Winter is here, and it’s that time of the year to reflect, celebrate, and spend time with loved ones inside the warmth of our homes! 2021 carried styles from previous years and brought about endless creative interior design trends whether it be antique and vintage furniture, sustainable design, cottagecore, minimalism, the list goes on and on! It truly was a special year, and we asked 3 interior designers to share their expertise and thoughts on 2021 trends, what will stay/go, personal favorites, challenges, and what we should be excited about in 2022.
Q: What design trend spoke to you the most this year?
A: “The fun piece of interior styling is that it's an expression of individual style. Therefore, there are always a number of executions of design that are trending at the same time. However, after a year that sparked a lot of time at home and reflecting on what matters, I really enjoyed seeing a lot of folks moving towards minimalism. For myself, I try not to focus so heavily on a specific aspect of a trend, but more so timeless take on colors and textures that may be trending, putting my personal touch on the execution of them.”
Q: Which trend do you feel should be left behind in the coming year?
A: “I often hesitate to answer this question as I truly believe that "you do you" is the approach everyone should take. Therefore, I don't want to knock what works for someone else! However, I really hope that we can be less focused on what everyone else is doing and taking it to the next level, and more on living in the now, doing what simply makes a happy home, without overdoing it. There's nothing more that bothers me when I scroll on my feed and it's hard to tell the difference between accounts, unfortunately! We all have a unique eye to bring to the table and I'd love to see more of it.”
Q: What has 2021 taught you about interior design?
A: “That less truly is more. It's overstated, but underfollowed. I aim to infuse it more into my own home, to inspire my following that you don't need to pack your home with pieces to make it happy, saving you time & money along the way!”
Q: What is your personal goal for your interior design in 2022? Any looks or spaces you want to achieve?
A: “Having been in my city rowhome for almost 6 years, I have been on the hunt for my next home! Therefore, saving all future projects for when the right one comes about (calling on you, universe!). However, in this time of wait, I've really gotten a handle on my style and I can't wait to reveal that in each new space.”
If the simple and attainable home design is for you, be sure to check out Meg’s digital and interior design brand, Meg Leonard Co. We truly adore the beautiful interior spaces she creates, and you can gain more inspiration on home ideas, DIY tips, and even extend to recipes and fashion on her blog. We love what Meg is doing, be sure to show her some love and follow her on Instagram after reading this post!
Q: What design trend spoke to you the most this year? Did any become a part of your personal style?
A: “The design trend that spoke to me the most this year was all those moody colors accents. We went ahead and custom-built DIY built-in bookcases in our living room and painted it black, it was a big move but we are so happy with the result!”
Q: How do you keep up with current trends? Do you feel the need to follow/incorporate the latest trends as they come?
A: “I always scroll on Pinterest to find inspiration and follow closely designers and design firms to stay up to date on trends. When seeing something that speaks to me, I tried to incorporate it into our home.”
Q: Which trend do you feel should be left behind in the coming year?
A: “I feel classic farmhouse style is slowly going away and transforming into more of a modern farmhouse. From cluttered farm life to a more modern clean lines farmhouse. Even classic horizontal shiplap has evolved into clean vertical painted shiplap. I also feel like all-white spaces are going away slowly making room for richer and darker colors.”
Q: What’s a trend you wish received more recognition or came back?
A: “Definitely beadboard paneling! I love the look of it inside cabinets, built-ins, and even as an accent wall.”
Q: Did you feel challenged by any of the new trends?
A: “Since design trends are constantly evolving and changing. The biggest challenge for me has been to stay true to myself in terms of style. Also, to be content in the changes we’ve made in our home and be able to work around those changes while incorporating new trends.”
Q: Did 2021 bring any ‘guilty pleasure’ trends?
A: “When we moved into our home 3 years ago, we had to remove so many 30-year-old ugly wallpapers that I promised myself I would never use wallpaper again. When designing our little girl’s bedroom, I fell in love with a subtle floral wallpaper and decided to go for it. I couldn’t be more in love! Glad I did it.”
