Seasons and styles come and go, but as vintage markets like Chairish and 1stDibs prove, the flea market is a constant companion for exploring décor trends. For those looking to update their surroundings with pieces from the past that look like the future, Chairish has released its Spring 2022 trend predictions.
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Perhaps fitting for the uncertain times we find ourselves in, experts are seeing a growing interest in tried-and-true methods that provide feelings of escape: cabana lines to transform your living room into a resort chic and animal prints to bring wild whimsy into a bedroom. Buyers are moving away from minimalism and are now focusing on what VP Marketing, Noel Vahden, believes are “layered styles and paired in a way that doesn’t feel overwhelming or over the top.” Think hanging salon style with soft 3D carvings extending the space between walls and furniture, and tough materials like tin and rope softened with butterfly statues or motifs from Swedish folklore.
Up-and-coming colors, notes Vahden, include tones of “chartreuse, ocher, burnt orange, dusty pink and blue.” It is a palette of soft optimism – the rosy hope that a new day is on the way.
Below experts help AD PRO sort out the half a million or so pieces that an electronic designer might display at a given time, and how to best use them. Read on to find out what Charish sees as the top decor trends this spring.
butterflies
The Argentine trio, who studied under Le Corbusier, looked to butterflies for their beloved Knoll chair. The famous Dane Poul Cadovius has turned his wingspan into a clever bookshelf. Warhol turned it into art, and Christian Lacroix made it into wallpaper confetti. As the flowers bloom and bloom this spring, this trend is just a flutter. Simply play Mariah Carey’s 1997 classic album in a room decorated with butterflies to give the finishing touch.
advanced lines
Nothing could be simpler than alternating fields of two or three colors. But with the right application, strips can transform a space, imparting pure freshness to everything they touch or adding a bit of artistic eye appeal. For the private villa at The Colony in Palm Beach, Marc de Sykes managed to do it all at once. Not bad for a couple of white and blue stripes.
Swedish painted furniture
Was he with hygge? Choose a style that honors craftsmanship with more flair this spring. “As you search, look for artifacts—from the 18th through the mid-19th century,” says Vahden. Then line your spotting with a distinct rug, ideally a flat woven piece.
take over
Although the word comes from Latin drumnothing head About this technique for highly decorative sheet metal, which is often enameled tin. Its versatility is its strength: Whether it’s toning down the Italian clichés in a Los Angeles mansion or transforming a footstool into a cocktail table in leafy downtown New York, now’s the time for tulle. It can be a perfect companion (or, in the worst case, a substitute) for all the houseplants you’ve got during your lockdown period.
Ottoman statement and footstools
Speaking of footrests, they’re the new stars in the living room. They could be a task chair, like Ayala Serfaty’s show in Todd Hellmuth’s friend’s New York City apartment, or a Parisian rattan braided gem perfect for stacks of magazines. Coordinate with sofas and lounges, or even better, make them contrast dramatically in pattern or fabric.
pulleys
Chairish expects design enthusiasts to take this trend for a spin. Pulley style weaves industrial and romantic influences into cylindrical frames for chairs and beds. “The pulley that rotates around the leg of a chair or pulley bed post adds a playful embellishment to what would otherwise be an ordinary piece of furniture,” says Faden. “We’ve also seen a revival of interest in crafts across categories, from art to tabletop to furniture, and the ball is an indication of that.”
Minute
Hello sailor! This spring, the Chairish team expects to be tied up in knots over rope furniture. The curly rope mirror is a classic, of course, but why not flaunt a piece from the mid-century French duo of Adrien Audoux and Frida Minet? “They make incredible rope pieces that connect modern design with nautical and sculptural elements,” says Fahden. “The pieces, while functional in their own right, are also a thing of beauty.”
artist salon
Lining a room with a thoughtful juxtaposition of photographs, paintings, and other artistic oddities has always been a classic decor move. This season, they encourage you to take more risks. “Hanging carvings, bronze busts, and Lalani-style faux-fur sheepskin add dimension and varied texture to the wall,” she says. The result should be balanced but a little crazy, uniform but unexpectedly off the wall.
batik
Chairish anticipates that classic fans will fall for the Indonesian-rooted anti-wax technique. Its slight hippie reputation belies the artistry it requires, and the satisfying repetition it brings to the intricate floral patterns.
Safari
It’s woodland outside – and old hikers can bring in countless safari-themed furnishings. “Animal print (a fan favorite) is coming back in a new way: it’s all about elegant safaris and wildlife motifs that are a nod to the African plains,” says Fahdin. Why not let monstrous-themed sets of chairs and accessories roam those Scalamandre wilderness rooms? And make room for the king of the jungle, she says. “Big cats are not going anywhere anytime soon!”
