The long, languid summer days may be on the wane, but that doesn’t mean that we cannot continue to celebrate the spirit of summer within our homes. Uplifting florals and exuberant tropical prints, two of this year’s top interior design trends, will continue to bring us a sense of joy, welcoming the outdoors into the home. And to keep that sense of breezy elegance, consider pretty new cushions or simple slipcovers, both simple ways to ring the changes. Metallics, meanwhile, add subtle glamour – perfect as we transition into autumn.
Elevate windows with floral curtains
A garden filled with roses, hydrangeas and other classic blooms truly lifts the spirits, so what better than to enjoy such an abundant display throughout the year? Floral curtains are one of this year’s top interior design trends, bringing an uplifting feel to period and contemporary living spaces alike. This dining room is the perfect case in point: curtains in our decadent Belleville linen frame the window, beautifully capturing the exuberance of an English summer. To bring a more exotic flavour to the home, have a look at Bamboo Garden in cotton velvet: the palm tree pattern hints at tropical lands while the blush pink colour palette is one of this year’s key interior design trends. Another fresh print to consider is Tropicana – its zingy colour palette is sure to bring a joyful feel to any window.
Every bedroom needs a statement headboard
A firm favourite of many an interior designer, an upholstered headboard offers the chance to add a burst of cheerful, summer-fresh colour or pattern to a bedroom. It shows off fabric to best effect as it provides a large expanse to reveal the beauty of your chosen design, making the bed the focal point of the space – rather like a piece of wall art. If your personal style errs on the classic side, opt for the dreamy Tresco trailing floral, a lovely linen-mix print based on an archival design. Scatter even more blooms by adding cushions that subtly pick up on the colour palette or the pattern of the print but don’t be too rigid – the more relaxed the better. Another strong contender for an upholstered headboard is a stain-resistant velvet, which is currently all the rage and rightly so: it offers the chance to bring a sense of luxury into the heart of the bedroom whilst being eminently practical. Two of our current favourites are Crystal, an uplifting print inspired by the work of British landscape artist John Nash; and Les Fauves, which takes its cue from the works of Fauvist painters.
The easy one… update your cushions
It’s a much-used mantra in the world of interior design but cushions really can transform and refresh a room. Use patterns in varying proportions to break up the expanse of a sofa, or choose a design with a ruffle, a flounce or a frill to bring added texture to the space. Our collection of round cushions made up in our versatile linen mix fabric has not one but two ruffles and is sure to bring a fresh feel to living spaces and bedrooms alike. Also check out our glorious printed velvet options – perfect for creating a statement – as well as simple, breezy designs in our washed Elba linen, one of the most naturally sustainable materials. They have a different colour on the reverse side to ensure endless versatility when it comes to injecting some personal style to your interior design scheme. Discover more ideas on how to style cushions here…
The slipcover is back
Slipcovers had rather fallen out of favour in the past few years but they are back as one of the key interior design trends and no wonder: they allow you to ring the changes of the seasons; they are easy to clean compared to fixed cover sofas and they are simple and relatively affordable to replace. These slipcovers in Luna, our plain vintage-style fabric with a casual washed feel, perfectly capture the effortless feel of summer, while cushions in slightly “muddy” hues help to gently steer the scheme into autumn. The fabric comes in 25 shades, all of which are inspired by the natural world. For machine washable options, have a look at Pronto, a plain weave made from recycled yarns and available in no less than 79 hues, and Verde, which comes in 46 colours and is woven from 80 per cent recycled cotton, forming part of our growing collection of eco-friendly designs woven from sustainable materials.
Bring the tropics to your home… the new wallpapers
Nothing suggests long summer days quite like a tropical wallpaper. An instant mood booster, an exotic design has the power to transport you too distant lands of lush vegetation and swaying palm trees. Our Kahanu wallpaper, with its stunning mix of palm leaves and beguiling blooms, is a punchy choice for tiny powder rooms or larger living spaces alike: pick out the hues from its vibrant colour palette to devise a bold interior design scheme. Two more lively tropical wallpaper designs to consider include Jungle Rumble, a flamboyant design featuring leopards and exotic birds; and Miji, an airy, sophisticated pattern that creates a gloriously fresh feel.
