Oct 26, 2021

INTERIOR TRENDS | 6 furniture and design trends for imm cologne 2022

Decorative, smart, multifunctional, space- defining, communal and sustainable design: be inspired and learn more about the top interior trends 2022 for imm cologne

 

Last week I was invited in Paris to attend the press lunch of imm cologne 2022. It was a great chance to meet in person and discuss about the next imm cologne fair and, more in general, about the upcoming trends in the interiors and furniture industry.

In this article you can find a recap of the six interior trends that are defining the developments and innovations in the home living, and that will be on display in Cologne.

The imm cologne 2022 edition will take place from 17 to 23 January, right at the start of the year, as a great way to discover more and stay up-to-date about the relevant industry trends and innovations for all 2022.

Be inspired and see you in cologne!

 


INTERIOR TRENDS 2022

6 furniture and design trend for imm cologne

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trend #1

Seasonal Home Living / Interior Trends 2022

 

Decoration has become an integral part of interior design. Home living is becoming more and more an expression of personality, a continuous process, affected not only by trends, but much more by our personality, lifestyle, seasonal changes, natural changes.

It’s becoming increasingly common for the motifs of interior trends to reflect seasonal changes in nature, irrespective of their stylistic preference. The interior design sector is taking decorating seriously again, and even in minimalist interiors, using seasonal accessories to create a strong, perfectly placed accent is no longer considered a stylistic sin. Décor is becoming a collage that changes constantly in keeping with the seasons and our perception of nature.

When it comes to buying furniture, furniture should be neither too extravagant nor too boring, and purchased by considered their utilization and how well the furnishings can serve as a backdrop for changing styles. Décor is becoming a collage that changes constantly in keeping with the seasons and our perception of nature, by using walls, sofas, furniture as a neutral backdrop to add personality.

 

Illustration: Björn Steinmetzler, Koelnmesse

 

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trend #2

Connected Living / Interior Trends 2022

 

Out of necessity, digital world became more and more important in our daily lives – and homes are integrating this as well, with interior design adapting to this increasing connectivity. Smart applications are becoming increasingly diverse, reliable and easy to use and can be tailored with ever more precision to the specific needs of residents.

Technology is becoming part of the furniture, especially in the kitchen, which is the room with the greatest degree of connectivity thanks to the many and varied options for connected kitchen appliances. Also, the home is adapting to new way of working remotely, by becoming an AI-based hub.

Connectivity helps to make our lives easier and smarted, but above all helps the environment in terms of energy-optimization, temperature regulation, air purification, water control: this will be probably the future of smart home.

 

Agrilution_Plantcube

 

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trend #3

Multifunctional Living / Interior Trends 2022

 

The furniture industry responses to the challenge of creating maximum comfort in a small space, with the rising housing prices. Furniture and furnishings should be adapted to suit changing needs, especially in pandemic times. In future, in fact, there will be even greater demand for affordable modular systems and compact stand-alone items that are scalable (allowing them to be adapted to different room dimensions), variable (with pull-out technology, etc.) and versatile.

The focus of the home is now the dining table, which has to adapt to the family needs, such as other furniture elements like the sofa, with modular design increasingly common. Furniture should not be adaptable in size, but also to the ergonomic needs of the family, for example with lifting mechanisms that turn the home office table into a standing desk.

The reduced space available brings new multifunctional solutions and also new aesthetics, to get a perfectly uncluttered feel also in small and multifunctional interiors.

 

Ambivalenz – Fläpps Sekretär

 

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trend #4

Blurring Boundaries / Interior Trends 2022

 

The future home has blurring boundaries: not only between indoors and outdoors, but also between (semi-)public and private, and between different areas – living and cooking, living and dining, living and working, living space and bathroom. Areas with a specific function are not closed anymore, but zoned thanks to decor and furniture elements, using elements such as (movable) partitions or permanent built-in units, rugs to mark out important zones, different colours and materials.

In an interior where there are fewer walls or partitions, furniture has to be able to stand and make an impact all by itself, with stand-alone pieces that don’t have a “best side” anymore. Side tables can double as seating, bathroom furniture looks more and more like any other room furniture, outdoor furniture takes inspiration from indoor. Mobile furniture on wheels, like the classic serving trolley , are particularly popular right now, as a clear consequence of these space without boundaries.

Outdoor spaces are now considered as “second living rooms” : balconies, patios and gardens designed and decorated to become welcoming living areas with high-quality outdoor furnishings. New solutions such as water-repellent fabrics, intelligent furniture concepts, new types of flooring, can be used both indoor and outdoor, blurring the boundaries between spaces.

|| Be inspired: Curvy furniture design trend

 

Thonet

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trend #5

Sharing Spaces / Interior Trends 2022

 

The urban lifestyle, remote working and flexible working models are creating new kind of living spaces, like long and short stay apartments, co-living and co-working areas. Hence, the request for new furniture solutions and concepts, but also  an increasing demand for rental furniture with high quality and functionality.

The more centrally located a co-living facility is, the more multifaceted the apartment building’s concept tends to be, with work, leisure and home combined under one roof. Long and short-stay apartments represent a new big segment for the interiors business.

When it comes to creating co-living spaces, a great deal of importance is also about creating an on-trend interior with a stylish interior design, to attract new clients through Instagram and social media.

 

Sebastian Herkner Apartment (c) Commerz Real

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trend #6

Natural Luxury / Interior Trends 2022

 

Quality is the real luxury, that now is synonymous with features such as traditional craftsmanship, premium materials, soft-edge design.  The environmental crisis of the last years is finally bringing the interiors sector towards a focus on quality, moving away from “more and more, cheaper and cheaper”of the past years.

People want homes to be greener, more stylish, more colourful, more natural and more sustainable. Starting from the materials, which expresses this new concept of “natural luxury” with exquisitely crafted wood and leather, accompanied by marble and stone with soft contours and a smooth feel, ultra-mate finishes to be touched.

Furniture also should last in time and also have a story to tell. there is also a rising demand for cosy spaces – especially after the pandemic – hence, the rising for natural shades and natural ambience. Colours are inspired directly by nature: sandy beige, brown shades are tending towards taupe rather than chocolate, and even the shades of grey seem to have been inspired by earthy hues. Together with neutral and natural tones, also the desire for strong colour tones is growing. From warm ochre to glowing honey yellow, from pastel terracotta to vivid saffron red, from delicate greens to vibrant olive shades.

|| Be inspired: Trending colors 2022: 4 new palette to decorate home

 

Thonet
Nanimarquina

 

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