Forecasting 2022’s biggest interior trends

Sustainability at its core

It’s been a buzzword in the property and interiors industry for a while – but sustainability is the key theme for 2022 – that is, taking a sustainable approach to furnishing super prime properties. It’s not just about sustainable materials, although of course that feeds into it too. It’s about upcycling, and reusing furniture, or buying investment pieces that will stand the test of time. Or indeed sourcing antiques which have a history and a story behind them. Adopting this approach means we’re injecting more character into homes, making them less of a show home – and understandably too, given that we are living in our homes more than ever.

Natural, organic materials

With the theme of sustainability comes a trend for using natural and organic materials—think stoneware, limestone, marble, and quartz being used across the board from backsplashes to bathtubs, furniture, and decorative objects. Together with neutral colours and the use of more organic materials for soft furnishings, such as cashmere and linen – the result is an understated elegance, that commands attention in a more discrete way.

Craftsmanship in every corner

Marrying up with the trend for sustainable and discrete interiors is a movement of furnishing the home with highly crafted furniture – in all shapes and sizes. Of course, this is nothing new to Octagon; we have long partnered with the very best craftsman to fit high quality, bespoke furniture. However, this focus on craftsmanship has changed from a luxury to a necessity, with clients seeking out Octagon specifically for our attention to detail. Craftsmanship is no longer important just for the major components on the home; clients want to see it reflected in joinery of their kitchen cabinets to the curve of the door handles. Our clients want everything down to the joinery of the kitchen cupboards to be both functional and beautiful. I think, once again, it comes back to the change in how we are using our home spaces. We don’t want a kitchen to just be a kitchen.

Mid-century influences 

Alongside a demand for highly crafted pieces is a resurgence of mid-century design. A nostalgic dip into our design past, the retro, mid-century look is becoming more and more popular. The softer shapes and angles of this design era are feeding into our schemes in ways you would have never considered – in the tapering of sofa legs, the colours and patterns of upholstery, but also in the colours – mustard and racing green have never been so popular.

Blurring the boundaries between indoors and outdoors

With more time spent indoors than ever before, we’re all seeking to strengthen our connection with nature. We’ve been incorporating hints of green into our interior design schemes, through soft furnishings, wall colours, furniture or plants. Equally, we’re furnishing outdoor spaces more than ever. What once was a space reserved for hardy outdoor furniture now often features outdoor rugs, softer decorative lighting, and cushions – to facilitate the use of outdoor spaces as much as the British weather allows.

Rise of multiple working from home spaces

The trend for his and hers ensuites and dressing rooms has been largely fuelled by the professional couple who want their own space to prepare in the morning, without having to worry about waiting for the shower or navigating around one another in front of the mirror. In a similar vein, despite the world heading back to normal, the hybrid working model is here to stay, and with that, our clients are asking us to unlock secondary working from home spaces by designing in a beautiful space to work in a living room, a hallway or a dining room.