Although chasing trends isn’t something I aspire to, I like to check in on Pinterest to see what people are up to in the design world. And keeping an eye on trends is not a bad way to pick up different design elements here and there that might work for you.
So here are a few trends I noticed while perusing design boards on Pinterest and how I’ve replicated a few of them in my own home.
Dark Academia (as Gen Xers on TikTok refer to it) is a moody, earthy aesthetic featuring dark greens, browns, and other almost autumnal shades. It’s a dark, pouty look that I like – in doses. If taken to the extreme, it can become more gloomy than cozy. While I love to use earthy shades in my decor, I try to balance them with lightness. A design rule is to not use more than four brown pieces of furniture in a room. Keep the walls a light color, bring in some green velvet, gray linen, dark candles, and a few dark wood pieces.
Minimalism – Sorry, folks, it’s still holding firm. The “simple living” trend doesn’t seem to be going anywhere, which is not necessarily a bad thing. I like and appreciate the minimalism movement – where our decor is pared down to the few things we love. It’s more sustainable and earth-friendly, plus I find the minimalist approach offers a visual and spiritual calmness in a home. However, some people can get so caught up in having the bare minimum that their homes border on austere. The best way I’ve found to do “minimalism” is to focus on displaying and using objects that are meaningful to my family and me and try to steer clear of adding in decorative but meaningless things just because I have them on hand.
“Investing in meaningless furniture and accessories is a thing of the past. Minimalism will prevail as key to our interior design in 2022. Working from home means the notion of decluttering is now more important than ever.”
Ben White, design and trade expert at Swyft Home
Newstalgia – First coined by a Seattle DJ in reference to today’s pop music trend, Newstalgia is now also considered a style concept that refers to an updated but nostalgic aesthetic. When we think back to what gave us a warm fuzzy feeling as kids, we should also consider using them in our homes. That doesn’t mean dumping the sectional you grew up with into your living room and draping it with Nana’s afghan. Newstalgia is more of a retro revival. Design elements of the ’70s and ’80s are making a significant comeback, and while it looks great to have a few vintage pieces from those decades, the idea of newstalgia is to mix them with updated decor. I’m just waiting for a designer to come up with an updated console TV similar to the one I grew up with in the last 70s to grace my living room (so sick I am of the flat screens hovering miserably over fireplaces!)
Biophilic Design – Bio-whatta? Yes, I asked this too, but while the term is a little strange, it simply refers to our inherent need to bring nature into our home environment. This design concept recognizes that humans have evolved in an adaptive response to the natural world and need to be around nature to stay physically, spiritually, and mentally healthy. However, we humans now spend, sadly, on average, 90 percent of our time indoors; we need to bring the outdoors in. While some people throw a few plants around their living space and call it biophilic, the design trend actually involves a bit more! Other ways of incorporating nature include using skylights and large windows to let in as much natural light as possible. Designers also experiment with rugs and carpets that mimic the color and feel of dirt and grass. The addition of a small indoor fountain or other water feature produces benefits. And don’t forget natural scents (like lavender or pine essential oils) that can be diffused. Another key element of biophilic design is temperature! Keeping the house at the same temperature in winter and summer isn’t natural. It’s healthy for our bodies to self-regulate – being a little cold inside and throwing on a sweater and a hat rather than cranking up the furnace is a more natural way to regulate our body temperature. Even better – build a wood fire if you have a fireplace and sit by it with a cup of hot tea – very biophilic!
So, there you have it -love ’em or leave ’em, or put your own spin on ’em, these are the design trends I’m seeing in the year ahead!
