40 Home Design Trends That Will Shape 2022

 

Jump-start a remodeling project with ideas for colors, materials and features expected to take off in 2022


by Mitchell Pmuliarker
Great design often starts with a spark. It could be a color, a material or even a feeling of what you want your life to be like at home. And that initial inspiration is different for everyone. But if you’re looking for ideas to start a home renovation or new-build project in 2022 or beyond, this roundup of trends will provide plenty of ignition.

We browsed thousands of popular home design photos, spoke with dozens of home design and remodeling professionals on Houzz, studied the latest Houzz data and research and looked at countless past articles to arrive at a collection of home design trends we think will be big in the months ahead.
Sienna & Sage Interior Design
Kitchens

1. Multiple Window Banks


Many homeowners dream of light and bright kitchens. One way to get that is with plenty of windows that let the natural light stream in. Long banks of multiple windows, sometimes on two or even three walls, create a space full of light, fresh air — if the windows are operable — and views. Thanks to the rise of hardworking pantry walls, storage-optimized island bases and lower cabinets that allow homeowners to skip upper cabinets, we anticipate homeowners will go with expansive runs of windows in 2022.

For this Redmond, Washington, kitchen, the designers at Sienna & Sage Interior Design wrapped three sides of the room with windows that frame leafy views. Natural materials such as knotty wood flooring, soapstone countertops and wood details in the ceiling beam and vent hood complement the tree-filled property.

Studio Dearborn
Designer Sarah Robertson of Studio Dearborn is a big fan of using multiple banks of windows. For this New York kitchen, she added five expansive black-framed casement windows across the back on the range wall and three more casement windows on the side sink wall.

“We are seeing a long-term trend in kitchen design toward connectedness to nature,” Robertson says, citing research done by the National Kitchen and Bath Association. “With stress levels at all-time highs and people spending more time indoors, they are craving a connection to the outdoors and nature. And larger windows in the kitchen help achieve this goal.”

Ariel Bleich Design
2. Casual Collected Look

While the 2021 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study confirmed that all-white kitchens remain dominant, layered looks are gaining in popularity. A dressed-up, collected style caught on last year, but for 2022 a more casual, less-polished approach looks to be taking hold.

The look features softer, lighter paint colors, raw wood tones and a mix of cabinet fronts and styles. This light, layered design keeps the eye moving, provides visual texture and nuance and delivers a style that appears put together over time in a relaxed way.

This Austin, Texas, kitchen by Ariel Bleich Design is a good example. It features white and blue cabinets, a taupe-colored backsplash, raw wood tones and glass cabinet fronts and pendant lights. It was the most-saved kitchen photo uploaded to Houzz in 2021.

Tays & Co Design Studios
This Minneapolis kitchen by designer Laura Tays of Tays & Co Design Studios also shows a casual collected look. The laid-back, rustic-cabin-inspired style comes through in the natural materials, such as the wood ceiling, island base and floor; soapstone island countertop; stone bar wall; and zellige tiles.


3. Islands

The kitchen island has been rising in popularity for years but has practically become ubiquitous lately. If the kitchen is the hub of the home, then consider the island the hub of the hub of the home.

Many homeowners are working with design and remodeling professionals to rejigger layouts to fit an island, large or small. Plus, kitchen islands seem to be taking on more duties these days. In addition to providing extra counter space and storage, many now include the dishwasher, trash pullout, prep sink and seating.

This San Francisco kitchen by KBG Design features seating for six, a prep sink and plenty of countertop space.


Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery
4. Appliances in Islands

Speaking of islands, another trend we’re seeing is homeowners choosing to locate a beverage fridge on an island end. This allows guests and family members to grab a drink without getting in the way of the cook. A microwave on an island near an end can solve the same issue, letting someone heat up a drink or snack without blocking the main traffic area.
Studio Dearborn
5. Hardworking Kitchen Storage

The right storage strategies can create a highly functional home. And while the general function of cabinetry hasn’t changed much over the years, the inside of cabinets has dramatically shifted. Pullouts bring pantry items from the back of cabinets to the front. Special shelves lift heavy appliances from a lower cabinet to countertop height. Drawer dividers organize plates and bowls. You can now have designated storage space for a paper towel roll, as shown in this New York kitchen by Studio Dearborn, or aluminum foil, baking sheets or almost anything else you can think of.
Beacon Street
6. Long, Linear Backsplash Tile

White subway tile is a classic look for a kitchen backsplash, but many homeowners are searching for a modern twist on the material. White ceramic 4-by-12-inch tile appears to be the answer. The rectangular shape lends a timeless feel, while the elongated form creates a fresh, updated style.

Backsplash tile with a subtle wavy or crackle glaze finish will add texture, while a herringbone pattern can give even more spin on the design, as was done in this Raleigh, North Carolina, kitchen built by Beacon Street.
ProPacific Builders, Inc.
7. Light Marble-Look Quartz Countertops

Marble remains a classic material. But as a countertop in a high-trafficked kitchen, it can be a pain to maintain. Many homeowners have instead turned to durable engineered quartz in a light marble-look style. It helps keep a space feeling bright, picks up common colors found in many of today’s kitchens — whites and grays — and provides a scratch- and stain-resistant surface.
Martha O'Hara Interiors
8. Heated Island Countertop

Sometimes solving a minor inconvenience can turn out to be your most cherished design decision. Designer Martha O’Hara was tired of having friends and family gathering around a cold kitchen island countertop in her Minneapolis home. So she installed a heating element like one typically used in radiant-heat floors. Now when someone leans their elbows on the countertop on a brisk winter morning, they’re met with a warm and welcoming surface.

Cindy Aplanalp & Chairma Design Group
9. White Kitchen With Classic Details

A mostly white kitchen continues to be the most popular palette. It creates a bright, uplifting mood; provides a fresh, clean feel; and helps illuminate tasks. But an all-white kitchen can sometimes veer too cold, too sterile or too stark for some people’s liking.

That’s why designers are always looking for ways to add character, softness and balance. One way to do that is by incorporating classic details like shiplap, beadboard, handmade tile, raw wood accents and cabinetry details, such as the ventilation holes seen on the pantry cabinets in this Houston-area kitchen by Cindy Aplanalp & Chairma Design Group.
Case Design/Remodeling, Inc.
10. Lantern-Style Lighting

Oversize lighting can certainly make a statement. But when unobstructed views are important, something like a large drum shade can work against that goal.

Large lantern-style lighting can make the big statement without blocking the sightlines. The large black lantern-style framed pendant shown in this Washington, D.C.-area kitchen by Case Design/Remodeling is a good example. The single pendant fills up the visual space above the island without blocking views to the bank of windows or the wood range hood.
Arch Studio, Inc.
Bathrooms

11. Marble


While marble might be considered too precious for modern-day kitchen countertops, it’s rapidly becoming a go-to bathroom choice for creating a soothing, timeless look. Its use is on the rise for floors and walls both inside the shower and out, according to the 2021 U.S. Houzz Bathroom Trends Study.

Rev-A-Shelf
12. Hardworking Storage

Similar to kitchens, targeted storage in bathrooms has become a burgeoning focus of design attention. Consider a drawer that can house a blow-dryer or other device next to an in-drawer outlet. Or try a linen storage tower. Or a hidden pullout for a laundry hamper. Whatever you do, pros recommend a mix of open, closed, drawer, cabinet, niche and other storage solutions.
Rosen Kelly Conway Architecture & Design
13. Dressed-Up Style

In 2021 we saw elegant, sophisticated style showing up in many kitchens. This year the tailored look is moving into bathrooms. The look often includes rich woods, dramatic black accents, jewelry-like lighting and classic finishes such as marble and polished nickel. Custom features are being celebrated as well, such as cabinetry and handmade tile.

