22 trends for 2022*
*and yes before you say it the moodboard has only 21 numbers on it, guess you will have to read to the end to get to the surprise 22nd one!
The decs are down, the fridge is still full of carby leftover nibbles from New Years celebrations and you've started reading that self help book you've always been meaning to get around to, this must mean just one thing... it's a new year.
This gives us a chance to not only reflect but project into the future to a hopefully more stable and less jabby 2022. Predicting trends is very subjective and we do this by observing what we are seeing as professionals now and taking that information to predict what creatives will be doing with these materials and finishes in the near future.
We've broken down this thinking into a the material board you see above (click on image to enlarge). To make it super simple we've matched the number on the image to the number of the trend below.
"Predicting trends is very subjective and we do this by observing what we are seeing as professionals now and taking that information to predict what creatives will be doing with these materials and finishes in the near future."
In a nutshell you always get this merge of last years trends forming with the new year trends. So nudes, botanicals and large flecked materials aren't going away but they will merge into more monochromatic tones. The clean cut nature of monochrome finishes compliments the understated hues of the earthy colours and natural finishes that were so prominent last year,
01- Botanicals
"We predict a rise in faux planting that have tones other than just greens. Think more autumunal coppery and red hues"
Much like the now fading industrial trend of what seemed to be from the year 2000 to 2018, botanics whether real or faux are not going anywhere. Biophilia has proven results in improving mood, levels of oxygen and generally they bring the outdoors in. The result of this trend made popular by the fact we've been spending most of our times indoors anyway.
We predict a rise in faux planting that have tones other than just greens. Think more autumunal coppery and red hues to warm a place as opposed to the high summer bright greens we are so used to seeing when planting is used in interiors.
For your real life plants Plant Plan have an abundance of planting types suited for any scenario. For your faux planting needs I Want Plants have an incredible collection and colour variety for both your internal and external requirements.
02- Eco fabrics
"Designers have a responsibility, where possible, to use as many eco conscious products as we can..."
A much welcome trend that we were seeing glimpses of last year, is the more mainstream introduction of quality recycled fabrics for the commercial design industry. These materials are created from blends of bast fibers which are found in the outer part of the stem of the plant. There's a lot of science involved but these natural materials achieve commercial FR certification without the need of harmful chemcials being applied.
Designers have a responsibility, where possible, to use as many eco conscious products as we can and we for one are glad to see the rise of products such as this which both hit the eco mark whilst still looking aesthetically pleasing for commercial grade projects.
Camira fabrics not only have a punchy and colorful website to navigate their products but they have a wide range of eco alternatives available. The product pictured in our moodboard is from their newly released Sequal range which is made from recycled plastic waste found in the oceans.
03- BoLD GRAPHIC patterns
"Colour is such a minefield for designers... Done incorrectly and it can look like someone has thrown up a pack of skittles."
We are seeing lots of bold and bright patterns in all walks of life at the moment. Interior trends take their inspiration from all aspects of design from fashion to graphics. Some would say the over use of bold colour and naive graphics is an inherent reaction to the dark and somewhat unpredictable times we are facing in the world today.
Colour is such a minefield for designers as when multiple colours come together seamlessly it works so well but the margin for error is slim. Done incorrectly and it can look like someone has thrown up a pack of skittles.
The issue with colours, ironically due to the blog topic, is that colours go out of trend very quickly. We use colour in our projects to create an accent but almost always start off with a neutral as the backdrop.
Talented designers such as Yinka Ilori have this natural ability to merge bold colours and patterns to work in a way which is unprecedented. He draws upon his British-Nigerian heritage to create products and patterns that depict happy moments in his life. Something that I think we all can agree is needed right now.
04- warm natural marbles
"Carrera marble has become the staple of any mainstream pizzeria... However we see creatives becoming increasingly bored with these neutral colours and adopting more interesting and warmer pinker hues"
Marbles have a tough time, one minute they're in the next they're out, it's an extremely beautiful and natural material which to a degree is suitable for commercial interiors but is very needy and requires a lot of preparation to get them to a suitable state. Also It's heavy, like super heavy, you need the biceps of Thor to attempt to lift it but it's worth it for those veins and imperfections!
Carrera marble has become the staple of any mainstream pizzeria, it's classic, elegant and clean which works well for the classic, elegant and clean Italian cuisine. However we see creatives becoming increasingly bored with these neutral colours and adopting more interesting and warmer pinker hues that compliment the botanics seen in trend 1.
