Home décor ideas: 2022 trends
January is traditionally a time to embark on renewal and reinvention. And I’m convinced for many people, that will be the case more than ever in 2022. For obvious reasons, the past two years have been incredibly challenging so I think that everyone is now more than ready to start on a fresh, new chapter. And where better to begin than with the homes we’ve spent so much time in? My award-winning team and I have extensive experience in all sorts of renovation projects, both residential and commercial. We specialise in creating elegant, sophisticated and serene interiors that combine the classic with the contemporary. We don’t deal with fads – but we do keep a close eye on trends with longevity. Here are the key home décor ideas, which I believe will lead the interiors world in 2022 and beyond:
Plants are the perfect way to introduce biophilic design principles to your interior. They can also make a serious style statement. This double-height living wall, at our Flood Street Townhouse project. looks stunning while also serving a practical function as a natural air purification system.
The rise of Biophilia
Now, more than ever, people are recognising the symbiotic relationship between humans and nature. Biophilic design aims to incorporate nature within interiors, and enhance our connection with the natural environment. Put simply, biophilia means to ‘bring the outside in’. And, after a series of global lockdowns, it’s easy to understand why this concept has, and will continue to be, so prominent in the world of modern interiors. The term biophilia first came to prominence in the 1970s and the biologist Edward Wilson explored this further in his 1984 work Biophilia. These days, it’s well known how much our immediate surrounding influences physical and mental health, emotional wellbeing and even our productivity. Therefore the trend for incorporating biophilia into home décor ideas is definitely here to stay.
Maximising natural light is a key element of biophilia. Mirrors can make a huge difference, as demonstrated by this Porta Romana piece in our London Family Home. This is offset perfectly by the corresponding wall light and console table
Key biophilic design elements
There are many ways to incorporate biophilic design elements into our homes. These include natural lighting, plants, water features, certain colour palettes, and organic materials, shapes and forms. We applied many of these elements to our Flood Street Townhouse project. A prime example is the impressive double-height, living green wall, which unifies the lower ground and ground floors. This simultaneously serves as a colossal visual statement as well as a natural air purification system.
A focus on statement flooring is another key home décor trend where we expect to see more going forward. This colourful Frenchman’s Creek rug design is from my own The Inspired Collection, created in collaboration with luxury rug and carpet specialist Matthew Wailes. You can find out more about this partnership further down
Natural materials
Since the pandemic, we have seen an increased desire from both clients and suppliers to shift the paradigm for green design. As mentioned, materials such as marble, stone, bamboo and wood are a great way to introduce biophilia to your interiors. Not only do they look good and age well, they can also provide the perfect way to explore sustainability. To summarise, this concept aims to eliminate negative environmental effects: after all, there is no Planet B. Sustainability is linked to responsibility, and making conscious choices to avoid the depletion and degradation of our natural resources.
In line with the increased demand for natural, sustainable materials, my rug collection with Matthew Wailes is crafted using regenerated waste materials and sustainable wool and plant fibres
Sustainability and style
Happily, nowadays clients do not have to choose between sustainability and aesthetics where interior design is concerned. There are many ways to create eco-mindful spaces using eco-friendly, or even regenerative methods and materials, without compromising on style. Over the last few years, we have come across numerous products that aim to naturally purify air, remove toxins, use recycled materials and reduce the carbon footprint.
My team and I have collaborated with Matthew Wailes to launch a range of eco rugs that are hand-made from upcycled plastic waste and natural fibres such as wool, bamboo and silk. The Inspired Collection takes inspiration from various sources such as seascapes, meaningful places and quotidian life, that reflect each individual in my creative team. These rugs feature textures and colours, which Matthew Wailes has created using traditional hand-made craftmanship. And sustainable wool and plant fibres combine with regenerated waste materials. So, these ensure we only leave a small footprint on the environment during the production process. Matthew Wailes makes each piece to order, which means they can resize and recolour it to suit any design scheme.
This Minty rug design, from The Inspired Collection I created in partnership with Matthew Wailes, was inspired by the large, round spots on the coat of my beloved Jack Russell terrier Minty!
Local and independent suppliers
Like many companies in a variety of industries, we have experienced the reverberations of Brexit in terms of long manufacturing and shipping delays. While this has posed many challenges, it has also revigorated passion for traditional British craftsmanship. And we are only too happy to integrate this into our projects. The UK already has a rich heritage in manufacturing and long-term association with high-end, bespoke furniture and accessories. We are grateful to have built strong and long-standing relationships with many highly skilled British suppliers. These currently include Robert Langford, Tom Faulkner and Porta Romana. Indeed, in 2021, Country and Town House recognised us as a Great British Brand too.
I’m a great fan of Chelsea-based Robert Langford. They produce their range of upholstered furniture – like this headboard in our Chelsea Townhouse – locally, and can customise them to accommodate client specifications
What is traditional British craftsmanship?
Craftsmanship can mean different things to different people, however quality, luxury, exclusivity and longevity are the foremost qualities. Skilled British suppliers can create unique, bespoke pieces that enable us to help you bring your interiors vision to life. Buying British also brings peace of mind in terms of fair wages and working conditions. And, while quality seldom comes cheap, furniture that’s built to stand the test of time isn’t just a sound financial investment. Ethically-made, sustainable furniture reduces the amount of waste entering landfill. Purchasing from local companies also reduces travel miles, which helps to cut carbon emissions.
Tom Faulkner is one of several key British suppliers we have built long-standing relationships with. This table we sourced for our Fitzrovia Place project provides a great example of their signature collections - clean lines, simplicity and beautiful materials
Permanent WFH offices
Will the end of the pandemic herald a full-time return to the office? I doubt it. From now on, home décor ideas need to acknowledge the need to redefine the traditional functions and perimeter of the home. Our domiciles have evolved into a place where we work, rest, play, exercise and entertain. National lockdowns have driven a surge in demand for flexible spatial design that allows for home office conversion. Stylish, multi-functional furniture, which can conceal or convert an office area when the work day is over, is also here to stay.
For many of our clients, a home office is now a necessity. And we know how to maximise every inch of available space in order to create the perfect at-home work environment. At our Thames Riverside Apartment project, this bespoke desk can be folded up or down in a room that can multitask as a guest bedroom, complete with a practical sofa bed
Planning the ideal home office
A private, purpose-built area that’s dedicated to your work life allows you to be more productive. Bespoke furniture is one of the best ways to make the most of the space you have available. We can help you choose the right desk, chair, lighting and storage solutions, in order to create a well-organised and clutter-free workspace. We can also help you to explore more innovative WFH options. For example, as many companies have adapted to never return to the office full-time, we have recently received a client request for an outdoor garden office. Garden rooms per se are of course not new. But they are increasingly proving popular as separate, stand-alone offices, which do not encroach on the interior of the home at all.
We transformed this existing room into a new home office, featuring Christian Liaigre furniture, to provide the perfect place for working and speaking to clients. Bespoke open shelving creates a display area with room for storing paperwork behind closed doors below