This updated 1920s New Jersey bathroom by Rosen Kelly Conway Architecture & Design and R. Keller Construction combines many dressy style elements. A smoked oak vanity gives the room a bit of dapperness like you might find in a suit tailor’s shop. And Calacatta Nero marble countertops, handmade zellige wall tile, polished nickel plumbing fixtures, vintage-style pendant and black details create dashing style.
Susan Sutter Interiors
14. Multiple Shower Heads and Sprays

A comfortable shower is an important bathroom feature, but including multiple shower heads and sprays can elevate the shower experience from simple washing to luxurious pampering. Almost a quarter (23%) of homeowners who update their shower during a bathroom renovation go for dual shower heads and 16% add body sprays, according to the 2021 U.S. Houzz Bathroom Trends Study.

In addition to multiple shower heads, bathroom design pros on Houzz recommend installing a handheld sprayer. These can be used for rinsing shaved legs, cleaning the shower walls or washing pets and kids.
LMOH Home
15. Low-Curb Showers

Many homeowners desire a curbless shower entry, but creating the feature during a renovation can sometimes be tricky and expensive. A low-curb design, however, is more attainable and offers many of the same benefits as a curbless entry.

A low-profile barrier creates a safe entry point to a shower. And it can help lighten the look and feel of a space, which is especially important in a small bathroom. Plus, the airy look allows tile and other stylish details to stand out more, as shown in this Phoenix bathroom by LMOH Home.


Noble Johnson Architects
16. Shiplap

Shiplap has been showing up everywhere in bathrooms. It adds charming character and visual texture to a space and can help accent the height, width or length of a bathroom depending on the direction it’s installed.

Designer Jennifer Whisenant of Noble Johnson Architects ran shiplap in two directions in this Nashville, Tennessee, bathroom. The vertical orientation on the walls helps create the appearance of more height, while the installation on the ceiling accents the room’s length rather than its narrow width.

A creamy light beige vanity (Naturel by Sherwin-Williams) adds to the charm. The shower walls, ceiling and main bathroom floor are 12-by-24-inch porcelain tiles that mimic the look of Calacatta marble.


Here, Hearth Homes Interiors used shiplap to create a lovely vanity in a Santa Barbara, California, bathroom that channels French Country style.
17. Freestanding Bathtubs

In recent years there’s been a lot of hand-wringing over whether or not to keep a tub in a main bathroom. But it seems the debate has mostly been settled. Those who enjoy taking baths wouldn’t give theirs up for anything, nor should they.

A freestanding, flat-bottom acrylic soaking tub is by far the preferred choice. Of the 37% of homeowners who choose to upgrade their tub during a renovation, more than half (54%) go with a freestanding acrylic soaking model, according to the 2021 U.S. Houzz Bathroom Trends Study.

Maven Home Interiors
18. Stylish Shower-Tub Combos or Alcove Tubs

As mentioned, freestanding acrylic soaking tubs are by far the most popular bathtub style, material and type. But alcove tubs, such as those found in the common shower-tub combo, are rising in popularity — up 4 points, from 22% in 2020 to 26% in 2021, according to the 2021 U.S. Houzz Bathroom Trends Study.

Designers Rachel Hutchens and Jenette DiFazio of Maven Home Interiors spiffed up a basic shower-tub combo in this Sandy, Utah, bathroom. Glazed ceramic baby blue shower tile in varying tones and a vertical straight-lay pattern draw the eye to the shower. A fun patterned floor tile also garners attention. And a walnut vanity adds a generous dose of visual warmth.
Synergy Design & Construction
19. Stylish Design for Aging in Place

Many homeowners embark on a renovation to create their forever home, and that means incorporating universal design principles that will assist with accessibility in the years ahead. These days, universal design prioritizes products and features that are as attractive as they are functional.

