Curved sofas are so hot right now! In fact, Pinterest has predicted “Curve Appeal” to be one of the biggest trends for 2022. I featured the trend for curved furniture a few weeks ago but what really stands out about this trend is the proliferation of curved sofas that we are seeing in interiors at the moment. So I thought it would be really nice to round up some of the best curved sofas that I have spotted on the market in recent months.
But first I want to take a quick look at why curved sofas are so popular right now. And as with many trends it all stems from the emergence of biophilia in design. Also known as biophilic design, this movement is all about our innate biological need to connect with nature and how bringing nature into our homes is good for our mental health and physical wellbeing.
One of the main principles of biophilic design is about bringing in organic and non-living evocations of nature. One way to do this is to incorporate the organic shapes that can be found in nature. As we know, there are no straight lines to be found in nature. Instead, there are soft organic shapes that add flow, movement and balance to interiors.
Many of the curved sofas that we are seeing feature the bouclé fabric that has also seen a spike in popularity recently. Again, taking inspiration from biophilic design and incorporating natural textures into our homes. Sensory stimuli are a big part of biophilic design.
As you can see from these lifestyle images, curved sofas add a nice sense of flow to the room which is very calming. They are easy on the eye and create a restful experience.
Living Room Decoration | FITZROY Sofa, LATZA Center Table and NAICCA Floor Light- From Brabbu Design Forces
Curves have a unique way of softening a room and although curved furniture is nothing but new, it is growing increasingly popular due to its manner of giving the eye a natural place to rest. Arguably, furniture that feels good is considerably important and curved interiors are proven to give off a relaxing, calming, and welcoming feel due to a softness and rounded organic appearance.
Penny Swivel Armchair, Boucle Upholstered, Cream- From Cult Furniture
This trend for natural curves links back to biophilic design, where organic curved edges are reflected from the natural world. Borrowing elements from the outdoors gives this trend a natural way to incorporate organic texture in furniture made from materials such as wood, stone, and natural fibres. As can be seen in the image, the curve furniture allowed for the curved back chair to accompany the wooden table and rounded pouffe cushion, in a perfect combination for a calming environment stimulated by the natural world.
Curved sofas are just one of the many examples of using soft curves to instil a relaxing environment that therefore establishes a calming home that benefits mental and physical health. Our brains are drawn to the circular forms and curved lines that are associated with safety and calm and mirror the outside world. The increasing push for nature to become a part of our daily lives allows for the organic look of curved lines and soft edges to invite the impact of the creation of the natural, welcoming, familiar flow that is found in the environment despite the more rigid feel that can sometimes be found in other geometric spaces.
Bridgman Garden | 8 Piece Kensington Curved Modular Sofa Set G- From Bridgman
Curved outdoor furniture and garden furniture is another example of the curved trend reflecting natural forms with circular shapes, that immediately gives a peaceful, welcoming environment for the home.
I’ve been writing a lot recently about biophilia in design even if I haven’t specifically referred to it by name. I wrote an article about biophilic design for Designer magazine here. I’ve blogged about natural materials and bringing nature into your home. I’ve also written about earthy colour palettes. And today I’m going to write about all of this some more. Why? Because it’s important. And in the current situation, where we may be forced to spend a lot more time at home, an increased focus on biophilia in design is exactly what we all need.
Bringing natural elements into the home is good for our well-being and mental health because we have an innate biological need to feel connected. And the way we get that connection is through our senses.
So bringing natural elements into the home in the form of tactile textures, lots of natural light and increased airflow, natural colour palettes, the smells and sounds of nature, and beautiful views, can really help us to feel happier and healthier as well as feeling less stressed. Hands up if you want to feel all those things? Yup, me too!
The easiest way of incorporating biophilia in design and bringing natural elements into the home is obviously to ensure there is plenty of natural light and simply fill the space with plants. This has an immediate effect visually, but also on how we feel being surrounded by all that greenery. Just take a look at that bathroom below and tell me that doesn’t make you feel great. Imagine it without all those plants and it’s a completely different space with an entirely different feel.
