Written by Ella Green, Property and Interiors Writer

Interior design style changes every year- with the world-changing at an unmatchable pace, it is a given that the way people view the world, and their homes changes as well. When the 9 to 5 job routine became famous in the 20th century, more people wanted to go for a minimalist lifestyle- it was cheaper and required less maintenance. It made no sense to invest heavily in décor for a home that they came to for only a few hours every day. Up until the end of 2019, the minimalist movement was still going strong (Kim Kardashian’s house, for example). However, with the pandemic forcing people to stay inside, the need for comfort is back and 2021 saw an increase in maximalism and designs that prompted living with comfort items. However, now that the pandemic is getting better and people are looking at new lifestyles (hybrid models of working), interior design styles are changing too. Here is a list of  style trends that are gaining popularity.

Flooring

When it comes to flooring, it usually depends on the place where the house is situated. If it’s in colder areas, then carpet flooring is a given as it helps in keeping the insulation in. However, there are a lot more factors that are usually considered. With the way current trends are going, it is predicted that medium-dark wooden flooring is going to become a trend this year along with mix-matched wooden floors. Wooden flooring, in general, will be gaining a lot of popularity. The reason behind this is attributed to the need people are having for being closer to nature. A lot of flooring ideas will have a natural makeover and be reconsidered with wooden designs.

Stone or exposed cement flooring will also see a rise in popularity as the need for organic materials rises. With sustainability being at the forefront because of global warming, organic materials are going to see a rise in use in all parts of interior design.

Walls  and colour

The two-tone colour combination for the walls is gaining attention and is said to be the next big thing this year. The best way to do this is by choosing two colours that are either side to side on the colour wheel or in each other’s contrast. This creates spaces that are duo-tone but still very balanced. The two colour combination adds depth to the visuals. It is also important to remember that the darker colours take up more visual space than lighter colours and can make the space seem unbalanced and small if not used below eye level. It is a good idea to use darker tones on walls and objects below eye level and lighter tones above them.

It will also benefit you to look at the colour wheel when deciding on the two tones you want to choose. They must not make the room look and feel claustrophobic together (like, red and green). Make sure to balance out with a few neutral elements so that the room does not feel overwhelming to the eye.  One easy way to do this is by wall mounting your television to break the two colours. You can click here to contact professional wall mounting services.

For décor- Turn back to the classics

One of the biggest changes that we can see from the pre-pandemic days is that the minimalist movement is dying. It’s no longer about clear and sharp lines- it’s not more about what vintage mix and match can make your room look like it belongs on TikTok (which has become a huge platform for interior design inspiration). The vintage movement owes its success to the rise of the need for sustainability in the interior design style industry along with the loss of jobs that were faced in the pandemic. People are now realising that to make a house feel like home, we don’t need a particular style inspiration- but a mix and match of things we like (and can upcycle)!

Upcycling furniture has become a huge trend and is seen to resonate in the interior design industry this year with people turning back to classical furnishings and décor. This can also be owed to the fact that a lot of people picked up artistic DIY hobbies during the pandemic.

Rugs

Rugs are coming back, and this time, they are coming back layered. There has been a rise in the use of rugs this year, mostly because of how they add texture and visual layers to a space. 2022 will see a rise in layered rugs- basically, rug over the rug! This is because layered rugs can often make the room feel bigger and brighter- especially when they are layered together properly. However, rugs this season will not be featuring geometry like before- rather, there will be a higher demand for artistic rugs, especially those that correspond to the classic era, much like the vintage furniture (which has made a huge comeback).