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With more than 600,000 pieces on its site at any given time, the online vintage marketplace Chairish knows a thing or two about evolving home decor trends and can anticipate what its shoppers will be looking for in the new year. And with its recently released 2022 forecast, the company is ready to share its predictions. “This report presents the home decor styles and items our merchandisers and data analysts have identified that are increasingly in demand,” says Noel Fahden, the company’s VP of merchandising.
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Focusing on lavishly detailed surfaces, plush textiles, heirloom accents, and fanciful artworks, this year’s report reflects the shift to the at-home lifestyle born during the pandemic. These days, designers are prioritizing comfort and clients’ personal style: Homes not only need to accommodate a number of different functions but also provide a sense of escape from the troubles of the outside world.
Still, some of their predictions may look familiar, with standbys from decades past—hello, tortoiseshell and nostalgic florals!—making a return. (These home decor trends are all based on mostly secondhand goods, after all.) Still, there are lessons for today’s designers: “So many trends in design and home decor start in vintage and antiques,” says Fahden. “Often, what may feel like a new aesthetic to some is actually a classic or iconic style that’s reemerging after 20 or so years.”
Here’s what the pros at Chairish are predicting.
Grand Tour
An entrance hall designed by Solís Betancourt features a 2nd-century bust on an 18th-century Italian marble-topped painted chest.
In centuries past, a coming-of-age ritual for aristocratic European men was a continental tour, filled with educational visits to ancient ruins and Renaissance masterworks. Sketches and purchases made along the way served as fodder for the youth’s later endeavors (and supported a contemporary zeal for antiquities and Neoclassicism). While the grand tour may be a thing of the past, its legacy lives on in interior design. Introducing a historical, heirloom, antique, or vintage piece can quickly change the mood of a room, imbuing it with depth and a focal point—which may be why this trend has lasting appeal in 2022.
Michelangelo’s David Indoor-Outdoor Planter
Contemporary Surrealism
The Amsterdam living room of Rolf Snoeren is a shining example of the current craving for surreal interiors.
Earlier this year, AD design editor Hannah Martin called it: Surrealism is having a moment. “Many of the artists in our Chairish Artist Collective are experimenting with a two-dimensional perspective alongside bold color combinations,” Fahden says. “There’s something whimsical about the way surrealism mixes and layers these printed materials and paints. It’s a much-needed distraction from the everyday and a reminder not to take ourselves too seriously.” Escapism? Maybe. But AD and Chairish are both here for the weird.
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Gufram Broken Mirror by Snarkitecture
Green Achilles and Piergiacomo Stool by Achille Castiglioni for Zanotta
Antique Tapestries
A tapestry hangs in the Loire Valley dining room of designer Timothy Corrigan.
Elements from the past—ones that can both make us content and help define individual style—will reign in the new year. Proving the point and further echoing some of AD’s predictions, Chairish pinpoints French and Flemish antique tapestries as decor staples for 2022. Chairish predicts that these designs will prevail on cushions, bed frames, and other furnishings and accessories. Lovers of old and beautiful things, rejoice.
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Antique Tapestry Armchair
17th Century Antique Brussels Tapestry Pillow
Upholstery in Overdrive
In this Milanese bedroom belonging to Martina Mondadori and Ashley Hicks, the bed is curtained in a Hicks fabric and backed by a Ghanaian kente cloth.
Comfort seeking is the name of the game next year, according to the marketplace. That means textiles partout—think canopied, David Hicks–style beds, fabric-wrapped benches and headboards, and upholstery as far as the eye can see. Details will feature prominently on almost every surface, as demonstrated in the striking Milanese flat of Martina Mondadori and Ashley Hicks.
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1980s Vintage Scale Floral Velvet Ottomans (Pair)
Queen Platform Bed in Belize Chinoiserie Cream
Marbleized Interiors
A marbleized velvet skirt by Beata Heuman meets a marble countertop in the designer’s London home.
“In 2022, we will see an even stronger combination of maximalism and minimalism, with a heavy focus on materials, texture, and form,” says Fahden. One embodiment of this trend? Marbleization. Having made appearances in runway fashion in recent seasons—see Naomi Campbell’s strut down the Fendi catwalk in a swirly, silvery cape and gown last January—the trend is now emerging in the home through wallpapers, fabrics, glassware, and painted furniture.
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Sky Blues 10" Marbleized Taper Candles (Set of 4)
Newport Faux Emerald Green Malachite Lamp
Faux Tortoise
Another throwback the team at Chairish is predicting is the return of speckled, spectacular faux tortoise finishes. Exemplifying the trend are items like hand-painted Hollywood Regency–style coffee tables, luxe octagonal Lucite trays, and more.
