Personal, minimal and sustainable: What will home interior trends look like in 2022?

In 2021, many of those who didn't have impressive bookcases leaned on another smart piece of home decor to convey aesthetics in virtual meetings this year: indoor plants. And if the 2022 forecasts of three interior designers are to be believed, it's time to water those plants. This rampant green trend is expected to deepen its roots inside city residences in the next year along with other minimalistic, eco-friendly "solutions" including easy-to-handle solid wood furniture, as the virus continues to mutate in the backdrop, elevating the status of home.

Sustainable spaces

Siddharth Sirohi, founder of Mumbai-based Baro Design, says that the widespread need to renovate homes during the pandemic stemmed not only from the practicalities of working at home but also a deeper, emotional need of "being at home". "This is why there was less emphasis on an ever-changing style. People now wanted to find more sustainable solutions within their home," says Sirohi, citing that the use of wood, bamboo, rattan cane and wicker in decorating homes saw a rise in 2021.

Personal touches

"The superfluous has largely been replaced by things that truly mean more to us, and the home has risen up the ladder and positioned itself as important for all of us," says Sirohi, who predicts that 2022 will bring in a period of "expression of ourselves", which may not necessarily follow the latest trends. "The individual assertion is going to dominate rather than generic trends. The personal voice will find its place, even for people not necessarily associated with a design sensibility."

Hello to hybrid

In the process of building a personal space, many realised that their homes were ill-equipped co-working spaces. "The lack of suitable furniture for long hours of virtual learning and the work-from-home routine led to awkward postures and limited physical activities, imposing multiple health risks on children and working professionals," says Subodh Mehta, senior vice president (B2C), Godrej Interio, which launched specially-designed furniture to help people work from home easily. The need for flexible spaces and space-saving, ergonomically-designed workstations, wall-mounted tables and desks set the tone for 2021, says Mehta. And solid wood furniture, which has always been a favourite, will continue to be favoured in 2022 "simply because it is aesthetically-pleasing and durable at the same time", predicts Mehta.

"One-seater and double-seater recliners and loungers will become a popular choice for relaxing and spending time with family and friends," forecasts Mehta, adding that the demand for wall-to-wall wardrobes and modular furniture that can be used anywhere in one's home along with eco-friendly, easy-to-handle and multifunctional furniture might go up.

Make it minimal

Work-from-home culture has also taught many the value of "less is more". Kapil V, co-founder of Ahmedabad-based Bonasila, a luxury planter brand, sees minimalism dominating decor spaces next year. "With people spending more time at home than ever, the wise use of spaces has become integral," he says. "This has further led to a need for the separation of spaces. While compartments have been a popular option for many years, the use of large rectangular planters to demarcate spaceshas seen popularity and will continue in the coming year."

Natural and colourful

"The biophilic design trend, which uses natural elements, such as ample natural light and plants to help us connect with nature will continue to be popular in the new year," says Mehta. Kapil notes that another trend that has gained popularity is the blending of subtle colours with bright-hued elements. "A dash of bold colours, layers and patterns is bringing a fresh wave to the decor space," he says.