Wall art trends for 2022: Four things to expect

The year 2021 was generally an era of global adjustment to the new norm of staying indoors. This significantly influenced the choice of art pieces among many homeowners. Many resorted to hanging biophilic art as a means of bringing nature indoors and experiencing the calming effect of the outdoors to counter the solitude caused by mandatory in-house confinements. The year 2021 also saw a return of age-old art trends like gallery walls, canvas prints and abstract art.

As the year draws to a close, there’s much anticipation for the art scene in 2022. Home decor enthusiasts wonder what trends will hold, which ones will be abandoned and which ones will be transformed to meet the latest tastes and preferences. To answer these questions, here are some of the art trends to expect in 2022.

1. Metal prints

While canvas and paper have been the most used art media for centuries, recent technology has made it possible to print high-quality artwork on aluminium sheets. The printing process isn’t similar to how printers produce images on paper and canvas. Metal printing involves infusing special chromatic dyes directly into the polymer coating on aluminium sheets through the application of heat and pressure. The resulting metal wall art is then highly durable. Furthermore, the dyes produce a vibrant image with exceptional depth, colour quality and luminosity. This is the kind of decor a modern home needs. Other outstanding benefits of metal prints are as follows:

• They don’t need glass over them or a frame around them for protection.
• They can considerably withstand exposure to water without getting damaged.
• They’re scratch-resistant.
• They’re lightweight and thus easy to hang.
• Their rigid build prevents damage if they’re accidentally dropped from a height.
• It takes a long time, up to 100 years, before the images start fading.
• You can tweak them to look as traditional or modern as you wish.
• They can’t be damaged by heat in case of contact with fire.
• They’re easy to clean.

Because of their durability, metal wall art costs a little more than other types of wall art. However, the above benefits may be reason enough to purchase metal wall art for your office or home in 2022.

2. Maximalism and grand millennial style

Recent home decor trends have been flooded with minimalist ideas. But these don’t seem to be resonating with typical millennials. Some don’t appreciate minimalism, some find it uninteresting, while others feel it’s better reserved for older generations. If you concur with this school of thought, you may want to go for maximalism and grand millennial style instead. Rather than plain white walls with skimpy pencil line drawings, bold-coloured walls embellished with energetic wall art might interest you more. Additionally, here are some other characteristics of maximalism art to look out for:

• Use of non-muted colours, such as red, green, bright cherry red, and red-orange.
• Bold patterns, especially florals.
• A lot of variety.
• Busy spaces.
• Statement pieces.
• Art layering.
• Personalisation of artwork.

However, as you adopt the maximalist design, take care not to overdo it as your spaces may turn out chaotic. It’s important to know when to stop!

3. Curvalicious art

It started with curved furniture back in the 1970s, shifting from the straight, clean lines of the 50s and 60s. People desired something softer, and the answer was in curves. Rounded furniture was also viewed as more feminine and forgiving. Fast forward to 2022, and the curvalicious tendency has spilt over into art.

Instead of hanging rectangular or square wall art, consider having curved pieces on your walls. These will create a softer and warmer feel in your interiors.

4. The female body, whether nude or clothed

Over past centuries, artists have had shifting perceptions of feminine beauty, with many ideals showing up and disappearing cyclically. And there’s still a profound fascination with the particular attributes of the female form today. That’s why many art enthusiasts are hanging images of the female body in their homes or workplace.

While some pieces depict nudity, others display partially or fully-covered figures. Whichever style you prefer, there’s undoubtedly an art piece out there for you. 

Conclusion

The year 2022 is set to be interesting when it comes to the popular wall art trends likely to be adopted by homeowners globally. You can expect plenty of metal prints, curvalicious art, female body art and maximalist artwork. But these ideas might only be but a drop in the ocean: the art world is extensive, so new trends may be found by the dozen. Feel free to explore more styles aside from the above list – and don’t hesitate to try them on your walls.

The editorial unit