Will 2022 be all about confident colours, cosy curves or conscientious consumerism? Furniture News asked some of the industry’s top creatives and consultants to share their thoughts on the product trends set to make their mark this year …
Sam Baldry, head of design, Swoon: Marble and brass have made their way into people’s homes these past few years, adding a sense of glamour and refinement as deco influences have crept in, whilst shabby chic has matured into a more cultivated, mid-century boho scheme. In the coming months, we are expecting matte gold hardware to become the new brass, and natural wood to take marble’s place at the trending table.
Scandi-inspired interiors with a fresh modern twist, including light-toned wood, muted metals and crisp, neutral soft furnishings, are set to become the rage of 2022.
Trev Hailes, product merchandise director (international), La-Z-Boy Inc: Bold colours continue to be on trend – blue was big in 2021, and will feature in our 2022 collection. That’ll be supported by a few neutral colours – green, yellow, orange and blue – then a slight move away from greys and a move towards beige and taupes.
Curved sofas, and sofas with cosy corners and contoured arm details, were popular in 2021, and will continue to be so – there’ll also be the sustained injection of colour, through accent cushions to all-over patterns across chairs and footstools, bringing an exciting vibe to any room.
Cerys Bascombe, interior stylist and designer, and consultant to Symmetry CGI: With the revival of the classic burnt oranges, moss greens and warm, bright neutrals, a modern take on the 70s is set to come back, and with it some of the classic furniture and material patterns of the decade.
Another trend that has thrived during the pandemic is rounded-edge furniture, bringing a more feminine, softer, modern touch to an interior, while being forgiving against more angular decor choices. This trend is extending past C-shaped sofas into anything with a softer rounded edge, such as circular dinner tables and reimaged contemporary chairs.
Richard Naylor, sustainable development director, Hypnos: Sustainability has been a, if not the, key influence behind materials and furnishing design for some time, and 2022 will be no exception.
However, the use of natural, sustainable and eco-conscious materials is much more than a trend. It is an ongoing commitment that we will see embedded into the entire design process, from concept to delivery.
Nadia McCowan Hill, resident style advisor, Wayfair: Perhaps in response to the turbulence of the last few years, we see an uptick in appetite for items that bring comfort. On the soft furnishings and upholstery front, boucle and corduroy are increasingly popular search terms, while customers are also gravitating towards plush, rounded furniture forms with a curvaceous appeal. We’ve also seen an accretion in reassuring items such as weighted blankets, which were surprisingly trending even in the summer months.
In 2022, the garden will cement its status as a true fifth space, with shoppers seeking to pimp up their alfresco areas for a summer of colour and fun. Garden kitchens and bars were a runaway 2021 trend that look set continue, while customers are colouring themselves happy with bright, bold furniture and decor, as well as festoon lights aplenty.
Sue Davies, textile and product designer, Sue Davies Design Solutions: Over the past decade, an injection of colour, especially with online retailers, has been widely accepted, particularly for mattress borders – it’s a great way to ensure your products are instantly recognisable, using the company branding, and colour co-ordinating everything through the piping, label or zips.
There is a genuine interest in sustainable and recycled/recyclable fabrics, too – companies are more inclined to delve into a fabric’s production and origin, it’s not always price-led conversations!
Patterns in fabric include: flora and fauna, big graphic botanical florals, especially in printed wallpaper and textiles; bold, twisted geometry patterns (this style is deliberately irregular and uneven); stripes, including yarn-dyed bayadere stripes; and stripes with textured grounds, soft ribbing and intriguing stitching, which create the appearance of a quilted fabric.
Michael Baxendale, head of design, Gallery Direct: Bold accents and interesting shapes bring life to otherwise dull, tired interiors, and are an easy way to lift any decor. It’s also a way to take the simple, minimal styles in a new direction. A mix of pastels and stronger colours to inject excitement, from corals and teals to the more subtle tones of taupes and blacks, to calm, elaborate shapes.
However, some seek a more refined neutral interior – a trend that offers a tranquil and serene place to stay. After a difficult year with travelling, why not make it peaceful at home by combining recent elements from clean, sharp Japandi interiors, and softening them with earthy, core tones and well-loved rustic touches?
Sustainability and green initiatives will be taking a charge within the industry, after recent pushes from world leaders – not only in product development, but also in ways of working. Exciting and new technology has allowed products to take on this initiative while also still being something you’d be proud to have on show within your home.
Click here to read the complete article in January's issue of Furniture News.
Pictured: Wayfair's Bold Outdoors edit reflects the extra attention consumers will lavish on their gardens this year, says Nadia McCowan Hill