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Midcentury Faux Tortoiseshell Parsons-Style End Game Table
Vintage Faux Tortoiseshell Large Hand-Blown Glass Vase
Nostalgic Florals
A London townhouse recently featured in AD sports a dramatic slab sink and House of Hackney floral wallpaper in the powder room.
Designers previously wary of intricately patterned wallpapers and upholsteries may soon come around, thanks to a rising tide of nostalgic flower-studded designs. Whether applied to wall hangings, wallpaper, or even pillows, botanical imagery is ready to take over interiors.
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House of Hackney Avalon Wallpaper
G. P. and J Baker “Nympheus” Aqua Pillows (Pair)
Game Rooms
A limited-edition James Perse Ping-Pong table keeps things playful in the entry of the company’s California HQ.
One silver lining of more time spent at home has been a revival of tabletop gaming, as more folks seek out quality time away from screens and digital devices. Long gone are the days of tattered vinyl backgammon boards—now gamers have their pick from an assortment of well-made, display-ready diversions (that are totally playable). Some are even building out dedicated rooms for their gaming. Gear up for more investment in this category in the upcoming year.
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Michael Graves Backgammon Set
“Dice,” Gouache Painting by Alexander Calder 1974
Metal Shades
Though super-sweet upholstery promises to be big in 2022, sleek and modern finishing touches will still hold their own. Case in point: metal lampshades, which can add a pop of polish to minimalist and pattern-loaded interiors alike.
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Hans-Agne Jakobsson “Mini-Tratten” Polished Brass Outdoor Sconces
Pair of Vintage Minimalist Metal Lamps With Conical Shades (ca. 1990)
As someone deeply immersed in the world of interior design and home decor, I've closely followed the trends and shifts in the industry, making it a point to stay ahead of the curve. The nuances of style, the historical context of design elements, and the intersection of functionality and aesthetics are areas where my expertise shines. It's not just about observing trends; it's about understanding the dynamics that drive them, the cultural influences that shape them, and the timeless principles that underpin the art of creating living spaces.
Now, diving into the article about Chairish's 2022 forecast, it's clear that Chairish is a reputable source, with a wealth of insights drawn from a vast inventory of over 600,000 pieces. Noel Fahden, the VP of Merchandising, emphasizes the role of Chairish's merchandisers and data analysts in identifying emerging trends, providing a solid foundation for their predictions.
The overarching theme for 2022, as outlined by Chairish, revolves around a shift in home decor trends influenced by the at-home lifestyle born during the pandemic. The emphasis is on comfort and personal style, with a recognition that many trends in design and home decor have their roots in vintage and antiques. This notion is supported by Fahden's statement that what may seem like a new aesthetic often harkens back to classic or iconic styles reemerging after a couple of decades.
Let's break down the specific trends highlighted in the article:
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Grand Tour:
- This trend draws inspiration from the historical grand tour of aristocratic European men, emphasizing the incorporation of historical, heirloom, antique, or vintage pieces to add depth and focal points to a room.
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Contemporary Surrealism:
- A focus on surreal interiors characterized by two-dimensional perspectives, bold color combinations, and whimsical elements that serve as a welcome distraction from the everyday.
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Antique Tapestries:
- French and Flemish antique tapestries are predicted to be decor staples in 2022, appearing on cushions, bed frames, and other furnishings, echoing a desire for elements from the past.
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Upholstery in Overdrive:
- Comfort-centric design, featuring textiles extensively, including canopied beds, fabric-wrapped benches, and upholstery on various surfaces to enhance the overall comfort of living spaces.
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Marbleized Interiors:
- A trend combining maximalism and minimalism, with a focus on materials, texture, and form, including the use of marbleized patterns in wallpapers, fabrics, glassware, and painted furniture.
-
Faux Tortoise:
- The return of faux tortoise finishes, seen in items like hand-painted Hollywood Regency–style coffee tables and luxe octagonal Lucite trays, reflecting a throwback to a spectacular and speckled aesthetic.
-
Nostalgic Florals:
- A resurgence of intricately patterned wallpapers and upholsteries featuring nostalgic floral designs, signaling a renewed interest in botanical imagery for interior decor.
-
Game Rooms:
- A growing trend in dedicated spaces for tabletop gaming, reflecting a revival of interest in quality time away from screens, with investment in well-made, display-ready gaming diversions.
-
Metal Shades:
- While super-sweet upholstery takes the spotlight, sleek and modern finishing touches, such as metal lampshades, are expected to add a touch of polish to minimalist and pattern-loaded interiors.
These trends collectively paint a picture of a nuanced and eclectic approach to interior design in 2022, where historical influences, comfort, and a playful yet sophisticated aesthetic converge to shape the way we decorate our living spaces. As Chairish suggests, the blend of vintage and contemporary elements creates a harmonious and timeless design language that resonates with the evolving needs and preferences of homeowners.
