The Reinvention of “Real Life” in Home Design by Rachel Crippin Clark
Many consumers are feeling overwhelmed and worn out by the global pandemic … and they’ve been spending a lot more time at home. As hope emerges and a weary world begins to open again, where does that leave home style trends? Designer and style spotter Nancy Fire shared her vision for home design for 2022—as well as a sneak peek at 2023—during IHA’s Connect FALL virtual event. “2022 will find us searching for a simpler way of life, one that emulates a better balance between work and play,” says Fire, founder & principal of Design Works International, who has also served as design director for HGTV and HGTV HOME and a style spotter for The High Point Market.
That reinvention of real life will bring “an evolution, not a revolution” in home stylings and design, asserts Fire. “Because of the pandemic and because of supply chain (issues), style trends are not going to change as quickly as in the past,” she says. “They’re going to evolve, and they’re going to make sense and be more logical.” With that said, she feels most consumers are very selective these days about what they choose for their homes … meaning an object or its design absolutely needs to mirror their real lives and current sensibilities. Fire shared three lifestyles for 2022, as well as one preview for 2023:
Nature’s Way
“We find ourselves exploring the outdoors more these days, and nature is a very big factor in what we want in our homes today,” says Fire. A connection to nature is grounding for many people, and it often evokes feelings of comfort and simplicity. In addition, more consumers are also interested in bringing positive change to the world by selecting home goods with sustainable materials. “Organic materials and sustainable design will continue to be prevalent in 2022,” she predicts. Look for leather details, organic shapes, woven materials, bamboo and wood (primarily on lighter side, though some is dark), ceramic shells, cork, wire baskets and dimensional textiles in hemp and bamboo. Innovators in using sustainable materials include Portugal’s Digitalab, which has developed a method of turning cork into thread, and a group of Dutch designers who have used algae to make an environmentally friendly bioplastic. “Imperfect is the new perfect,” Fire declares. But she also makes a point of saying this doesn’t mean natural is unsophisticated or not useful. On the contrary, today’s consumer is very discerning and wants to make sure something is functional, in addition to fitting their sensibilities. Popular colors in this lifestyle include neutrals and earthen tones of terracotta, sand and burnt umbra.
36 | TR EN DS
