As 2021 comes to a close, many companies including Zillow, Yelp, Wayfair Professional, and 1stDibs released their end of year reports consisting of consumer statistics, professional input and market data on the most popular home trends of 2021 along with predictions for 2022. But were all these findings the same?
It’s important to note the data for each report came from different sources. For example, the Yelp report consisted of information from searches along with commentary from famed interior designer Jeremiah Brent. On the other hand, the Zillow report was compiled from housing market data and professional analysis. The 1stDibs report, which mostly covered interior design and furniture trends, came from a survey of more than 750 interior designers worldwide. Lastly, the Wayfair Professional report was sourced from commentary shared by the brand’s in-house stylists.
While much of the data was similar, there were a few key differences and a major surprise involving one of the biggest furniture trends in recent years. Here are some of the most interesting findings from these reports.
Greens and Blues Are In For 2022
All of the reports shared similar color trends, stating that shades of blue and green will dominate in 2022. While Wayfair Professional specifically mentioned “avocado green,” the 1stDibs report dug a little bit deeper, stating. “Dark greens, like emerald, and lighter shades, like sage, were noted by respondents to be popular in the coming year. In fact, emerald is the number one color of choice for designers at 24 percent of the vote.”
The same report also mentioned the influence of paint brands on color trends as a whole because several paint brands named green hues as their colors of the year. One example of this is Breezeway by Behr, which is a silver-green shade inspired by sea glass.
Brent notes in Yelp’s report that blue hues will also be big in 2022. “Sifting through Yelp’s rich data, I saw many of the trends I’d begun utilizing in my recent design projects reflected. 2022 will be all about dusty blues.”
However, 1stDibs stated the top-ranked blue on their trend report was cobalt. “As the most popular blue this year, cobalt bested navy, which had the most dramatic decline in responses out of all the hues compared to last year, dropping a whopping 43 percent in interest.”
Homeowners still on the fence about blue that are planning to put their homes on the market in 2022, might have their mind’s changed by Zillow’s interior paint color analysis. That data showed that homes with light blue bathrooms could sell for 1.6 percent more than expected. Better yet, a dark blue bedroom can potentially sell for a $5000 premium.
Cane Becomes Controversial
Rattan and cane have been having a moment for several years now. “Cane is a natural and timeless material that I always find myself reaching for. It’s incredibly versatile, a great way to warm up a space, and has been around for ages,” explains Brent in Yelp’s report. “You can easily find vintage or modern cane pieces to incorporate into your space. You can also transform pieces like mid-century modern chairs by replacing the fabric with cane material.”
So, it’s rather surprising that 1stDibs’ report labeled cane an Instagram fad. “Designers are passing on several trends made popular through social media in recent years. At the bottom of the list were black interiors, grandmillenial, cane seating, and arches.”
So what’s the tie-breaker? If you like cane, just go for it because Wayfair Professional’s report says materials with “natural elegance” are currently in style.
Sustainability Still Reigns
The trend of sustainability is here to stay. The 1stDibs report shared that almost all the designers surveyed (97 percent) said that sustainable materials and plants (93 percent) would be on-trend for 2022.
Zillow’s research showed that listings with the term “eco” and “energy efficient” sold more than two days faster than anticipated. “Listings that mention drought-resistant features sold 13 days faster, and smart sprinkler systems and double pane windows installed for energy conservation were associated with homes selling more than a week quicker than expected.”
2022 Is The Year Of The “Cloffice”
While many are getting back to working outside the home, there are still plenty of people working from home, which makes Yelp’s data all the more interesting. After seeing an 80 percent increase from 2019 to 2020, the term “home office,” didn’t make the list of trending searches in 2021.
However, the term “cloffice,” which is a walk-in closet that’s been converted to a home office, increased 49 percent. While a “cloffice” might not be the ideal spot to work every day, it can be a good enough choice for those who only work from home one or two days a week, as many companies are currently operating on a hybrid model. A “clofffice” may also be the only choice for those who live in smaller homes.
Zillow’s survey of current homeowners stated that nearly 75 percent were considering making home improvements in the upcoming year, of which 31 percent planned to add or renovate a home office. The report also noted that some homeowners were thinking about converting sheds and closets into home offices, but didn’t note specific numbers.
While Wayfair Professional’s report didn’t use the term “cloffice”, it did use the term “pop-up workspace.” A “cloffice” can be a “pop-up workspace,” but so can a desk and chair anywhere in a home. “A few foundational pieces can turn anywhere into a flexible workstation— it’s about being intentional with the space,” says Wayfair Professional Interior Stylist Brianna Torres.
Comfort Is Key
All the reports noted how important comfort will be in 2022. Both Wayfair Professional’s and Zillow’s reports stated that curved sofas and chairs would only become more prominent trends in 2022. 1stDibs’ data also supported this, noting that structured seating is falling out of favor for more plush designs.
One of the biggest home design trends in recent years has been hygge, which is the Danish concept of finding comfort and living in a cozy atmosphere. While this trend isn’t going away any time soon, Yelp saw the search term “lagom” increase 33 percent in just two months. The report notes, “Lagom — which literally translates to ‘moderate’ [in Swedish and Norwegian]— is founded on the notion that less is in fact, more. A lagom lifestyle and environment would have you taking that ‘less’ and creating ‘more’ with it. Though the term isn’t mainstream just yet, we’re also seeing increases in searches for words that indicate a shift towards the lagom mentality. Examples of this include functional like functional space (up 52 percent), declutter (up 39 percent), and murphy bed (up 61 percent).”