Q: What has 2021 taught you about interior design?
A: “2021 has been a difficult year due to the pandemic and I believe it taught me to reuse stuff I already have. Like painting furniture, rearranging decor, moving things around the house instead of buying new. And if I had to buy, I’d look in thrift stores, antiques, and the marketplace to find a good deal. I even developed a passion for finding the right piece.”
Q: What is your personal goal for your interior design in 2022?
A: “My goal for 2022 is to incorporate more vintage old pieces with the new, more earthy tones and textured elements into our spaces. Maybe paint our fireplace using roman clay and plaster. Also, our biggest project for 2022 is the renovation of our kitchen. Already creating mood boards and saving ideas.”
Q: Any trend predictions for 2022?
A: “I think that second-hand, thrift stores’ vintage finds will be more popular in 2022, you see lots of shortages in retail stores and it forces people to look elsewhere and find that unique one-of-a-kind piece. Also, dark and moody tones, less white and neutral!”
As a busy mom of 4, Joëlle loves sharing her passion for interior designing and home renovations. If you’re looking for amazing yet simple DIYs for your own space, Joëlle’s content was made for you. We love to gain inspiration from The Farmhouse Dream and enjoy the small little personal moments that she shares with her audience. Make sure not to miss out on Joëlle’s updates and follow her Instagram!
Q: What design trend spoke to you the most this year? Did any become a part of your personal style?
A: “Houseplants have become super trendy in the past couple of years and have become a huge part of my personal decor style. While working from home and missing out on travel, decorating with plants became the perfect way to bring the outdoors in and create tropical feeling spaces.”
Q: How do you keep up with current trends? Do you feel the need to follow/incorporate the latest trends as they come?
A: “Pinterest is a great place to start, as well as following other decor lovers on Instagram to see what trends they’re incorporating in their homes. There’s definitely a pressure to keep up with the trends, but it’s not always realistic for my budget to be updating my decor.”
Q: Which trend do you feel should be left behind in the coming year?
A: “Maximalism. Some people do it really well, but I think less is more, and also more sustainable!”
Q: What’s a trend you wish received more recognition or came back?
A: “Color-blocked arches! Maybe it’s because I just painted one…but I think they’re such a fun way to bring a pop of color or contrast to a space without doing anything too dramatic.”
Q: Did you feel challenged by any of the new trends?
A: “Statement walls! I love the look of a wall mural or bold wallpaper, but it’s something I’m afraid to try or commit to.”
Q: Did 2021 bring any ‘guilty pleasure’ trends?
A: “Checkerboard patterns in the home! I’ve seen them on rugs, art, and even wallpaper. At first, I wasn’t into it, but now I’ve seen some people execute this trend in their homes beautifully and would definitely try it!”
Q: What has 2021 taught you about interior design?
A: “Good interior design takes time!”
Q: What is your personal goal for your interior design in 2022?
A: “Spend less on small decor items, invest instead in timeless design choices for the home. I’d love to renovate my dining room to include some built-in storage solutions and decorative trim walls. My home is tiny so I always have to consider smart storage solutions when decorating.”
Q: Any trend predictions for 2022?
A: “I think we’ll see a lot of neutral, earthy tones and textures continue to be on-trend. Using natural elements to decorate with like wood, marble, cane.”
Ro certainly knows how to live life through rose-tinted glasses. One look at her Instagram and it will have you falling in love with the soft boho vibes. We love how her space is unique to her and her personality. It is inspiring to see her incorporate vintage pieces into her designs as a reminder that interior designing takes time but becomes worth it when your space is exactly what you want it to be.
If 2021 didn’t bring you the interior inspiration you wanted, let’s change that and aspire for a better 2022! Keep up with us as we journey through trends, DIYs, and tips just like these designers shared with us, or start your own and explore all the possibilities.