Yes there are look a likes out there that mimic the effect of marble, they are really good, lightweight and much more affordable but you just don't quite get those same blemishes, or random hues that you get with the real deal.
05- Textured panels but not on walls
"As much as this trend is about the product it's also about a trend for mentality. Take an affordable and simple looking product and find new and innovative ways to elevate it."
Ok so 3D wall panels made from MDF or plywood are not a new thing nor are they a new trend by any means. However being a designer is part looking at a material and thinking beyond its conventional use. Yes traditionally these panels are fixed to walls and painted out, however imagine them applied to ceilings or suspended as rafts with a neat edge to them. As some of the patterns are grooved, LED tape with diffusers could be applied to the indents creating a 'hyperdrive' effect on the ceiling.
As much as this trend is about the product it's also about a trend for mentality. Take an affordable and simple looking product and find new and innovative ways to elevate it.
The product shown is the Orac W111 3D wall panel by W.M Boyle who have a wide range of finishes and styles available on their website.
06- Earthy matt paint finishes
Going to keep this one short and sweet, earthy terracotta paint finishes are here to stay. We love Lick paints as they have such a great muted range of colours for a variety of applications and they send out handy little peel off large samples to stick to the wall. No messy paint samples just stick and peel. 2022 efficiency right there!
07- Beauty in the imperfections
"It creates this almost pearlescent finish that looks like a TVR Tuscan"
Much like the beauty of the imperfect and random veins in the marble trend above, there is something so elegant in the way that copper patinas over time. It creates this almost pearlescent finish that looks like a TVR Tuscan (car nerds will get that). This soapy effect looks amazing as wall panels.
Bermonds Locke, one of the many Locke Hotels worldwide did just this last year. A lot of this was made from recycled sheets found from a local refuse site which further hits home the trend of reusing and recycling. Quality materials don't neccessarily have to mean expensive, equally please contact your local tip before scowering the skips.
08- Coloured tile trims
A somewhat overlooked area in the tile world. We feel that just having a black or stainless steel quarter-round tile quadrant is not enough for 2022. Parkside Tiles have released the Matrix collection which matches tile colour finishes with grouts and tile trims. Couple matching grout and trim with a contrasting tile and you have yourself an affordable and interesting wall finish that takes something usually forgotten about and jazzes it up a level or 10.
09- surfaces made from recycled computers
"...a whole load of heat and pressure and general magic is used to create a variety of tile finishes that are 99% recycled."
You heard right. One day when you're bored of the device you're viewing this blog on, it will be crushed down into granules and a whole load of heat and pressure and general magic is used to create a variety of tile finishes that are 99% recycled.
This product is from a company called Alusid and is already being used in lots of commercial hospitality projects as both wall finishes and table tops. The colour ranges and options for 3D wall tiles really elevate this product. The product is so versatile that bespoke options are available to suit any of your projects requirements (of course within reason).
10- Chalky finishes
"These add some random textures and can elevate a simple plain wall finish to something that's instantly distinctive and eye catching."
Less of a product and more of a prediction for the sheen of finishes and the vibrancy of colour. We predict powdery chalky matt paint finishes. Finishes such as limewash paint which give an almost raw troweled plaster finish in a variety of paint colours.
These add some random textures and can elevate a simple plain wall finish to something that's instantly distinctive and eye catching.
If you're interested in this product Bauwerk have a great colour range of limewash paints available.
11- Matt nude tiles
Nice and simple this one. Matt nude coloured tiles are here to stay. They compliment the botanical trend and add an understated simplicity to any space when coupled with a contrasting grout finish.
The biscuit range by 41Zero42 is a perfect example of the tones and finishes we see making an impact this year.
12- Monochrome fabrics
As per trend 02, using eco fabrics but in more monochromatic tones. We forsee a trend this year of monochrome spaces with pops of earthy colours.
13- Large fleck terrazzo
"Their product is made from 65% recycled waste wood all sourced from the UK"
Big scale terrazzo finishes have been around for a while, but their use is being pushed to other areas such as worktops.
Foresso are a UK based company creating timber terrazzo finishes in a wide range of colours and contrasts. Their product is made from 65% recycled waste wood all sourced from the UK. Inevitably resin is required to bond all of components together and typically resin has a high VOC (volatile organic compound) these are harmful to the environment over a period of time. However Foresso's carbon footprint is 40% less than the equivalent petroleum based systems.
