As economies continue to reopen, more and more workers are transitioning from the home office back to the traditional setting. Fortunately, 2022 commercial interior design trends present innovative strategies for creating physical environments that bring people back together.
This year's commercial landscape is defined by a reimagined focus towards comfortable interiors, sustainable materials, and wellness spaces that foster well-being and creativity. Not only has the pandemic created new ways of living, but it has also altered how we work. Professionals now crave informality and the freedom to work in their own way.
Clients' expectations have also changed, and as they adapt to the new normal, their businesses are evolving too. Retail owners are looking to create inviting and comfortable spaces to cater to the many consumers who still opt for the in-store shopping route.
To adapt to these new changes, the new commercial landscape—office, hospitality, and retail—needs to be fluid and highly receptive to changing conditions now and in the future. We need to be more agile, connected, and creative than ever before.
Collaborative Spaces that Offer Home Comforts
After months of working remotely from home, forward-thinking companies recognize the importance of creating a certain level of ease, flexibility, and comfort that employees are accustomed to. Many offices have already begun to implement these changes, with the elimination of cubicles and the introduction of more collaboration-focused designs that mimic cozy work-from-home setups.
In a bid to maintain this energy and attract new talent, it’s only natural to bring residential influences that enhance warmth and encourage a sense of belonging. Designers have coined the term "resimercial" to describe this style, which combines aspects of commercial and residential elements to create a more pleasant ambiance.
These comfort elements—such as incorporating cozy plush seating, throw blankets, beanbags, unique rugs and accent pillows, statement lights that give a soft warm glow, characterful surface finishes, and indoor greenery—are quickly finding their way into corporate spaces.
A Heightened Focus on Eco-Friendly Materials
The use of eco-friendly materials will never go out of style in commercial design for a multitude of reasons. Secondly, when it comes to picking who to work for, where to stay, and where to shop, conscious employees, travelers, and consumers view sustainability as a significant differentiator and take pride in the efforts companies make to help preserve the environment.
With the help of eco-friendly materials like recycled glass tiles, pops of visual interest will become a standard in commercial design in 2022. These tiles come in a variety of textures, patterns, and colors and are an excellent design finish to transform basic interiors into inviting and pleasant spaces.
Biophilic Design for Wellbeing Gains Momentum
With health being at the forefront of everyone’s agenda, it's becoming increasingly difficult to think about commercial interior design trends without also considering biophilia. Increasing occupant connectivity to the natural world can take the form of something as simple as allowing plenty of natural light to envelop the office and positively stimulate the brain, to something as complex as integrating a green wall system to improve indoor air quality.
Earthy colors, textures, and nature-inspired patterns can help create spatial experiences that reference our outdoor surroundings, and, in return, prompt the same cognitive reaction. Expect to see natural-themed designs, such as flowing lines that resemble hills or waves, florals and leaves, honeycomb-like hexagons, and seashells, gaining traction as visually compelling wallcovering options.
Outdoor Spaces: Private Terraces and Rooftops
For urban companies, outdoor spaces are moving from a “nice to have” to a “must-have”. Having an outdoor place to hold meetings, happy hours, host clients, or simply take a break from computer screens keeps employers and employees happy. Likewise, providing direct and constant indoor-outdoor connectivity while playing with style and materiality will be a big driver for hotel design, now and in the future.
Colors are Soothing and Patterns Remain Playful
Neutral hues are tried and true—hence we expect commercial spaces to integrate lighter color palettes that evoke a calming effect. A backdrop of neutral shades and wood tones helps to create a soothing environment in which people can work comfortably. To stay on brand, business owners may be apprehensive about changing their color scheme. Brand colors, however, can be introduced into an interior setting through eye-catching accents.
Bold tiles add energy to the workspace and are a fantastic way to define different spaces and improve navigation. Statement mosaic tiles can be used to craft a spectacular look in hotel restaurants, lobbies, lounges, and conference rooms—one that will leave guests with a memorable impression.
Bleisure Travel Will Reshape Hotel Amenities
As we resume travel, the hospitality sector puts “bleisure”—the combination of leisure and business—under the spotlight. The expansion of bleisure grants designers and hoteliers an opportunity to revamp interiors that appeal to more contemporary tastes.
Wellness Spaces Will Define Hotel Accommodation
The creation of wellness spaces that encourage guests to break from the day-to-day hustle and bustle of busy lives will be carefully considered. Everything from yoga rooftop studios, meditation spots linking to an outdoor garden, in-room smart gyms, personal training devices, and sensory experiences like sound bathing and infrared saunas—these reimagined wellness activities create experiences that have a positive impact on well-being and mental health.
Designing Instagram-Worthy Hotel Interiors
As the importance of social media marketing continues to grow, many of the top hotels are starting to design picture-worthy interiors. Experience is everything nowadays and guests are prepared to pay more for something unique and different. For this reason, reinvigorating the pleasure and creativity of travel also presents a great marketing opportunity. Commercial interior design trends for 2022 see the sustainable and healthy office environment focus on employees’ wellbeing, the retail industry responding to consumers evolving habits and needs, and hoteliers stepping it up by reimagining the overall travel experience with renewed spaces that merge leisure and business.