Interiors trends for 2022: what to watch

These trends have longevity and complement the love of all things natural in the home that's so central to Patch and Piglet in Bed. One overarching theme of this year is how important our home environment is to our mental wellbeing, which will be a surprise to no-one. Here are our top picks to inspire your own take on these trends.

Biophilia is a term coined by psychoanalyst Eric Fromm, who defined it as “the passionate love of life and all that is alive”, emphasising the benefits of the connection between humans and the natural world. What does this mean when it comes to architecture and design? In practice it means incorporating any design elements that make the occupant feel closer to nature, which is said to promote cognitive function and mental wellbeing. You can achieve this by opening up a space to encourage more natural light, using natural materials and fabric and of course, adding indoor plants to your home. 

On a practical level, plants reduce background noise through sound absorption, regulate temperature and increase humidity. It’s been shown that plants make a room more relaxing, so it stands to reason that you should have some in your bedroom, your own personal sanctuary. Deck out bedside tables with Susie the snake plant, or use a windowsill set to add some colour and maximise on light. If you want to really go for it, we're big fans of living walls - these do especially well in kitchens where there's plenty of humidity. Trailing plants like Rapunzel the devil's ivy are a great place to start.

We're spending more time than ever in our homes and we know how much of an impact our surroundings can have on our general mental wellbeing. Thriving house plants can uplift your mood and improve your mental health, reducing stress and loneliness through their calming presence. With that in mind, creating interior spaces that are mindful, peaceful and calming is fast becoming top of the wish list when making changes to our homes. This doesn’t have to mean sparse, beige rooms filled with zen gardens and pictures of waterfalls. Instead, prioritise space and room flow by limiting clutter and welcoming natural light.

Combine natural textures like linen, wood and clay with plants to create a calm and mindful space. Soft bedsheets, plants stands and pots are easy ways to bring a little texture to your space.

Finally, limit the tech. Keep TVs to one room, and avoid smart technology that creates distractions.

Natural materials and textures feature heavily in Scandi interiors and Japanese-style decor; both styles are synonymous with creating calm atmospheres. One of the main reasons for this is their relationship with nature, including a lot of woodwork, woven and clay materials. These materials all have contrasting textures. Woodwork is smooth and glossy, whereas jute and woven products are rough and matte.

Contrasting textures help to keep the eye moving around the room as they create depth and intrigue. Achieve this with your houseplants by pairing large green leaves like Chaz the Swiss cheese plant with a blue fractured pot, and plants with lots of intricate leaves - think Venus the maidenhair fern - with a smooth light grey concrete pot.

This year sustainable choices will be at the forefront of how we decorate and design the spaces we live in. Luckily, there are some easy switches that we can make to improve the longevity and eco-credentials of our interiors. 

Shopping for vintage or antique pieces is a great way to bring character to your home, with the added bonus that you're buying furniture that's been built to last and will stand the test of time. With the growth of online vintage furniture platforms, it’s a great time to snap up a bargain. You can take the same approach with your houseplants. With a little care, your plants will grow and last for years to come. Start with a small plant, like Penny the Chinese money plant, or choose a larger, more established plant like Sharon the parlour palm - both will flourish over time.

Finally, choose a style that will last and that you won’t be bored with in three years time. With our social media feeds full to the brim of the inside of other people’s houses, it’s easy to be lured into purchasing those 'must-have' items. Invest in classic, neutral designs for larger items that can be adapted to suit new trends, rather than thrown away and bought again. Adding a few houseplants or soft furnishings can completely transform how a piece of furniture feels in a room.