What's trending in interior design? Petra Lundblad, Kährs product manager of innovation and design, explores culture, human behavior, and environment to identify upcoming trends to drive new product innovation. She has identified six interior design trends projected to be popular in 2022 and beyond and how the translate to flooring. 

Trend #1: Light Scandinavian

The popularity of Scandinavian interiors grew over the past years and will be seen again in 2022. The clean, minimal, calming aesthetic will continue to be a top choice in design, expressed through a light color palette of whites, beiges, tans, soft peachy pinks, and grays. Materials used within this trend are visibly textured, organic, durable, and sustainable. Function is a key element, incorporating useful pieces like built-in storage and convertible furniture. The floors in this trend will be light, white stained, or natural oak, typically with a wide plank design.

A search term to explore this trend is "Japandi": a word that combines two complementary styles, Japanese minimalism and the Scandinavian functionality.

Trend #2: Cozy Colors

The Cozy Colors trend incorporates design elements typical of a brasserie: an informal restaurant that sells drinks and small bites. Imagine a cozy, retro happy hour spot. A 1970s style permeates this trend, from tubular steel furniture to retro curves to cozy colors like olives and browns. In this trend, you’ll see painted ceilings, wood paneling, worn leather, marble accents, non-linear surfaces, and concrete looks. All these elements come together to create a sense of coziness, typically grounded by a large amount of wood décor, whether on the floor, wall, ceiling, or spread throughout the space as accents. The floors in this trend range from dark to gray to warm brown, in both strip and plank design, depending on the space. You’ll also see the gray concrete look, which could be true concrete or a stone-look LVT.

Good search terms for this trend are “70s interior design” and “midcentury modern.”

Trend #3: Historical Vibes & Patterns

This trend incorporates French style elements (think the Palace of Versailles) combined with contemporary design elements: antiques mixed with curated art, custom-made furniture, and carefully chosen design pieces – all grounded by a patterned floor. The effect is an upscale, lux space with an inviting, homey, and personal feel. The keyword in this trend is “curation": using unique, old, or repurposed items from thrift stores or antique shops mixed with modern pieces.

Patterned floors are the main choice for this trend, evoking a sense of history, whether in a chevron, herringbone, or basketweave pattern. A good search term for this trend is “French transitional interiors.”

Trend #4: Vintage

Less a trend than an approach, the vintage interior design trend means getting back to basics and re-invigorating the old as new. The untreated, the worn, the tactile, the patina – all these elements are celebrated, like an old pair of favorite jeans or a restored vintage car. This includes rustic character, exposed brick, and touches of old Americana; a celebration of legacy, the look and feel built over years of history and style.

The floors featured in this trend include rustic, hand-scraped, heavily brushed, oiled floors with darker stains and smoked surfaces; floors that feel lived in from the first day of installation. Search terms for this trend include “vintage boho” and “modern rustic.”

Trend #5: Tradition

The word tradition might evoke the thought of traditional interiors, but here the word tradition refers to patterns of behavior and how they change. The world has transformed over the past few years, and spaces will now reflect those changes. One driving factor of this change is the increasing challenge of balancing working and living spaces. With this in mind, the Tradition trend introduces balance to interiors, emphasizes function, and sources sustainable, healthy materials that allow each person in the space to breathe easy (literally and metaphorically). Natural, organic, authentic materials take the spotlight in this trend, along with a movement toward “broken interiors” that create division and designation, versus “open floor” plans that hinder privacy. 

The floors in this trend are sustainably produced and foster a healthy environment. With light, mid-tone, or soft colors, the floors featured in this trend have an organic, textured visual interest. When it comes to flooring for the smaller spaces in a broken interior, strip floors are used to make spaces appear larger. Search terms for this trend include “split use spaces,” “broken plan interiors,” and “sustainable home.”

Trend #6: Modern Future

The most daring trend of the bunch, the Modern Future trend features, as the name implies, a futuristic style: geometric shapes and patterns, accents with a sleek look, and innovative, bold colors that create contrast. To soften and ground these elements, this trend incorporates a sense of playfulness and innocent naiveté, whether in bright colors, whimsical patterns, or quirky accents. Elements from different eras make an appearance in this trend, including retro curves, 20s art deco patterns, bright Y2K color palettes, and natural old-world materials. The effect is innovative, custom, unique, and contemporary. The floors featured in this trend vary but have this in common: they create a bold effect, whether in the width of the plank, the playfulness of sapwood streaks, the stateliness of dark filled cracks, or the unexpected contrast of color or stain.

Search terms for this trend include “retrofuturism,” “contemporary minimalism,” and “Scandinavian pastel.”

For more information, visit kahrs.com.