Some grab bars, for example, come in trendy finishes like champagne bronze or matte black and camouflage their function as a towel bar, doing double duty while still meeting the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines. Other accessible design features like curbless showers, nonslip flooring and shower benches have become desirable and stylish features for homeowners of all ages.

This Reston, Virginia, bathroom by Synergy Design & Construction features good examples of stylish universal design.
Stephanie Russo Photography
20. Heated Floors

When we asked more than 50 home design and remodeling professionals on Houzz what bathroom feature they most recommend to homeowners, one element stood above the rest: heated floors. A cold tile floor can ruin a spa-like experience, and heated floors are relatively inexpensive and easy to install during a renovation, making this feature a no-brainer.
Ashley Martin Home
Color

21. Green


Consensus on color is often rare, but this year things are a bit different. All the attention seems focused on green.

Almost every major paint company chose a shade of green for its 2022 Color of the Year selection. On Houzz, searches for green kitchen cabinets were up 829% in 2021 compared with the previous year, signaling that homes are poised to bloom with green details.

Designer Ashley Martin used a green-blue-gray (Pewter Green by Sherwin-Williams) for the cabinets in this Winter Park, Florida, kitchen. The color works beautifully with the tones in the white oak island base.
CIRCLE Design Studio
Meanwhile, searches for “green tile bathroom” were up 771% year over year, according to Houzz search data.

Circle Design Studio used green tile in varying tones to bring an emerald punch to this Roanoke, Virginia, bathroom.
Nestorations
22. Blue

In summer 2021 we compared Houzz search data with data from the previous summer to see how homeowners’ design interests had changed.

One surprising discovery was that searches for “blue bathroom” had increased 1,102% year over year.

Blue is a calming color that pairs beautifully with popular neutrals like whites, grays and blacks. This San Marcos, California, bathroom by designer Sally Soricelli of Nestorations is a good example of how blue can be integrated into a bathroom with stunning results. A blue vanity and storage tower (Smoky Blue by Sherwin-Williams) add a bit of drama without going overboard.

Marble-look porcelain tile and white shiplap walls (Extra White by Sherwin-Williams) create a soothing backdrop.
Jennifer Wundrow Interior Design, Inc.
Living Rooms

23. Decorating

Major renovations steal a lot of home design attention. But updates to furniture and decor are booming. In 2021, searches on Houzz for home accents increased 2,417% compared with the prior year, while searches for decorative accents rose 799%. For accent pillows, searches skyrocketed 5,050%.

Jennifer Wundrow Interior Design created a stylish mix of furniture and decor in this San Francisco-area living room. And it’s not hard to imagine how different the space would look without the beautiful combination of accent pillows in various colors and patterns.

MMI Design
24. Velvet

Velvet is one of those materials that cycles through periods of popular and really popular. Right now we seem to be in an era of the latter. And why not? It’s soft, has texture, and who doesn’t like rubbing a hand back and forth on a velvet surface to create patterns?

On Houzz, searches for velvet accent chairs were up 1,161% in 2021 compared with the previous year. Velvet sofas were up 121%.

Also notice the popular color green used for the velvet armchairs in this Houston living room by MMI Design. Houzz searches for “green accent chair” climbed 754% year over year.
Crystal Blackshaw Interiors
One popular take on velvet right now is channeled velvet, as seen on the blue sofa in this Chicago living room by Crystal Blackshaw Interiors.
25. Curvy Furniture

Furniture with rounded contours showed up everywhere at the 2021 High Point Market, signaling a curvy trend for sofas, sectionals and chairs that will keep rolling in 2022.