Create a feeling of wellbeing in the bathroom by adding plants. Image by Dobbies
Add deep pile rugs to the floor in natural materials like wool, jute, seagrass and sisal. Or go all out and opt for something like the Täppa rug that was designed by Ilse Crawford for Kasthall. It is a soft and tactile hand-tufted rug made from wool and linen. The way it has been made with the wool yarns creating blocks of colour, it almost looks like freshly sown grass.
And I am so happy to see that companies like Focus SB are now stepping up to the mark and bringing natural elements into the home with their unique new finishes for premium metal switches and sockets. (You may remember the Kelly Hoppen collection for Focus SB that I featured earlier this year). I like that this new Nature Inspired range is so unexpected. It’s nothing unusual to see botanical prints on wallpaper or natural materials used for furniture, but finishes on light switches is definitely a new one on me.
The Nature Inspired finishes have also been selected by Lutron, another leading player in the lighting control industry, for its Palladiom scene setting controls. By adding the Nature Inspired finish to these products it allows more people to bring nature indoors in an unexpected way. It’s also a great way of enhancing home technology which is traditionally very sleek and smooth and devoid of texture. In a way, it brings it to life.
The distinctive new ‘Nature Inspired’ collection includes six on-trend finishes that mimic natural textures and patterns. Working in collaboration with Anka Metal Coatings, who specialise in liquid metal technology, Focus SB has launched these new finishes as a response to the growing demand for unique aesthetics and biophilic design.
I think biophilia in design and incorporating natural textures into our living spaces is going to grow hugely in popularity. Since the global pandemic took hold, we’ve been refraining from touching anything for fear of getting sick, but this has only heightened our need for physical touch. Haptic experiences are so important for us as humans to be able to understand the world around us.
So when we get back to the safety of our own homes I think we are going to want to feel more, to use all our senses and to reconnect with what makes us human. So products like these light switches offer us another opportunity to feel that connection to the natural world and to use our sense of touch.
Wood is an obvious choice for bringing natural elements into the home, but there are so many more opportunities to use wood in a way that increases its value in terms of biophilic design. The beautiful fern that has been carved into this chest of drawers gives it an added dimension of tactility along with new levels of visual interest.
Brave Ground is Dulux’s Colour of the Year 2021 (affiliate)
Colour is also really important when it comes to biophilia in design and bringing natural, earthy tones into the home is a large part of it. In September Dulux announced its Colour of the Year for 2021 as Brave Ground, a bolstering, balancing shade that connects us back to the earth. It is a warm, natural neutral that will enable people to draw upon the strength of nature to help them find the courage to embrace the future. I think you will all agree that this is very much needed right now.
Combining Brave Ground with warm neutral colours from the Trust palette
Trust is one of the four colour palettes that Dulux has presented to bring Brave Ground to life. Warm neutral greys and browns, these colours complement each other and encourage connection, collaboration and a sense of harmony in the home.
“We continue to live through uncertain times. In 2021, the warm and grounding tones of Brave Ground™ will allow us to find certainty in the strength from the very ground beneath our feet, emboldening us to go forward and begin to live again and giving us the flex to adapt to the ever-changing circumstances we face.”
I am actually really excited by the potential for biophilia in design to really transform not only our homes, but also our offices, hospitals, hospitality venues, and public spaces. The power of nature to help us really reconnect with what makes us human cannot be underestimated.
Maria at The Interior Editor made over her kitchen with the principles of biophilic design in mind.
Are you feeling this urge to reconnect with nature? Are you on board with biophilia in design yet? Let me know in the comments below.
Textured wall tiles have been creeping into interiors at a steady pace over the past few years. I don’t think they have quite become mainstream in residential interiors yet as they can be quite a bold statement that requires at least a bit of bravery to embrace. But we have certainly been seeing them in commercial spaces for a while now.
There are a number of reasons why we might be seeing more texture creeping into our interiors. Firstly, the rise of biophilic design has helped us to invite nature indoors, so texture has started to play a much greater role in our interiors. We are incorporating natural textures into our homes as we have now realised how beneficial it is for our mental health and wellbeing to surround ourselves with nature.
Secondly, I think that the global pandemic massively increased our need for physical touch. We went through months of being told to avoid touching anything for fear of catching the virus and our sense of touch was sorely neglected, particularly as everything went digital. As human beings, we need these haptic experiences to help us understand the world around us. As a consequence, our homes have become more tactile in order to enable us to reconnect to our senses and ultimately to what makes us human.
