7 trends that are defining our interiors this year

With us all having spent more time at home than we'd planned in the past two years, interior design has taken on even more significance than usual - and as we tentatively look to enter a more encouraging era, design, art and architecture will continue to play an important role as we adapt to a new reality. That was the main message on display at this year's Stockholm Design Week, which took place in the Swedish capital in mid-February.

Much like fashion weeks, design weeks act as a vibrant platform for showcasing fresh inspiration and ideas, as well as pointing to emerging trends. Stockholm Design Week 2022 was no different, but don't despair if you missed it all, below we've rounded up the stand-out trends that will help define the year in design.

Infusing change or striving for seasonal upgrades doesn’t have to imply major home makeovers. With sustainability in mind, smaller statement pieces in colourful hues are the new game-changers, deployed to switch up the dynamic without compromising with a room’s existing theme.

Think thoughtfully crafted side tables with a vibrant twist, eclectic new colours added to classic pieces of furniture or simply dotting vintage finds around a room - it's time to express yourself with a curated at-home art installation.

Related: Watch the hypnotic work of Hanna Hansdotter as she makes her famed glass sculptures

Scandinavian artists are infatuated with modern infusions, preferably with a nod towards futurism. Functionality still serves as the overarching starting point, but designers are now adding shimmering surfaces, industrial touches and lots and lots of silver.

Untreated aluminium and recycled acrylic lead the way at newly-launched label Joy Objects, with designer Fredrik Paulsen at the helm, while Matti Klenell and Stala have a new set of patterned countertops and wall panels in stainless steel that also aligns with this trend.

Fashion and interior design used to be two distinct, disconnected spheres. Now, they are closer than ever, with crossover collaborations becoming the new normal.

Designer Lisa Hilland has linked up with Stockholm luxury department store Nordiska Kompaniet’s interior section for the Lumi Pouf, as one stand-out example of this trend. The chic foot stall comes in a range of different looks courtesy of a multidisciplinary cast of creators, including furniture designer-turned-fashion guru Maxjenny Forslund, bedware innovator Magniberg and Pia Wallén, one of Sweden’s most prolific designers. Even better, profits from the pouf go toward funding a scholarship for future designers.

Related: 7 interior designers on what items to invest in for 2022

This season, we swap crispy whites for vibrant tones. Although neutral browns with sizzling 1970s dark brown accents remain in style, experimenting with lively pastel-infused palettes is a trend we saw splashed all over Stockholm Design Week.

Depending on the desired effect, you can either add colour with a smaller component, like a throw or a vase, or go for a more maximalist approach. Don’t be afraid to infuse vibrant tones into your sofa, lounge chair or carpet, as showcased by the eye-catching new lines from Hem. And if that sounds a bit too bold, refreshing greens and soothing lavender tones are also in, helping us create calm home environments while still going above and beyond the strict neutral colour palettes of old.

Unsurprisingly perhaps given Scandinavia's strong suit in thoughtful design practices, sustainability was a strong theme for Stockholm Design Week 2022.

Carefully sourced Scandinavian materials - often ash wood, birch or oak - were on show throughout, as furniture brands with longevity and sustainability as their hallmarks came to the fore.

Verk were one such brand, presenting collections which are now sourced exclusively from Swedish raw materials. A piece from Verk de facto implies all things Swedish, from choice of wood to surface finish and even the nuts and bolts.

Related: There's a Storm coming: Meet the Norwegian interior designer who sold everything he had

Hello, Suomi! 2022 marks the year of the Finns re-entering the Swedish interior scene, as seen in two playful exhibitions during Design Week. Fintastic, and Serving Sculptures – Renewal of Finnish Craft & Design both incorporated the aforementioned pastels into their traditional, minimalist repertoire, all with a refreshing sense of rebirth.

Buckle up, and get ready for an increased interest in Finnish craft, signalled by the likes of sustainable brand Woodio, designer Hanna Anonen, and newly-established online gallery UU Market, a well-curated springboard for young creators.

Did you also turn to nesting when the pandemic hit? Times of isolation called for (somewhat) desperate measures, wanting to create the quintessential cosy, homely atmosphere of our dreams, preferably through DIY-projects. The concept of craftsmanship, and self-building, likely derived from a simple desire to return to the basics, is here to stay.

This season, Massproductions introduce the 4PM Chaise Lounge, a strikingly comfortable lounge chair without upholstery, together with its “democratic cousin” 4PM Self Build. The latter is inspired by the simple, yet iconic portfolio of Italian furniture designer Enzo Mari, and allows you to build the chair yourself from scratch.

Related: The biggest Scandinavian interior trends to know for 2022