January 18, 2022

The past two years saw interior design trends responding to new challenges and opportunities as our homes became significantly more important to all of us. While more people will be returning to offices, classrooms and gyms in 2022, the lingering pandemic will continue to keep many of us in our domiciles – and focused on making them more comfortable, functional and beautiful.

What can we expect to see in home design in the new year? Three members of the New Jersey Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID NJ) share their visions for the coming months and beyond. As members of the leading professional design organization, they go through rigorous training each year and are at the frontier of their profession. They are highly skilled professionals poised to deliver innovative and technically proficient solutions that create functional, attractive spaces that fit their clients and benefit their quality of life.

Below are some of the interior design trends they foresee making their way into homes in 2022.

Vibrant Colors

While neutrals still rule the day, strong colors are making an ever bigger splash in home design. “Everyone is looking for some good cheer and they’re finding it in bright florals and bold colors, with blue and green the standout color trends,” says Sharon L Sherman, ASID, Thyme & Place Design.

High-Gloss Finishes

This is the year of shiny surfaces, outside and inside. “A front door with a beautiful high-gloss lacquer makes a great first impression,” notes Karla Trincanello, ASID, Interior Decisions, Inc. “And never forget the ‘fifth wall’ – the ceiling – for all it adds to a space.” Trincanello particularly likes metallic finishes for ceilings in gloss or satin because they provide interest and add height to a space as well as reflectivity. Paint is the best, especially if sprayed, notes the designer. Another treatment she recommends is metal leafing as well as wallcovering.

Vintage Vibes and a Touch of Whimsy

“Due to long lead times and labor shortages, vintage has become the go-to design trend,” says designer Terri Fiori, Allied ASID, Fiori Interior Design, who has always been a fan of vintage. This space combines tall bamboo-and-glass shelving from 1^st Dibs with a vintage starburst mirror and antique dining table and chairs.

Fiori also believes that in 2022, homeowners can explore the lighter side of home design with a fanciful item like the woolly sheep (at left in the above photo), a vintage reproduction from Chairish. Whimsical pieces are fun and fashionable, but they can also be functional. This sheep doubles as an end table.

Custom-Crafted and Locally Sourced

Bespoke furniture allows you to create pieces that truly express your style and match the design of your home. “Custom-crafting is a trend that supports a ‘give-back’ mentality,” says Fiori. “Small custom furniture manufacturers tend to use local, sustainable materials, and their furniture takes no more time to make than non-custom pieces.” Examples of this ethic are the custom ventilation hood by Range Craft and the island seating by Masters Interiors in this Fiori project. (All photos by Mike Van Tassell)