Forecasting trends in 2022 | Part 1

Concerns around mental health continue to impact our daily lives personally and through mainstream media. Colour has an enormous influence on people’s reactions to spaces and designers are working to create schemes that promote optimism. Green is nature’s neutral and was selected as the Colour of the Year by five of the world’s leading paint companies. Forecaster, Jaye Anna Mize attributes this cohesion to the fact that green is “closely tied to conversations about nature and sustainability—more recently, it’s been trending in wellness,” she explains. “Consumers are prioritizing mental health and well-being, and greens are associated with self-care and nourishment.”

When predicting trends, “brands look at colour from a psychological perspective, and the paint colours they choose tell a bigger story about consumer behaviour,” says Mize. “As consumers, we are overstimulated and in need of more calming spaces, and earthy colours help us stay connected to nature, even when we're indoors.”

Mokum recently investigated Ikigai, the Japanese philosophy centred on finding joy in life by looking outwards to the flora and fauna surrounding us, be that literally or through escapism to another time and place. The soft greens present in the Ikigai collection have become increasingly popular in interior design circles. 

Earthy shades of green inspired by the outdoors brighten spaces while acting as a muted neutral, reminding us of the resilience and rejuvenation of nature after a period of distress. Global supplier, PPG Paints selected Olive Sprig for 2022, a green that represents regrowth and renewal – new life for a new year. Market research by the company concluded there was a 240% increase in searches for green colours year on year.

The nostalgic, mid-tone green with silver-grey undertones named Evergreen Fog is Sherwin-Williams’ Colour of the Year for 2022. Colour Marketing Director, Sue Wadden, says the choice was influenced by the design trends for sustainability and organic living. “From a colour psychology standpoint, green is the colour of nature, revitalization and growth. Evergreen Fog is soft and delicate — like a seedling emerging, it doesn’t come out intense. It’s subtle,” says Wadden.

An escape can come in many forms and represents the place where you would prefer to be. Patterned textiles are skilled communicators and capable of bringing the mood and fantasy of your interiors to life. This year our design studios are taking us into gardens, tropical forests, and through the most glamorous eras of the twentieth century. 

Decorative European heritage prints of wildflowers and foliage continue to flourish in home furnishings as small motifs or over-scaled designs on chintz, satin, toile, and printed wallpapers. Soft, romantic illustrations in organic shapes like those of renowned French textiles designer de Gournay on fresh green backgrounds are trans-seasonal and can transport the viewer to an enchanting garden. 

Maximalist tropical themes and animal patterns retain their popularity at a time of ongoing travel restrictions as we bring the holiday mood into our living spaces. Our desire to be surrounded by lush green landscapes, either as a reflection of our own backyard or the opposite, has only been enhanced by two years indoors. Find escapism in vivid teal base layers depicting tropical plants overlayed with extravagant accents of fantasy flowers and exotic species. 

Geometric patterns remain a popular choice in upholstery and wallpapers. Channeling the art deco and art nouveau eras, which were richly decorated in jewel-toned greens and blues, peachy pinks, and creams with glamorous metallic highlights.  

Dunn-Edwards have chosen Art and Craft as their Colour of the Year for 2022; a sunbaked cinnamon brown to gently move us out of the pandemic. Sara McLean, Dunn-Edwards’ Colour Trend Expert and Stylist emphasises that “browns are moving to the forefront of influential colours as we see the warming of all hues over the past few years. Recent trends, including cottagecore, rural fantasy, and light and dark academia all emphasize the importance of using earthy palettes to create warm and cosy atmospheres.”

Mokum Studio drew inspiration for the Surface Collection from the New Mexico landscape surrounding the home of Modernist painter, Georgia O’Keeffe. Surface embodies a warm colour palette and the push towards all things natural – from materials, to technique, to the look and feel. There is a great desire for the organic and handmade, as crafted qualities continue to increase in popularity and Boho styles are revived for new audiences, and nostalgic ones alike.

Our interiors have been strongly influenced by the clean lines and organic textures found in Scandinavian and Japanese design. These themes are evolving into 2022 as we seek to bring a local perspective to the natural world we are inspired by, and to celebrate the textures and colour palette of the landscape which surrounds us. The sense of escapism need not always be bright or loud; in 2022 we can escape to our personal sanctuary with layers of intricately designed plains and romantic sheers championing the vistas outside our windows. 

Read article: Forecasting trends in 2022 | Part 2

Read article: Forecasting trends in 2022 | Part 3