It’s looking like ’70s-style interiors are back, and historically speaking, we’re right on track. After two years of living in a nightmarish reality, it makes sense why we’d adopt a decade where you could flip between The Brady Bunch and the Watergate trials on your Admiral TV set. If this summer’s “coastal grandmother” and “Barbiecore” trends tell us anything, it’s that people are looking to repurpose tokens from the past with comfort and color in mind. So, what’s next in fall design trends? Luxuriously cozy cabins with a vintage-inspired twist.

As we head into fall, it seems as if the ’70s theme is getting a cozy, organic modern upgrade. Everything is earthy, vibrant, and nostalgic – from dark wood furnishings to checkered decor that screams “groovy, baby” (in an Austin Powers voice). Here are seven trends likely to lead the pack in 2022’s fall home styling.

Bold ’70s Colors are One of the Biggest Fall Design Trends

“From boho to disco, ’70s interiors are having a moment. The trend is all about incorporating earthy tones like hunter green, mustard yellow, and blues, with materials like rattan and bamboo—in fact, searches for rattan have shot up by 77 percent on Pinterest,” says Nick Drewe, trend expert at WeThrift.com. And if you’ve been following 2022’s shift towards green, this should come as no surprise. Green has been topping the design trend charts over the past years, and a muted sage variation is popping up everywhere for fall. Add a little blue to the green and you have Glidden’s 2023 color of the year (see my DesignShots article in this issue).

Fringed Accents for a Nostalgic Fall

There’s one ’70s decor fall design trend that everybody seems to be drooling over: the revival of fringes. The attraction with fringes and tassels started even before the fashionable stage outfits of Elvis Presley, had a prevalent presence in the ’70s. If you’d like to bring this Elvis-inspired trend into your home, you can start with small changes, like adding fringe material to your rugs and carpets. You don’t have to go overboard to incorporate fringe into your decor. Keep it simple for a pared-back elegant look and work with accessories such as cushions to pull off this trend. Combining fringing with functional pieces, such as mirrors, not only adds a decorative touch but creates a feature out of them too.

Kitchen Plate Walls

Another old-but-new look among fall design trends that celebs are loving this season is “plate walls”. With a lot of inspiration from Gwyneth Paltrow’s farmhouse-style kitchen wall and Kris Jenner’s dish room, it seems like dressing the walls with decorative plates is all the rage in 2022. One very cool thing about this trend is that the possibilities are endless when it comes to placement and configurations. This season, there are a lot of hand-painted platters mixed with more modern designs. It’s a blending of modern and cozy traditional. That may be why, for many, it’s so visually stimulating and popping up in a lot of nostalgic fall designs.

Plush Pumpkins And Rattan Gourds are Big Fall Design Trends

Probably the most ubiquitous trend we’re all seeing this year is the use of organic materials, and this continues from the past few years. Of course, this is especially well-suited to the fall season. From rattan pumpkins and woven vases to wood chip gourds and driftwood bits, organics are everywhere defining the character of the season. There’s an astonishing assortment of pumpkin decor available this year, from woven rattan and corn husks to weathered stone and wood.

Checkerboard Patterns

Another trend that’s gaining traction is the use of checkerboard patterns. From timeless checkered accessories to elegant black and white floors, the look oozes sophistication while offering a pop of pattern. So, for fall, you can expect to see the look taking a more muted approach. A checkered pattern adds a touch of whimsy and is a great way to break up the look of an otherwise neutral room. However, this is the kind of pattern that requires restraint and vision – you don’t want to feel like you’re at the circus, so tread carefully. Perhaps sage green checkered ceramic mugs and vases next to tone-on-tone checkered bedding and plush patterned area rugs, as an example.

Dark Wood Furniture

Blonde wood has been a designer favorite for the past four or five years. The trend paralleled the rise of modern Scandinavian-inspired, white-on-white interiors that are still popular today. This year, though, we’re seeing a noticeable shift towards darker wood tones paired with moody paint colors for a more dramatic look. Lately in design, dark brown is popping up everywhere – we’re seeing it used on walls and in furniture – and there’s a resurgence of dark woods used in cabinetry and accent pieces.

Vintage Vessels

Many of us have been seeing vintage vessels all over our feeds. The beauty of vintage vessels is the unique patterns, colors, and textures that have been imprinted on them over time. Each one is different and one of a kind. This variance adds character and intrigue, giving warmth and visual interest.

Many designs are showcasing vintage ceramic and antique vessels throughout fall-inspired vignettes. They can be tough to find, and you may have to search outside of the US to find what you’re looking for, but the results can be very worthwhile.

I’m available for consultations and design projects to help you bring fall into your home or business. There are so many beautiful choices to make any space gently transition to the fall and/or holiday season. Or if you do like a clean sweep, I can do it all in one visit. If this sounds like a good plan, let’s talk more about warming up your spaces with the colors and scents, and textures of the fall season. Just choose a contact method right below this blog post, or click this “contact” link. You can also email me at: carmen@sohointeriordesign.com And you can always call me anytime at (407) 743-2399.