The 2022 Decor Trends Designers Are Already Over

In just a few short months, 2022 will come to a close. But already, some of the year’s most popular home design trends have outstayed their welcome. It may sound harsh, but it all comes down to the fickle nature of trends. They may come storming in, sweeping through thousands of homes, but it takes a powerful trend to develop into a lasting classic. Though your personal tastes are always the top indicator of what looks best in your home, it’s always nice to hear an outside opinion. According to design experts, these trends won’t receive the attention they once did in 2023, much less for the rest of the year.

Bohemian Style

Boho style itself won’t be going anywhere, but it’s likely that purely boho style rooms won’t be as common as they once were. These days, people are gravitating towards looks that can be blended seamlessly with others—and this one is no exception.

“Boho style is leaning [towards] much more of a mixture of modern with boho-inspired pieces,” says Molly Cody, interior designer and founder of Cody Residential. “Macrame wall hangings and egg chairs, gone! Keeping the variety of textures boho encourages alongside clean, sleek pieces is the route to go moving forward.”

Boucle Furniture

While these cloud-like pieces really exploded onto the scene this year, “boucle pieces have already run their course,” according to Cody. It has nothing to do with their appearance (it’s hard not to love the look of a fuzzy couch or pouf), but more to do with their longevity. “They’re beautiful but not as practical as quality, staple furniture pieces,” says Cody.

It’s true, a white hue and an intricate, tough-to-clean fabric are risky in busy households. What to do if your eye has been on a boucle piece? Opt for smart fabrics with texture. These materials can bounce back from spills and dirt but still have dimensional flair.

Southwestern Motifs

Lucy Small, the founder of State and Season Home Design & Supply, agrees that bohemian and Southwestern styles both have lost their charm. “In 2022 I think people were really looking for the next big thing after modern farmhouse and everyone seemed to land on either boho or Southwestern designs,” she says. “I knew these trends would be outdated quickly because such stylistic choices are expressed through novelty items and we tend to get sick of those pretty quick and want a refresh.”

It can be hard making looks outlast the fast-moving trend cycle, but Small explains that your personal preferences and way of living should come first when deciding on a decorating style. “The way to design or refresh your home in a way that won’t feel dated is about creating something that suits your taste, works for your lifestyle, but is also in balance and harmony with your actual home and the surrounding area.”

Beige Walls

Interior design coordinator and Patio Productions consultant Tara Spaulding puts it bluntly: “Beige is out of style.” This color saw a resurgence in the last year as people were after more serene, neutral tones to coat their walls, but it was bigger and had more staying power several years back in 2017, according to her.

“They’re quickly becoming a thing of the past,” says Spaulding. “If you still have beige walls, now is the time to give them a refresh.” A warm white (like Behr’s 2023 Color of the Year) or even a more impactful cocoa brown can be nice alternatives that feel more modern.

Open Floor Plans

Spacious and conducive to creating visual “flow” in your home, open floor plans were understandably a top-priority choice for renters and buyers, but their benefits have backfired a bit.

“Open floor plans were all the rage in early 2022 but are now passé,” says Spaulding. “They don’t necessarily make for a cozy home; instead, they can make a room feel small and cramped because there aren’t any walls or barriers to separate one area from another.” If you feel like your home has blurred into one giant room, 2023 might be a good year to implement temporary barriers or furniture that provides some kind of break.

Sliding Barn Doors

Open floor plans were simultaneously trending alongside unique ways to close off rooms. While people craved being around others, many also needed to separate out areas and create home offices out of thin air, too.

This boom in sliding doors and barn-style contraptions were popular, but Spaulding says sliding barn doors are now “out” and really losing ground this year. “People are tired of the heavy doors and having to deal with them and are instead opting for something breezier and lighter,” she notes.

Traditional Dining Rooms

As dining rooms have slowly started seeing traction again, stuffier versions of these formal rooms are no longer as popular. “Traditional dining rooms are out of date—and they’re not just outdated because they’re old-fashioned,” says Spaulding. “There’s no reason why you can’t have a beautiful dining room that has a modern flair without being old-fashioned or outdated. You can still have formal settings without having lots of china on display.”

Dining rooms can hold multiple purposes now or they can be a fun collection of decor. Instead of identical chair sets, opt for an eclectic collection of seating or spice things up with a funky chandelier. Dining tables can also look heavy and weigh the look of a room down. Try a sleek stone table or a wooden version with raw or wavy edges.

Two-Toned Kitchen Cabinets

Paula Blankenship, founder of All-In-One-Paint by Heirloom Traditions, feels that having dual shades in cooking spaces is beginning to feel stale. “Although this trend can look great in certain kitchens, it doesn’t work for all kitchens,” she notes. “If the kitchen design doesn’t really support this trend, it can make the kitchen look very segmented and appear smaller than it actually is.”

Without much thought, she adds that homeowners may end up repainting or settling on a single shade after hastily picking two hues. If you are in love with this look and want to get it right the first time, try opting for a darker shade on the bottom and a lighter shade up top. This will punctate your kitchen thanks to the grounding base cabinets, but it won’t make it feel closed off or cramped.

Any questions please feel free to ask me through Andrew@sinotxj.com