While many toddlers were watching Dora the Explorer or Backyardigans in their youth, I probably was too. However, I was also an avid audience member of The Home and Garden channel (HGTV), sparking not only a long-time interest in becoming an Interior Designer but also a passion for staying updated on the latest home design trends.

Certain images of homes decorated in the early years of the 2010s haunt my dreams. Rooms drowned in all-white and aggressively straight lines have never been my personal style. I tend to lean more toward an eclectic style, and because of this, 2022 was definitely a year I enjoyed observing in terms of home design. 

My favorite surge thus far is color finally coming back; gray and white are no longer dominating as resident neutrals. Warm tones emulating wood and other natural elements are taking over, along with their perfect pairing: shades of green. As biased as I may be with an addiction to houseplants and green in general, bringing shades of nature inside of a home is the most comfortable and cozy way to design a space. 

The transition from cold colors and clean-cut lines can no doubt be attributed to how individuals now value their homes. Houses are becoming less of design spectacles and more inviting and comfortable living spaces. Vogue says, “there’s the pandemic reality that our homes have become the main settings of our lives: where we work, sleep, and socialize. Every corner, and every object we’re surrounded by, must serve some sort of purpose.”

Texture and patterns have also been much more heavily incorporated into everyday design. In years past, it seems that many have strayed away from patterns in order to keep homes neutral and universally aesthetic. Thankfully, now, more is more, and textures and patterns are being used excellently to elevate spaces. 

Along with these patterns and textures, rounded edges in terms of furniture, light fixtures, and artwork is all the rage. Taking a look at almost any home trending on Pinterest, it’s obvious that this unique style works anywhere. This rounded style is extremely visually comforting and appealing. 

My personal favorite design element as of late has been the push for, just like all other aspects of life, buying local. Whether this is due to intense shipping back-ups or—the real dream—a collective realization that buying locally and sustainably is our responsibility to the environment, local pieces becoming trendy is a major win for the planet.

Buying locally naturally emulates a person’s identity in their home. Where you live can have a lot to do with your personality, and this push for self-expression in home design is showing up in many more aspects of 2022 trends. Every person isn’t perfectly represented by a traditional farmhouse feel, nor minimalistic design; this is reflected by the decline of these styles. Now, homes have much more room for people to interpret trends and add their own personalities. 

The aspect of personal interpretation has to be my favorite thing about 2022 home design. A few years ago, looking up trendy homes would mean scrolling through a sea of almost exactly the same photo over and over again. Now, there are so many variations of nature, textures, and patterns—it’s almost challenging to truly narrow down ‘trends.’ The emphasis on individuality is genuinely appreciated, and I can’t wait to see this continue to evolve in design.