Blue… it’s all about singing this versatile shade
Capturing cloudless skies, expansive oceans or the beauty of a starlit night, blue is one of those interior design trends that has never really left our sights. Use it to create soothing, ethereal schemes with gentle shades of aqua and turquoise or dramatic, energising ones with punches of cobalt. The beauty is that this versatile hue can easily be dressed for the cooler months: imagine the scheme above with some cushions in, say, saffron, terracotta and slate grey hues and you instantly have a richer, more cosy interior design scheme. The sofa is covered in Sienna, our bouclé fabric that brings a fabulously textural quality to upholstery. It comes in 26 colours including a number of blues, from delicate Fjord to Steel Blue to jewel-like Sapphire. Also have a look at the numerous blues in our Elba collection of tumbled linens, including this coolly elegant Ice Blue. For discreet pattern, consider a herringbone weave: our Leckford fabric in Kingfisher is perfect for lending subtle movement to an upholstered piece.
Bravely go…with pattern
When it comes to the top interior design trends, bold patterns really are having their moment. Lively prints inspired by the natural world or reworkings of Oriental patterns bring an exotic flavour to our living spaces, infusing them with a sense of joy. The less brave among us can dip their toe into the look with accent cushions or a small upholstered piece such as a footstool or side chair; the more adventurous, however, can choose to use bold patterned fabric on a statement headboard or a sofa. This curvy piece beautifully showcases our Moonlight Serenade printed velvet, which captures the elegance of an ornamental garden. Other options to consider include our arresting Kami printed velvet and Kahanu, an exuberant print on pure linen inspired by an antique chintz.
Bring the outdoors in… nothing captures summer like joyful blooms
One of the best ways to hold on to the long, light days of summer is to bring the outdoors right into the home with floral prints in an uplifting colour palette. Current interior design trends see blowsy florals mixed with natural materials such as a chunky jute rug or pieces in untreated wood or stone, keeping the look informal and subtly contemporary. The curtains pictured here are made up in Albertine, a gloriously pretty print on pure linen. For luxurious soft furnishings, consider a printed velvet, Linwood’s velvets are recognised throughout the interiors world for its considered designs in rich, hues.
Metallics shine this season…
Just as gold or silver jewellery can elevate a summer outfit, so metallics are important for lending subtle glamour to an interior design scheme. And as the nights draw in and electric lights replace natural lighting, these pieces have a chance to gleam in the glow of ambient lamps, adding warmth and a gentle lustre to interiors. A two-tone velvet such as our Zeta design is perfect for catching the light, as it has been cross-dyed to create a two tone effect. Use it for upholstery or for subtly opulent curtains. Orion is a foil-printed velvet with a flowing abstract design that would work in traditional and contemporary spaces alike, and Kari is an abstract branch design created by brushing and fixing the velvet pile – a sophisticated choice that won’t go out of fashion.
We hope these ideas will inspire you to create schemes that spark a sense of joy – interiors that buoy the spirits whatever the weather. And don’t forget the power of plants and flowers: they will help bring an uplifting feel to your living spaces, adding an all-important reminder of the natural world…
FAQs
What are the key trends for late summer 2022? Joyous, large scale florals, tropical prints and bold patterns are all enjoying a moment, reflecting our desire to bring more optimism and personality into the home. Use them for walls or soft furnishings, or start small with new scatter cushions.
Is grey still in style for 2022? Grey is ever-popular for its versatile range of tones, but we are being braver with the colours we are teaming with greys: think soft furnishings in ochre, terracotta, plaster pinks and mineral blues – earthy hues that bring a cosiness and warmth to an interior scheme.
What colour furniture is in for 2022? While classic neutrals such as oatmeal, off-white and grey will never go out of fashion, we are also seeing a shift towards richer natural tones such as slate greys, dusty pinks and mossy greens. Lively patterned pieces are also having a moment, from exuberant florals to bold velvets. Not only do these pieces create a statement within a décor scheme, but they are also a practical choice for busy households.