TRENDS 2022*

 Maybe it's time to say goodbye to white bathrooms and kitchens and welcome the gorgeous new textures into your home. Trends are not just fashion, but preferences based on the period of time and living conditions. Remember how many followers there were and still are of the Chinese art of energy management feng shui, of the Japanese wabi sabi, etc. In fact, they are just a means to build our oasis of inner peace and comfort, which in recent years of isolation has become increasingly important for each of us. 

How we achieve it - with a variety of colors and materials and with the use of more textures, now in bathrooms, too.

Quiz by Acquabella

This is also a manifestation of the pandemic's growing tendency for more and more sensory experiences in every contact with the elements of the interior. And it turns out that our emotions and senses control the spaces in which we exist. And designers and manufacturers are quick to respond to our needs.

Although the traditional January interior exhibitions in Cologne and Paris have been postponed this year as well, life goes on largely online and we are witnessing interesting new products that confirm the trends emerged during last September's Cersaie, Supersalone and MAISON & OBJET - sustainability, multicolor, biophilia. The latter has been talked about for a long time and there are many interior products that try to resemble nature, but now it is growing and entering the bathroom.

Gioia by Gardenia Orchidea

At the last edition of Cersaie live in Bologna (September 27 - October 1, 2021), the new tile models with a wealth of patterns and colors looked more like wallpaper. Tile manufacturers look for beauty and optimism, inspired by the natural world. From historic florals to modern abstract patterns using cutting-edge digital printing technology combined with a variety of glazes and textures, the interesting decorative wall solutions seemed to encourage visitors to see the potential of tiles as an alternative to wallpaper.

An interesting development of these trends is the emergence of a new product from the famous tile manufacturer Mutina, designed by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec - they now also offer wooden flooring with colored decorative dots in special small recesses:

PICO BOIS - RED, Mutina, design by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec

Perhaps in search of more authenticity and coziness there is also an increased use of knitted elements in the interior - rattan or other natural materials.

The global trends for sustainable design, more connectivity in the so-called smart home and multifunctionality of spaces and furniture have long been talked about.

Necessarily, the digital world is becoming increasingly important in our daily lives and interior design is adapting to this growing connectivity. Smart applications are becoming more diverse, reliable and easy to use and can be adapted with increasing precision to the specific needs of residents. Technology is becoming part of the furniture, especially in the kitchen, which is the room with the greatest degree of connectivity thanks to the many and varied appliances. And connectivity helps make our lives easier and smarter, but above all it helps the environment in terms of energy optimization, temperature regulation, air purification, water control: this is likely to be the future of the smart home.

Another emerging trend: the kitchen continues to grow

Regarding the functional distribution of the zones in the interior - due to the increased time we have spent at home in the last almost two years, it is not surprising that there are massive renovations of the kitchen. It has solidified its role as the heart of the home not only for cooking and eating, but also as a place for entertainment, Zoom conversations and even work. As a result, the so-called kitchen triangle - the optimized area between the stove, refrigerator and sink - is a thing of the past. 

The island is increasing its importance as a place for gathering and entertainment, increasing the working areas in the kitchen, because often there is more than one chef in one household. In addition, when we work from home, we need more space, for example to store food safely and to separate our personal lives from work. Therefore, the room provided in the kitchen needs a flexible plan. For this purpose, wood and other resistant materials and antibacterial and self-cleaning surfaces are preferable.

This year, kitchens will become bolder, brighter and more personalized than ever thanks to the wide range of colors, materials and technologies already available. From richly painted, glossy and eye-catching surfaces to custom-made colored appliances. As a result, what has always been the most expensive room in the house is starting to look appropriate. 

But the other part that is not visible from the outside is the better organization inside the cabinets. A study by Houzz (the most popular interior design platform in the United States, also with options for other countries and languages) for American kitchen trends for 2022 showed that the popularity of built-in special organizers is growing, with more than half homeowners upgrading their space with storage solutions. ...

Echt-zeit by Team 7

On the other hand, it has already become clear that the modern until recently open space is losing popularity, because when the home is already our place for work and rest, it is necessary to separate and design zones for various activities.

There is an important link between our homes and our health, because we are all a product of our environment - it is logical that what surrounds us affects us. And as we stay more and more at home, this relationship will become more and more important. Of course, many of us know this intuitively, but a Stanford University study shows that the environment is more important than genetics in determining the strength of our immune system.

And in our quest to improve our environment and way of life, more and more interesting projects are emerging. One of them, which is largely related to the already mentioned biophilic design, is The Farmhouse by Austrian architect Chris Precht, who aims to restore the connection of man from the big city with nature.

Biophilic design: The Farmhouse, Chris Precht

It is a wooden skyscraper that combines modular residential areas with those for vertical agriculture. Residents will grow their fruits and vegetables with sustainability in mind - compost will be produced from bio-waste and filtered rainwater and gray water in a use and recycling system that will ensure that the structure is virtually self-sufficient.

Flower therapy

Another interesting trend related to health and well-being - a study by GlobalData reveals that in the UK, gardening has become one of the most popular activities during the pandemic restrictions, while flower arranging and floriculture have gained new status. "meditation". And according to a study by the Royal Horticultural Society and the Universities of Sheffield and Virginia published in Cities magazine, regular gardening - at least two or three times a week - can lead to an increased sense of well-being comparable to daily exercise.

It turns out that as a result of all the difficulties and limitations we have experienced and continue to live with for two years, we are slowly beginning to return to the natural way of life close to nature, in contact with the garden - or garden in the interior, with striving for more and more natural materials in the environment that surrounds us. And to the fresh colors and naturally rounded shapes in nature.

The new Lunam armchair designed by Patricia Urquiola and Thierry coffee tables, designed by Piero Lissoni

* This is a translation of my article published by Capital LIGHT.