott Ceramics. Picture via sameelapham.com

6. Indoor Outdoor Rooms

This is another of the 2022 interior design trends coming from the effects of the pandemic. With so many of us stuck inside, our outdoor zones became like second living rooms; a way to escape indoors without leaving your property.

This year, the focus on outdoor rooms continues, but this time it’s about examining how to connect them to the inside more, so they feel less external and more like a seamless extension of the internal area. You want to step from one to the other without even realising you’re outside.

Consider bifold doors to blur the lines between indoor and out. Think about a servery window to connect the kitchen to your patio. Feature pendants, timber decking, rugs and projector screens are all ways you can make your courtyard, balcony or pergola feel like an internal living room.

7. Organic Timber Tables

In 2022 it’s out with the smooth and simple and in with the rough and rustic. But don’t stress; we’re not going super industrial with this interior design trend. This one is about bringing organic timbers into your existing scheme.

You’d be surprised just how easy it is to work this trend into your home, too! An organic-shaped coffee table is a great place to start. Look for one that features a visible timber grain, so you get a little rustic without it feeling rough.

If you jumped on last year’s big design trend, California Cool, an organic timber table would work really well in this look. But truthfully, you can pop fluid-shaped tables in any design scheme and I assure you it can work wonderfully.

8. Dark Brown Over Light

If the ‘lashings of gumnut green’ trend had you thinking, computer says no, then why not opt for the other big colour trend of 2022: dark brown?

This trend will see you embracing darker browns in rooms to make them feel richer. Walnut tones team beautifully with soft grey and black against a crisp white backdrop, so it can work for so many of you in your existing spaces.

Now, I’m not suggesting you go brown on feature walls. Focus on timber furniture instead. It’s a welcome change from all the light blonde woods we’ve seen the last few years, and it adds a sense of maturity to your interior design scheme.

You can even opt for walnut tones in small doses if you’re feeling afraid to commit. Think darker brown picture frames, coasters, vases and vessels, and even trays on your coffee table. Go on, go all Luke Skywalker and embrace the dark side!

9. The Contemporary-Vintage Blend

Sustainability was, and still is, a rising concern in the interior design community. This trend is a direct response to that, which I’m actually really happy about.

The idea behind this design trend is that we’re buying less mass-produced, mainstream items, and looking to mix in more pre-loved, vintage furniture and decor. It results in a wonderfully rich and moody interior that feels layered; a home that’s developed over time.

I know op-shopping and thrift stores make some of you anxious, but I encourage you to rethink them as a destination to discover hidden treasures, as opposed to mothball-clad-clothing cemeteries.

You might even want to visit a local antique store to see if there’s something from another era you can work into your interior. I promise you it can look breathtaking. 

10. Curved Furniture

Last but by no means least in our 2022 interior design trends roundup is curved furniture.

While clean lines have been a focus in years gone by, curves are now dominating. They not only bring a sense of comfort with them, but they allow you to move around the room more easily thanks to the omission of sharp edges.

The curved trend finds its way into sofas, armchairs, coffee tables and ottomans, and even headboards and dining chairs. Rugs in round, oval and kidney shapes are also making waves.

The approach used to be to design a room with mostly clean lines, throwing in one fluid shape to soften the space. This approach has been flipped on its head, with just one hard-angled piece in a room being included. It’s quite seventies-inspired and has a retro feel to it, which I’m digging.

Which of these 2022 interior design trends has you excited? I’d love to know if you plan to embrace any of these looks, or if you already are doing it at home. Drop me a comment below and share your thoughts.

This post includes images and/or videos of Metricon display homes and events, reproduced with permission. © Metricon Homes Pty Ltd 2021.