CB2 releases 2022 ‘Next in Design’ report

The report sets the stage for a year defined by rebirth, nostalgia, creative individuality and more, revealing four trends based on input from industry experts, product merchants and more than 1,000 interior designers from CBs’s Design Trade Program.

“As we were faced with a new set of challenges in 2021, home continued to serve as the place where we could safely land and express ourselves,” said Ryan Turf, president of CB2. “Our 2022 Next in Design Report aims to inspire your design journey and help embrace your creative individuality along the way.”

Here is what the experts think will light up the design world in 2022:

• Luxury For All: The idea that luxury is exclusive is outdated. Unapproachable attitudes when it comes to luxury are being replaced by a democratization of design. Rather than just reserved for auction houses, good design is increasingly accessible, CB2 said, through its assortment  that includes reissued classics from icons like Clara Porset and Paul McCobb that inspire those “where did you get that?” moments at home.
• Home As Therapy: Home is a place that should serve as an escape and support one’s overall wellbeing. Design this year will be defined by blending the beautiful with the functional, cultivating an indoor/outdoor lifestyle and embracing natural elements. Shades of green from sage to emerald inspire calm and are anticipated in not just upholstery and textiles, but more unexpected applications like marble. Clients are also looking to incorporate feel-good materials associated with healing properties, such as selenite or alabaster.
• Return of Decadence: People are craving reveries, indulging in glamour and bringing a sense of opulence to their small group gatherings. There’s an element of maximalism at play, chasing joy through design by leaning into extravagant adornments and abstract shapes. Designers note that with the return of home entertaining, “people are willing to spend on seating again.”
• Fewer, Better: 2022 brings quality of design into sharper focus, from materials to craftsmanship to sustainability and beyond. 31% of interior designers plan to incorporate more sustainable materials into their 2022 projects, the report said, by integrating elements like FSC- certified woods, organic cottons and other earth-friendly materials. Vintage and vintage-inspired pieces will continue to be popular, and while mid-century modern is still going strong, this year designers predict inspiration will lean further into French and Italian designers from this era.