Here, a rounded, rust-colored Yoon sectional by Moe’s Home Collection shows off its curves.
Lola Interiors
26. Swivel Chairs

A swivel chair gives users the option to shift position toward or away from elements in a room. For example, in this Jacksonville, Florida, living room by Lola Interiors, a pair of blue swivel chairs can face the interior conversation area or rotate around to views of the sunny outdoors. Houzz searches for swivel chairs were up 1,922% in 2021 compared with 2020.
Acampora Interiors
27. Neutral Sofas in Performance Fabric

There was a time when few homeowners took the gamble on having a white or other light neutral-colored sofa in a living room. The inevitable spills and stains were too much of a deal-breaker.

But with innovations in stain-resistant fabric, that’s no longer the case. Durable, easy-to-clean fabrics from companies like Sunbrella, Crypton and Perennials mean homeowners can now more confidently embrace light upholstered furniture.

Designer Corinne C. Acampora of Acampora Interiors used a large sectional with white Crypton performance fabric to keep this Brookline, Massachusetts, family room feeling light and bright.
Alterra Landscape Design
Outdoors

28. Outdoor Living Rooms That Look Like Indoor Rooms


Houzz search data has shown that people want their backyards to be relaxing extensions of their interior living spaces. And one of the best ways to achieve that is by mimicking interior space outdoors.

There have been major advances in outdoor materials in recent years, allowing manufacturers to create stylish and durable outdoor sofas, tables, rugs, chairs and decor. Add an outdoor fireplace, maybe a TV, and the line between indoors and out all but disappears.

This Dallas outdoor living room is a good example of what’s possible.
KD Landscape
29. Privacy

As homeowners increasingly expand their available living space to the outdoors, many are hiring landscape pros on Houzz for screens, fences, plantings and other strategies that help create intimate spaces and separation from neighbors or block an undesirable view. These might take the form of a vine-covered pergola, an outdoor screen around a private dining spot, or fencing for an outdoor shower or hot tub.

For this Chicago patio by KD Landscape, a screen of quaking aspen and lush landscaping provide privacy for a dining spot while still allowing in light.
Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting
30. Wildlife-Friendly

Many people who found themselves spending more time at home during the pandemic witnessed the pleasurable rhythms of wildlife surrounding their homes. Rambunctious squirrels and birds, a curious fox, a family of deer, a mischievous raccoon — these creatures became extended family. The desire to attract more wildlife — and make nice habitats for them — has become a goal of many homeowners.

Adding native plants and trees that benefit birds, bees, butterflies and other wildlife helps facilitate a deeper connection to nature.

Tidal Interiors
31. Decorative Tile Patios

Patterned floor tile is commonly used to spiff up a bathroom or laundry room. But why not take the idea outdoors? Tile makes a durable waterproof surface for a patio and, given all the style options, offers tremendous opportunity to add color, pattern and texture. Be sure to work with your design and build pro to determine the right material and finish for tile that will provide a safe, nonslip and durable surface. Many pros recommend a porcelain tile in a matte finish.

This San Diego patio by Tidal Interiors features streaked-gray hexagonal tile and black-and-white patterned accent tile on the stair risers and outdoor kitchen.
Alterra Landscape Design
32. Swimming Pools

Many homeowners have been looking to their backyards to create fun and comfortable outdoor experiences at home. And what better way to do that than with a swimming pool? Last year Houzz searches increased for “rectangle pool” (576%), “lap pool” (269%), “infinity pool” (214%), “plunge pool” (73%) and “geometric pool” (70%).

Keep in mind that bigger isn’t always better. Some pros report seeing an uptick in requests for smaller, more manageable pools like the one seen here in a Dallas backyard by Alterra Landscape Design.

These smaller designs typically range in size from 4,000 to 7,500 gallons and can be heated to hot tub temperatures or cooled to plunge pool comfort. They can also feature powerful swim jets that allow a user to tread water to mimic swimming laps.
Jenny Martin Design
Laundry Rooms

33. Compact Laundry Spaces

A full-size laundry room is on many homeowners’ wish lists, but it’s not always attainable. Many people are discovering that smart space planning and hardworking storage can give them a high-functioning laundry area in a more compact corner of a mudroom, entryway or garage.

