While we might not always have the finances, time or even need to update our homes, it’s always good to know what’s trending in the home design space. That way, when the time does come for a renovation or move, you’ll already be filled with ideas. Not to mention, there’s also the option of taking the trend and putting your own, much more affordable spin on it.
With this in mind, we thought we’d share with you the interior design trends to know in 2022. Home renovation and design platform Houzz.com.au studied the searches from its 65 million members in the past year to pull out six trends mentioned again and again for its 2022 Emerging Home Design Trends.
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“The trends highlight the continued need for dedicated activity spaces, a focus on outdoor living, a rise in bathroom grooming and a deep dive into resort-style pool design,” reads the report.
From dedicated activity and entertainment spaces, to making better use of outdoor spaces, here are the top home design trends of 2022.
Dedicated Activity Spaces
Since the beginning of the pandemic, people have continued to add activity and entertainment areas to their homes. Houzz saw an increase this year for ‘home bar’ (up by 79%), ‘media room’ (up by 48%), ‘library’ (up by 46%), ‘rumpus room’ (up by 43%) and ‘studio’ (up by 43%).
Making Use of Outdoor Spaces
Connecting homes to the outdoors is a trend Houzz says is on the rise. Dwellers are looking to make the most of alfresco settings with searches on Houzz, with for ‘greenhouse’ (up by 2x), ‘decks’ (up by 2x) and ‘outdoor dining’ (up by 66%) surging higher over the past year. Capturing the open-air ’Palm Springs’-inspired vibe also appears to be gaining popularity, with searches up by 56%.
Bathroom Updates
It seems bathrooms are still one of the most popular interior rooms to be upgraded in homes. The spend on renovating bathrooms has increased by 13%, from $15,000 to $17,000 year-on-year, according to the latest 2022 Houzz & Home Australia report.
Searches for ‘bathroom mirrors’ (up by more than 2.5x), ‘baths’ (up by 2x), ‘wet room’ (up by 64%) and ‘ensuite’ (up by more than 38%) jumped up on Houzz in 2022 compared to the year before.
Pool Additions or Sprucing Up
Homeowners with pools are diving deep on Houzz for inspiration, with the search terms ‘pool house’ (up by 2x), ‘swimming pool’ (up by 60%), ‘swim spa’ (up by more than 52%), ‘pool cabana’ (up by 42%) and ‘plunge pool’ (up by 29%) surging higher on Houzz than the previous year.
Preserving Charm and Character
Preserving the original charm and character of a home appears to be top of mind among homeowners, too.
Dramatic search spikes for ‘exposed brick’ (up by nearly 3x), along with ‘balustrade’ (up by more than 2x), ‘Federation’ (up by 52%) and ‘industrial’ (up by 41%) show that decorative styles and architectural features, that are unique to period-style homes, have become popular on Houzz this year. ‘Australian native gardens,’ well-suited to local growing conditions, also saw growth on Houzz by more than 2.3x, when compared to 2021.
Smart Storage
Custom smart-storage solutions are becoming increasingly important for homeowners, with a Houzz survey reporting more than a third enlisted the help of a cabinet or cabinetry home professional in the past year (32%).
Creating a well-functioning ‘butler’s pantry’ more than quadrupled in searches on Houzz in the first quarter of 2022, compared with the same period in 2021 (up 311%). Home organisation is increasingly prioritised with higher searches on Houzz for ‘garage storage’ (up by 90%), ‘built-in wardrobe’ (up by 77%), ‘mudroom’ (up by 64%) and ‘walk-in wardrobe’ (up by 58%).
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