So I would like to share with you some of the best examples of textured wall tiles that I have come across recently. Every single one of these would have my hand reaching out to run my fingers across them.
Textured Wall Tiles from European Heritage
European Heritage was founded by husband and wife team, Peter and Helen Hutchinson, in 1989 and they believe that choosing tiles should be fun and that the tiles that you do choose should complement your personality and uniqueness.
The Linea textured wall tiles that they stock is a lineal representation of texture in beautiful pastel shades. These tiles are perfect for wall applications in bathrooms, kitchens or even commercial hospitality settings.
We are noticing a tangible desire to create relief with texture in our customers projects of all shapes, sizes and styles. This is not a new phenomenon as ceramicists and tile manufacturers have been creating ‘relief’ tiles for centuries. Now we are seeing beautiful textural interpretations in all manner of colours & tones which makes designing spaces all the more fun.
Connor Dow, Sales Consultant, European Heritage
Textured Wall Tiles from Raven
Raven is the European Japanese tile specialist and curates tiles from Japan’s master ceramicists. They only sell tiles made in Japan and only select the best that Japan has to offer. Many of the tiles embody the traditional Japanese aesthetic of Wabi-Sabi, which celebrates the beauty of imperfection.
Raven has a beautiful selection of textured wall tiles, many of which have extremely tactile surfaces. They are the ideal option if you are looking to embrace the trend for Japandi interiors at the moment.
The simplistic beauty combined with the quality of the tile is plain to see.
Mutina is one of my favourite tile brands as they always seem to be raising the bar when it comes to innovation and design. Whenever I see something slightly unconventional or particularly inspiring, it doesn’t surprise me to discover it is from Mutina.
Mutina works with some big-name designers who bring their creativity to the table to create ceramic coverings with new and unexpected outcomes. From Patricia Urquiola, Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby, Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec, Tokujin Yoshioka and Inga Sempé to Konstantin Grcic, Hella Jongerius amongst others, Mutina has an unrivalled roster of creative talent at its disposal.
Mutina’s products often challenge the rules of ceramics in terms of scale, composition and, most notably, texture. Here we can see some of my favourite textured wall tiles from Mutina.
Finally, we have this stunning collection of textured wall tiles from Harmony. Part of the Peronda Group, Harmony aims to inspire with trendsetting new visions and designs.
From then super contemporary and geometric lines of Lins and Beat to the artisanal charm and handcrafted appearance of Pasadena, these textured wall tiles all have tactile appeal.
Mineral Sculptural Table and Entire Tapestry Blanket from Ferm Living
It’s that time of year when we start to look ahead at the interior trends for 2022. It’s always a difficult call because it’s not like trends stop and start just because it is a brand new year. Trends are like living breathing entities, they build slowly, gain momentum and change and evolve as time goes on. So it is rare to be able to call a brand new trend that nobody has seen before. Rather these trend predictions are based on the slow emergence of patterns over time.
Both this year and last have been somewhat different when it comes to trends. The global pandemic and subsequent lockdowns fast-tracked many slow percolating trends that would have otherwise taken years to mature. We realised that our surroundings are hugely important for our mental health and wellbeing. We questioned whether or not we actually like our homes and if we want to spend time in them. We now recognize that it’s less about what we fill our homes with and more about how our homes make us feel.
What are the big interior trends for 2022?
So when it comes to interior trends for 2022, I have predicted two overarching interior trends that I expect to see. Both these trends have been building for a while, but our collective experience over the past two years has solidified these two polar opposite trends and 2022 will be asking us what side of the fence we want to be on.
Organic Minimalism is all about paring back, clearing out the clutter and cutting out the excess. It’s about deciding what is essential to have in our surroundings so that we can create a space that feels good. Unlike traditional minimalist interiors which can be prone to feeling a little stark and sterile, Organic Minimalism is much warmer and softer and takes inspiration from the natural world. As the name would suggest, it incorporates the organic shapes, patterns, textures and colours that are found in nature. It is heavily influenced by Biophilic Design but is also inspired by the Japandi trend with an added touch of boho.
