The indoor spaces we experience every day are places to inhabit with very different nuances between them. They can be convivial spaces where we can spend carefree moments with family or friends, but also refuges where we can find the intimacy and privacy which we often struggle to find in the daily chaos. The walls of the buildings in which we’re immersed can also delimit work, study and project environments, which are becoming increasingly blurred together and confused with domestic environments due to a profound revolution in the professional market and to human interaction.
The trends in the world of design and architecture reflect precisely these points of view, mixing warm and ‘cosy’ atmospheres, the desire for multifunctional spaces and a new sensitivity towards the environment. In 2022, therefore, environmentally sustainable material choices are mixed with handcrafted details and minimalist furnishings, blending surprisingly well with botanical decorations and emotional olfactory architecture.
Let’s explore the most interesting trends which will accompany us throughout this year.
Sustainability.
There is a growing awareness that our everyday choices have an impact on the Planet, even those choices which are related to living spaces. The desire for green and eco-friendly solutions is not only being embraced by big brands, but is mainly driven by consumers who want to align their habits with these new sensitivities.
The design universe has now caught on to this trend and is trying to meet it by offering furniture, objects and coverings made from natural and sustainable materials for 2022. Vegetable fibres for textiles, but also wood, stone and glass, are the great protagonists of interior design and of the design choices of major architectural firms.
Furnishing with biocompatible natural stone restores an almost forgotten connection with nature to rooms, and often plays at breaking down the gaps between indoor and outdoor spaces. Resistant, compact and versatile, stone adapts to any style with extreme flexibility, offering excellent aesthetic and functional performance to match the creativity of architects and the furnishing choices of the most elegant locations.
Wood is another of the most popular materials for 2022, in particular for its innate warmth and its ability to give character to any space: it is a must to choose wood which comes from sustainable cultivation, engaged in controlled reforestation projects. When it comes to playing with transparencies and exclusive lighting, glass is the most suitable raw material, as it can confer brightness to spaces and enlarge them, creating classy environments balanced between divisions and transparencies.
The comfort of the minimal
The functional linearity of the minimal style is as close as it gets to 2022 design requirements. Indeed, its clean aesthetics are combined with easy usability, creating spaces which are both practical to live in and relaxing to the mind. Moreover, in its many facets, minimal design effectively complements the eco-sustainable trend, connected by definition to the perfect simplicity of nature.
One of the most seductive variations on the theme of minimalism is undoubtedly the Nordic style, characterised by interiors which are reminiscent of the most fascinating landscapes in the North, made up of unique lighting and great silences. The combination of the modernity and timeless history of this furniture choice follows the same path as Japanese-inspired design, a classic in constant transformation. This is not the first trend to come from the East and to follow in the footsteps of the spaces shaped by Zen culture and ancient Oriental traditions.
The charm of the rustic and recycling
The need to recover a deeper contact with nature and the past can also be found in rustic-style furniture, which borrows vintage and retro materials to build new atmospheres: among the main elements are undoubtedly wicker, rattan, jute and iron, but also bricks, porphyry, marble and, of course, the ever-present wood.
In the 2022 design trends, this much-appreciated country inspiration is combined with a resurgence of re-use and the topic of upcycling, a form of creative recycling which transforms disused materials and products into high-quality and meaningful furnishing objects. A lived-in tone, an artisanal touch and the most exclusive authenticity will be among the key points of interior design in the coming months, to give life to environments which are indeed innovative, but also capable of welcoming the people who visit them with open arms.
Cosy environments
The desire to reassure and excite is also behind another of the 2022 trends, namely the creation of olfactory scenes which are capable of touching the most intimate chords of the people who smell them. Thanks to its persuasive power, fragrance is emerging as one of the design elements which is capable of instantly creating a sense of comfort and belonging: by exploiting olfactory notes which have a strong impact on the unconscious mind, designers and architects are moving towards a new concept of space which chorally involves all the senses.
It is now possible to create exclusive fragrances designed around the personality of buildings and design spaces. The diffusion of sophisticated emotional notes can make a showroom a true journey into the designer’s imagination, but can also imbue the most refined architectural projects with uniqueness, creating a new continuity between material elements and the emotional world. Modern diffusion systems allow for a coherent and often invisible integration into the environment and use formulations which do not impact on valuable materials or on the wellbeing of visitors.
Botanical style
There has also been a real love for botanical designs and plant-based furniture,. Increasingly popular are prints, wallpapers and graphics which take up floral motifs and recreate forests, gardens and plants for every preference. The basic idea is always to never lose sight, even in the greyest urban contexts, of man’s visceral relationship with mother nature, bringing a touch of green with a calming effect into homes and offices.
In particular, the biophilic design trend pays great attention to the psychological wellbeing of people who have to be in a confined space for long periods of time and advances the idea that incorporating natural elements into indoor environments can promote relaxation and health as well as reducing stress levels.
Increasingly smart spaces
The habit of spending more and more time indoors is also the reason why environments tend to be more and more versatile, One of the goals of designers today is to offer the right work-life balance, with hyper-flexible furniture proposals and space management which rewards airiness and comfort.
The trend towards open space remains and is strengthened by multifunctional furnishings, which change their use depending on the time of day, such as extendable consoles, foldaway tables or practical partitions, which populate living areas, bedrooms and meeting rooms in professional venues.
In short, the focus for 2022 is on creating places which are simultaneously beautiful to look at, perfectly usable and exciting to experience.
To make your showroom or design location memorable, rely on the expertise of our Scent Experts and find your personalised fragrance which speaks the language of the unconscious.
