10 Fresh Renovation Ideas That Deserve a Spot on Your 2022 Mood Board

What does 2022 have in store? In Design Psychic, our community of editors, experts, and tastemakers predict the trends coming soon to a house near you.

Forget Peloton bikes—renovations were easily one of the biggest investments people made these past two years. According to Houzz’s latest report, improvements grew 15 percent, to be exact, with homeowners dropping $15,000 to revamp their spaces. As to be expected, we saw a lot of experimenting, from full-on outdoor kitchens to garages-turned-guest bedrooms to Flintstones-esque bookcases. Oh, and lest we forget the rise of the sage green kitchen. Clearly our urge to transform spaces (sometimes into something totally new and different) isn’t going anywhere. But we’ll be seeing a fresh crew of materials, colors, layouts, and additions in 2022—that, we have no doubt. So here are 10 trending ideas to inspire your next redo. 

Fluted Cabinets

Undulating grooves and beaded detailing will replace simple Shaker-style doors in the kitchen and beyond. The textural effect is especially great at disguising cabinet seams. We bet you barely noticed there are cabinets above Jeremiah Brent’s fireplace (pictured above right) that hide a TV. 

Chic Tubs

Soft, muted pinks will be everywhere in the new year (it’s not just the color we’re predicting will take kitchens by storm). This allover-plastered tub situation designed by Jess and Jonathan Taylor will have you deleting all glass-enclosed showers from your mood board. 

Vent Hoods That Sing

Move over, massive islands, there’s a new focal point in kitchens: the vent hood. Many designers are beginning to treat the ultra-functional appliance part like a work of art (peep the bright one in Ksenia Kagner and Nicko Elliott’s Brooklyn townhouse). In addition to the hit of cherry red, the arched shape makes it look nothing like a vent at all. 

Converted Sheds

Now that everyone has apparently transformed their garages and basements into yoga studios and crafting rooms, it’s time to tackle the shed. The small backyard structure will no longer just be for lawn mowers and shovels, but, as designer Shanty Wijaya shows us, a spot to listen to music, meditate, or work. An AC unit and durable wood flooring will allow you to expand the possibilities.

Large-Scale Stained Glass

Natural light is one of those things that’s on everyone’s must-have list, but what about colored natural light? Filter the rays streaming into your hallway or entryway with stained-glass windows or door panels. The big chunks of color will change how you view otherwise overlooked pass-through spaces. 

Bathroom Storage Ledges

Unlike a floating shelving unit, a built-in ledge over the sink blends into the background and keeps most-frequented products, including toothbrushes, at arm’s length. And take it from Laura Yeh’s New York City reno: The horizontal nook can create the illusion of a larger space when you continue the niche around the perimeter of the room into the shower-tub area. 

More Blurring of the Indoors and Outdoors

Large glass doors and windows make it that much easier to access and appreciate what’s outside even when you’re snuggled up on the sofa. On warm days, depending on where you live, you can leave them open—if there’s a giant ficus with a swing and a plunge pool waiting on the other side, even better. 

Slatted Room Dividers

Construct a sense of privacy while also achieving that trendy Japandi feel with slatted wood walls. Already we’ve seen the detailing make quite a few appearances in entryways, where the structure is meant to partially block staircases or formal living rooms from the view of the front door. 

Handmade Doors

Elevate your storage game with handwoven closets. The doors pictured here by Peg Woodworking’s Kate Casey add an old-world element and soften up the surrounding oakwood millwork. 

Checkered Shower Tile

2022 will be the year of the square tile (sorry, subway). The basic shape looks sophisticated when laid out in a checkered pattern. Consider pairing affordable white blocks with moss green or seafoam for a bathroom reno that only appears expensive.