Summer is almost upon us. That means warmer air, longer days, and of course new design trends.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, people were spending more time at home than ever, so it's no surprise that 2022 trends for residential exteriors emphasize comfort and multi-functionality.
Whether you're designing an exterior renovation or planning for new construction, here are some design trends to keep in mind for the summer of 2022.
Outdoor Living Spaces
Considered a popular home design trend even before the pandemic, the demand for these spaces certainly increased from 2020 to 2021. Many homeowners have turned their backyards into entertainment centers, adding fire pits, installing outdoor kitchens, and even building outdoor bars.
Image source: One Kindesign
Whether you want to stick to sprucing up your outdoor deck or build a full entertainment space, an outdoor living area will still allow you to connect with family and friends in an open-air, distanced environment.
Modular Furniture with Natural Materials
Modular furniture is quickly making its way outdoors.
Sectionals that can easily be reconfigured and custom patio cushion replacements make it easy to change up the look of any outdoor space.
Image source: Frontgate
To help create a more organic design, look for furniture that has natural-looking features such as bamboo, wood, or wicker. Thin metal railings, lighter wood finishes, or white/grey stains can also take the deck out of the spotlight.
Outdoor Lighting
Lighting is a cost-effective way to transform just about any outdoor area. Whether you opt for DIY string lights suspended from a canopy or integrated deck lighting, the warmth that lighting can bring to an outdoor space shouldn't be underestimated.
Image source: Gardeningetc
Look for colored lights or linear lights to brighten stairways and paths for better curb appeal. Solar-powered LED bulbs are also useful as a sustainable option.
Designer Deck Railing & Customization
For some, deck railing can be somewhat of an afterthought. However, deck railing has become a focal point for designers in recent years, and many decking manufacturers have added depth to their integrated railing product portfolios.
Image source: TimberTech
Custom touches like the classic composite series from AZEK, or infills that go beyond the standard baluster are growing in popularity. Many railing products also offer integrated lighting, helping you avoid the need for after-the-fact lighting installation.
Natural Colors: Comforting Greens
As predicted in advance by several of the leaders in paint, natural colors are growing among the exterior design trends of 2022. By nature, green evokes a feeling of abundance and is associated with refreshment and peace, rest and security.
BEHR Paint's Breezeway - a shade with cool undertones inspired by nature and resembles sea glass found on a calm beach, and PPG Paints' Olive Sprig - the crisp, earthy, grey-green color, both bring the array of natural materials to any outdoor space.
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Dylan Kleintop
Swatchbox is a premier sample fulfillment service for building product manufacturers. With proprietary software designed by insiders of the design community, Swatchbox helps manufacturers improve product sales and brand affinity by delivering material samples to the design community with speed, intelligence, and style. Learn more and join Swatchbox at www.swatchbox.com.
