19 Defining Decor Moments of 2022—And Which Ones Are Here to Stay

There were many memorable decor moments of 2022—some fresh and innovative, others that perhaps could do better staying in 2022. In AD PRO’s bimonthly Having a Moment column, AD senior design editor Hannah Martin reports as a weathervane for fads big and small, documenting the patterns she’s clocked in the pages of AD and beyond. Here are her year-end takeaways. 

This year, there have been a few through-lines among the trends: People are pining for nature. Foliage-forward designs by the likes of William Morris, Tiffany Studio, and Josef Frank have had moments in the spotlight. As production times and supply chain issues continue, designers are leaning into ready-made industrial staples like track lighting and stainless steel kitchens, taking aesthetics in the direction of ’90s loft style. 

Some of your favorite stories had to do with the materials of the moment, namely iridescent Moroccan Zellige tile applied in monochromatic swaths and sandy-hued travertine. But the biggest winner in 2022 was a bit of a wild card for us: statement range hoods. These amped-up versions of the everyday workhorse kitchen feature have seriously sustained reader interest. Here, a look back at the top decor moments of 2022, plus our predictions for which we think are here to stay in the year ahead.

Clamoring for cork

Cork was the material of the moment this fall—and for good reason. Made from the outer bark of the cork oak tree, it’s eco-friendly, hypoallergenic, moisture- and fire-resistant, and sound- and heat-insulating. This fall in New York, the French designer Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance and Washington-based studio Grain unveiled their experiments with the material at Demisch Danant and Colony galleries, respectively, and London-based designer Matilda Goad used it to make lamps and urns with a classical twist. Interior designers embraced the sustainable material as well, using it liberally on floors and walls. Jessica Ayromloo mixed cork in with patterned cement tiles on the floors in a colorful Mexico City apartment, and the guest bathroom in influencer Emma Chamberlin’s LA home is clad in cork tiles.

Our 2023 prediction: We see people leaning even further into cork in the coming year, as sustainable materials become an even bigger priority for both clients and designers. This one has too many benefits to go out of style, and we can’t wait to see what designers will do with it next. 

Is track lighting cool again?

In stories about houses, track lighting is typically part of the before scenario—a dated feature to be stripped away for something warmer or more sophisticated. But this year, design pros such as Ash’s Will Cooper and Hem’s Petrus Palmér revisited these workhorse fixtures, which offer flexible and directional light from their ceiling-mounted track.