It’s been a turbulent time in the world of interiors. Changing from popular easy-breezy colour schemes to decadent decor and glamorous touches for socialising at home.
And then, with the sudden need for so many of us to work from home, home office space became the focus of our desire, who’s to say what this year will bring?
Home renovation and design platform Houzz has unique insights into how people are designing their homes. Here, they reveal six key home design trends along with their furnishing forecast to help you scale up your space.
1. Hotel-worthy bathrooms
Homeowners seem to be aiming for hotel-worthy bathrooms that they can luxuriate in. The keyword ‘hotel bathroom’ rose by 435 per cent in searches on the platform between January and September 2021, compared to the previous year.
Bathrooms are taking a step away from the classic, functional space with more homeowners creating spa-like spaces where they can linger. Designers on Houzz are opting for tactile natural materials, with wood and natural stone more prominent. “In general, relaxation is the key element,” says interior designer Olga Alexeeva. “People are more aware of their mental health and the importance of relaxation. So I think the colour palette has changed, with clients going for a more spa-like feel, with natural materials, and muted or light colours.”
Luxurious touches seem to be popular right now, with searches for ‘sauna showers’ increasing by more than ten times that of 2020 (up by 1065 per cent). Baths are also taking centre stage, with ‘freestanding bath’ and ‘slipper bath’ up by 154 per cent and 152 per cent in searches respectively.
Read: What to consider before a bathroom renovation
2. Comfort and multifunctionality in the bedroom
The bedroom is becoming increasingly multifunctional, with space for a work area, exercise corner and dressing table, as well as that all-important sense of relaxation. Professionals are predicting that people will opt for bedrooms in comforting neutral tones, and textured wall coverings or panelling will be used to add a sense of luxury to sleep spaces. And we’re seeing more photos uploaded to Houzz with bedding and curtains in layered natural textures such as linen and cotton in palettes of soft neutral tones.
We’re also anticipating statement headboards to be big this year, with people opting for super-sized designs or even building bespoke panelled units that house clever storage solutions. “I’m big on headboards,” says architect Omar Bhatti. “We’ve done so many statement or bespoke designs. It’s not just a simple headboard anymore, it’s part of the whole design of the room.”
3. The sociable garden
Searches for the term ‘garden designer’ grew by more than eight times last year as homeowners turned their attention to their outdoor areas. More and more, gardens are being seen as a relaxing extension of interior living spaces and designed as such, with tables, furniture and rugs that would not be out of place indoors.
Our gardens have provided sanctuary throughout the pandemic and now that we’re able to socialise they’re a prime entertaining spot. This year, we expect to see more outdoor kitchens and dining areas. Garden designers have reported clients are more frequently requesting worktops, sinks and even fridges to kit out their outdoor kitchen areas.
Read: Australian natives for your garden or balcony
4. Worktops go to work
In the kitchen, designers are using the worktop to make a statement. From flowing waterfall designs, where the worktop wraps over the edge of the island to the floor (a search term that surged by 250 per cent in popularity last year) to chunkier quartz (that surged by 417 per cent in searches) slabs in thicknesses of 5cm or more, as well as eye-catching terrazzo used in bold colourways, the worktop is the star of the show.
Continuing the worktop material up onto the splashback as a slab is popular with renovators and adds a sense of luxury, advise designers on Houzz. “People are edging towards slab splashbacks over tiles,” says Mr Bhatti. “I would always recommend that, purely because of cooking. With grout lines it can get messy. It’s nice to have more of a seamless look and match with the worktop.”
5. Biophilia meets sustainability
The design world’s focus on bringing the outdoors in shows no signs of subsiding, with natural materials and nature-inspired tones continuing to be popular as we move through 2022.
Biophilia, the innate human instinct to connect with nature, has been a key design principle throughout this year and will continue to be seen in interior choices, such as colour palettes and materials.
As awareness of our impact on the environment and climate change increases, we expect to see a more mindful approach to design. Homeowners are choosing materials based on longevity and timelessness, and natural materials with biophilic properties, such as wood, cork and stone popular. “My clients are less trend driven, instead they want something that’s going to stand the test of time. They want longevity,” says interior designer Natasha Burton.
Read: How to make the most out of your garden
6. Joyful interiors
With many people spending so much time at home during the past year-and-a-half, homeowners have been focusing more on bringing their own personalities to their interiors. This seems to have increased colour confidence. Searches by users for ‘sage green’, ‘duck egg blue’ and ‘mustard yellow’ have all increased in popularity, and we expect to see more of these shades in interiors this year.
“My clients are definitely being braver with colour,” says Ms Burton. “People are a bit more comfortable to step out of their comfort zone, so I’ve seen a lot more colour. Not just bolds either, my clients are choosing warmer neutrals like dusty pinks and earthy tones. They want to feel hugged by their home.”
Do you have home renovations planned for this year? Which room are you most looking forward to upgrading? Let us know in the comments section below.
– With PA
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