It’s undeniable that I just love the classics. I’ve always been one to favor timeless design over passing trends… but there’s nothing wrong with incorporating a few fresh elements into any home, or leaning into a design style that caters to a new way of living (we’ve seen a lot of that this past year!).

In an exciting turn of events, I’m predicting that many of 2022’s trends will actually come back to one surprisingly classic design principle: making your home a space you truly LOVE to be in. While we all love a ‘color of the year’ moment or browsing through the hottest home accessories, the best design ultimately comes down to how a space caters to your way of living. Today, I’m sharing my design predictions for 2022 and how you can incorporate them into your home.

1. Prep Kitchens Galore

What was once considered unnecessary is now proving to be anything but — just ask anyone who loves to entertain! It’s time to consider a prep kitchen — let your main kitchen shine with beautifully designed cabinets, counters and most major appliances, but add in a tucked-away secondary kitchen (aka, the prep kitchen) to help keep the work and the mess where we want it: hidden! For entertainers and chefs alike, the prep kitchen can be home to food storage, an additional smaller sink, and smaller appliances. Now you can sit down and enjoy your dinner without side-eyeing the piling dishes.

2. Bringing the Outdoors In

I’ve spoken many times about how getting outside and breathing in fresh air is essential for a positive mental state — and biophilic design helps bring that same principal to the indoors. Connecting to nature makes us happier and healthier, so I foresee that homes in 2022 will be designed with lots of large windows and skylights (yes, they’re back!) to bring in fresh light. I also love to bring the outside in with the use of natural materials like marble, unlacquered brass, clay tiles, wood, and wool, as well as to incorporate live plants, flowers, and greenery. We are all craving peace and serenity in our homes — and utilizing natural materials allows you to achieve that comfort within our favorite four walls.

3. Rise of Feminine Lines

In a somewhat unexpected *twist*, after years of linear lines dominating the design world, the scale is beginning to tip back on the modern edges as we embrace a more feminine silhouette. We’re about to see a significant rise in soft edges in both furniture and decor to balance out the strong lines of the floors, doors, moldings, and cabinets in most homes. And the best part about this rising trend is that it’s a complement to our current design landscape; no need to replace those modern lines — instead, layer in to create a beautiful contrast. I also love that these beautifully crafted and multi-dimensional sculptural pieces are so striking, they practically double as artwork.

4. Reimagined Room Usage

Just because your home has five bedrooms certainly doesn’t mean it needs to house five beds… On the contrary, I’m finding more and more clients utilizing spaces such as bedrooms, dens, and studies to serve a number of purposes. A well-lit corner can be a study nook (even in a kitchen, seen here), a spare bedroom can be a yoga studio, and a rarely-used dining room can instead be a spacious office. The possibilities are endless, and I’m glad to see clients embracing their spaces to serve their own unique needs and wants. Time to lean into our lifestyles, and put traditional room uses in the past.

5. Adaptive Home Offices

If 2020 and 2021 were the years of creating the home office, 2022 is set to be the year of the home office perfected. In a home inhabited by a couple and/or children, the residents are bound to need more than one workspace. Gone are the days of working from a kitchen island stool, my friends (our backs are calling for a change) — this year, we’re going to incorporate more comfortable work space for ALL family members who need it. Here’s what I’m thinking: two desks with chairs back to back, a one-wall work zone with multiple desks side by side, or one long table with ample seating for all… And if we want to get really crazy and combine trends 4 and 5, we can even convert spare rooms into unique offices for each hardworking family member! The possibilities are endless, and I’m looking forward to finding new ways to accommodate remote workers and learners.