All of the eco stuff aside it's a beautiful product that can be used for kitchen backsplashes, worktops and tabletops. The product is versatile and can be adapted to suit a variety of bespoke design options.
14- Charcoal paint finishes
"It's the merge of last years nude earthy trend with this years more monochromatic trend, and when compiled together it looks stunning."
Another simple one here, we think charcoal finishes are going to hit it big in 2022. They add class and sophistication, and when coupled with the correct contrasting colour can really create a simple and cost effective finish.
If you blend the dark wall finish with lighter and warmer tones at eye level, this creates a soft and classy space. The image above of Bergdorf Goodman's bar on Fifth Avenue NYC really encapsulates the overall merging of what we think 2022 will look like. It's the fusion of last years nude earthy trend with this years more monochromatic trend, and when compiled together it looks smashing.
15- Glass blocks
"Traditionally they are stacked but we think creatives will be pushing boundaries with how they are applied this year."
Typically a trend that was BIG in the 20's and 30's and has made comebacks now and again- but we think it's time for their return. They are perfect for dividing screens in bars, they come in a variety of finishes, colours and allow light to bleed through whilst distorting the view. Traditionally they are stacked but we think creatives will be pushing boundaries with how they are applied this year. Watch this space.
Glass Blocks Direct have an incredible range of finishes and colours perfect for your next project.
16- large format tiles
"They overlap with grace and create this distorted and disjointed junction that is effortlessly cool."
Big scale tiles have not been used typically in hospitality interiors, probably due to their weight, scale and generally that adds fear to a specifier. However we say it's time to break that fear and step out of the comfort zone. Usually designers would look at the image above and scoff at the fact that the joint patterns aren't seamless, however that's what makes these products so cool for us. They don't perfectly join, they aren't trying to be something they're not. They overlap with grace and create this distorted and disjointed junction that is effortlessly cool.
Bedrock Tiles are releasing a new range of tiles (the one pictured) called Benoir, check them out by clicking on the hyperlink (the highlighted orange text for you non tech savvys).
17- RESHAPING LED
"As an added bonus they are dimmable so can create a change in mood simply by the turn of a dial."
LED has truly established itself as the standard for lighting, it has plenty of benefits all of which we are sure you're aware of, and more importantly the cost of LED has dived so it makes convincing clients to ditch the old filaments a lot easier.
We predict a trend this year of pushing boundaries with what LED can do. Beem Lamps have been doing just this with their range of shaped LED fittings. As an added bonus they are dimmable so can create a change in mood simply by the turn of a dial. This innovation allows for a variety of uses, they even have wall mounted versions that can be rotated at various angles to form what can only be described as an art installation.
We were lucky enough to be given a sample of a desk lamp for our office by Darren Parnaby at Lights On Design and it looks stunning. Really adds an element of sculpture to task lighting.
18- matt charcoal tiles with coloured grouts
We brushed upon this on previous trends, but as a collective we think that matt charcoal tiles with nude coloured grouts are going to be huge this year.
19- mustard velvets
"...they add a level of sophistication and class to any space."
Mustard velvets aren't a new thing but when coupled with the monochrome trend that we are predicting, they add a level of sophistication and class to any space. Velvets had a big resurgence some years back and their popularity is increasing year on year.
The velvet pictured is the Enchant Collection range from Panaz. With a wide range of colour choices, 100% FR and a 50,000 martindale rub count they are perfect for any commercial environment.
20- black stained woods
Using water based wood stains in charcoal, greys and blacks to allow the grain of the wood to still be visible but to create a sophisticated finish. Really simple prediction here and a colour finish with timbers which is massively underused and underrated.
21- rubber hose logos
"The term rubber hose related to how the limbs of the characters were drawn. They allowed detailed limb movements with a simple line..."
Rubber hose animations were typically the first type of commercial animations used in the 1920's. The term rubber hose related to how the limbs of the characters were drawn. They allowed detailed limb movements with a simple line, without having to draw lots of joints and anatomically correct details.
In the graphics and branding trends this has been one which in our opinion has made a much welcome comeback. They are cheesy but fun, they allow for interesting exaggerated characters and look great coupled with hand-drawn retro style fonts. They work perfectly for a pizzeria who wants an old skool vibe whilst still looking fresh and modern.
99 designs have recently done a blog post covering their graphics trend predictions for the coming year, rubber hose logos included. Give it a read here,
22- the secret 22nd trend... drum roll please
Comments