Organic Minimalism is about creating an environment that supports our mental health and wellbeing. It is about creating profoundly tactile spaces that invite us to engage physically with our surroundings. These are sensory spaces that allow us, as sensory beings, to fully experience the power of our sense of touch. In a digital, post-Pandemic world this has increasingly important as we crave touch more than ever.
KEPLER Knurled T-Bar Handle in Antique Brass from Plank Hardware
It is important when bringing Organic Minimalism into our homes that we pay special attention to all the finer details. Tactile elements should be introduced wherever possible to provide us with a more haptic experience. Any high touchpoints can incorporate texture so consider choosing drawer pulls, knobs and cabinet handles that have a knurled finish like those above from Plank Hardware. Antique brass is a great option for this look as it looks aged and therefore more authentic.
Left: Kona Display Table, Meadow High Pile Rug in Light Sand, Verso Floor Vase, Eclipse Lampshade from Ferm Living | Right: Meadow High Pile Cushion in Light Sand from Ferm Living
Materials are perhaps the most important element of creating a sensorial home around the concept of Organic Minimalism. Texture can be introduced through fabrics and soft furnishings, wall coverings, furniture and decorative accessories. Think bouclé textiles, chunky knits, natural linen, deep pile woollen rugs, sheepskins, embossed wallpaper and faux fur cushions.
Organic Minimalism is all about authenticity and integrity so there is a focus on humble and honest materials. This means natural wood, often with raw edges, roughly carved stone, handmade ceramic tiles and patinated metals. There are definitely Wabi-Sabi influences as imperfection is treasured and revered. Natural materials such as rattan, jute, hemp, seagrass, sisal, cork and bamboo also figure often in textural homes. The move towards conscious consumption also fuels the choice of these materials as we look for value and sustainability above pure indulgence.
These deeply tactile retreats remind us what it is to be human. They awaken our senses and provide us with warmth and uncomplicated comfort. They provide us with a calm, serene and restorative sanctuary where we can retreat from the chaos of the outside world and take time to rebalance our energy and reflect on the things that make us happy.
Below is a moodboard I have put together showing exactly how to create a room that incorporates the Organic Minimalism trend. What do you think of this as one of the top interior trends for 2022?
Organic Minimalism: Get the Look
Melissa Mirror with Organic Shape Shelf Mango Wood from Made.com (affiliate)
Joyous Maximalism is the second of my predicted interior trends for 2022. It is basically the antithesis of Organic Minimalism. Instead of paring right back and clearing the clutter, Joyous Maximalsim is more about surrounding yourself with loved objects that tell the story of your life and reflect your personality. Forget about following trends and being dictated to about what you should fill your home with, Joyous Maximalism is about freedom of expression.
Society of Wanderers Kelp/Peach Lemonade Double Sided Quilt from Antipodream
This trend is less about touch and more about sight. It is an explosion of colour, pattern and shape, basically anything that catches your eye, particularly if it is playful and unexpected. Also make sure you include some bling like these beautifully smooth, solid brass handles from Plank Hardware. Use them to uplevel your cabinets, sideboards or cupboards to give them an extra luxurious, statement makeover.
Left: MERCURY Curved lip pull Handle in Solid Brass from Plank Hardware | Right: ROEBUCK Smooth T-bar Handle in Solid Brass from Plank Hardware
Interiors that embrace Joyous Maximalism are bold and bright. Every individual piece that is included in an interior is chosen on its own merit with little regard to how it looks alongside the other pieces in the room. Harmony and coordination give way to personalisation and clashing.
Left: The Artist’s House CERAMIC WONDERS wallpaper from Mindthegap | Right: Transylvanian Roots, THE ENCHANTED WOODLAND Tablecloth from Mindthegap
Bold patterns are layered atop of one another in contrasting colours, think animal print against a backdrop of large botanical prints. The overall effect is loud and, some might say, garish. Whereas those who relate more to Organic Minimalism are looking for a meditative sanctuary to retreat into where our senses can be calmed, those who prefer Joyous Maximalism are looking to create a space in which they can fully be their authentic selves and express their personality to the max. They want a space that excites and invigorates them and is full of energy.
My moodboard below shows you how you can create the second of my interior trends for 2022. This is a space that exudes Joyous Maximalism.
Joyous Maximalism: Get the Look
Wallpaper Swatch Cubana Jardin Imaginario Portrait from Mindthegap