This laundry area in a Vancouver, British Columbia, walkout basement and mudroom by Jenny Martin Design tucks into a corner yet still offers room for washing, drying, storing, folding, hanging and soaking.
Kaplan Thompson Architects
Other Rooms

34. Dedicated Activity Spaces

Perhaps more than any other time in recent memory, the past two years have put our focus and attention on our homes. And that will have a profound impact on home design for years to come.

Many homeowners molded their homes to accommodate exercise, work, entertainment and creative activities. In 2021, Houzz searches for “home office” jumped 108% year over year. Searches for a home theater increased 190%. “Home gym” climbed 156%. And “art studio” leapt 875%.

Kaplan Thompson Architects designed this Portland, Maine, sewing studio from locally sourced Eastern white pine.
Innovative Construction Inc.
35. Flexible Design

For many homeowners, adding square footage isn’t an option. But creating spaces that do double duty can greatly increase the function of an existing footprint. Multipurpose furniture and other design details can give homeowners that kind of flexibility.

Murphy-style beds and sleeper sofas can transform a home office or living area into a bedroom. This Atlanta basement by Innovative Construction features a TV lounge, kitchenette and dining area for meals and board games. The nearby wood-paneled unit can be pulled down to reveal a bed. (See next photo.)
Innovative Construction Inc.
With the Murphy-style bed down, the room becomes a guest room.

Searches on Houzz for “queen Murphy bed” were up 2,081% in 2021, while “sleeper sofa” increased 187%.
Benavides Design House
Dining Rooms

36. Return of the Formal Dining Room

The pandemic disrupted how many homeowners saw their dedicated dining room. Without the ability to host dinner parties, they used these spaces for home offices, gyms or other activities.

But now, with safety measures in place, many homeowners are returning to hosting formal gatherings with small groups of people. This Philadelphia dining room by Benavides Design House shows a careful balance between casual and formal, with creamy paneled walls, soft blue accents and elegant light fixtures. White cane chairs and a light wood dining table bring a more relaxed tone.
Urbanology Designs
Bedrooms

37. Bench

It’s becoming rare to find a bedroom photo uploaded to Houzz that doesn’t include a stylish bench. And perhaps that should come as no surprise. A bench at the foot of the bed can add a bit of adornment to a bedroom while also providing tons of function. It’s a place where you can sit to put on or take off shoes or slippers, or use it to pack a suitcase.

Houzz searches for a bedroom bench were up 406% in 2021 compared with the previous year.
Glo European Windows & Doors
Emotion and Action

38. Sustainability and Efficiency

Sustainable building practices have long been a focus of environmentalists, but recent shifts in the global dialogue have brought the idea to the forefront for the average homeowner, sparking a new wave of adoption. High-performance windows and solar panels help reduce energy use, which can also help save money. Native trees and grasses can help create water-efficient landscapes and also attract pleasing wildlife. When personal benefits have a positive collateral impact on the world, everyone wins.
39. Patience

The term “supply chain” became the topic of numerous conversations in recent years. Shipping delays for products and material shortages for things like lumber, as well as backlogs for professionals, slowed many home design and remodeling projects to a trickle.

But while succumbing to frustration and knee-jerk reactions might get your project finished faster, it won’t necessarily give you the home of your dreams. So consider taking a deep breath and going with the slow flow. It’s better to be patient and wait for the right product or professional to become available than to settle on something you’re not going to be happy with in the long run.
ML Interior Designs
40. Comfort and Well-Being

Our environments have the ability to shape and influence our emotions. And a home should be a place that restores, calms, rejuvenates and replenishes our minds and bodies. Attention on soothing colors and pampering features that reduce stress at home will be a big focus in 2022. And that’s refreshing in and of itself.

Are you adding any of these features or details to your home  this year? 

Cabinet-S-Top
1977 Medina Road
Medina, OH  44256
330.239.3630