Pantone recently named "Very Peri" as its 2022 Color of the Year. A bold blue with a violet-red undertone, you can expect to see the shade show up in everything from furniture to decor.
"Very Peri displays a spritely, joyous attitude and dynamic presence that encourages courageous creativity and imaginative expression." — Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director, Pantone Color Institute
Some of the more distinctive tones for early 2022 blend color and familiarity with the unexpected and include pastel blues and pinks, along with vibrant roses, blues and yellows paired with soft mochas and teals. These are balanced with classic beiges, whites and greens for a balanced palette with a splash of color and excitement!
If you’re looking for ideas on how to incorporate this year’s Pantone palette, some easy options include: adding a fresh coat of paint to your bedroom or living space, spicing up your furniture with new throw pillows or reupholstering your sofa and seating area to add a splash of freshness! You can also consider reviving your curtains with new tones or swapping out your rug to add in powerful accent hues.
BIOPHILIC DESIGN
"After over a year of being shut inside, there has been — and will continue to be — a focus on regaining our connection to the natural world through the use of biophilic design principles, meaning there will be an emphasis on creating calming environments with natural lighting and ventilation, incorporating plants and creating a visual connection with nature." — Amanda Thompson, Aline Studio
SUSTAINABILITY
"Sustainability has become a major issue for everyone, as it should. Looking into the sustainability of everything is a must and it is really excellent that so many designers are trying to learn what the best materials are to use for the long-term health of our eco-system. Luckily, there is a lot to choose from!" — Robert and Cortney Novogratz for The Shade Store
MINDFUL SPACES
"Next year will bring about a deeper awareness of our spaces and the impact they have on our emotions and wellbeing. We will see more spaces that have personality and personal ties to interests, hobbies and pleasures of its owner." — Marie Cloud
HOMEWORK ROOM
"Children continue to drive design spaces and homework is not going away. As the world turns, people may continue to opt out of full classroom settings and opt in for more private spaces and create 'mini corporate offices' for their smallest bosses. These rooms are equipped with interactive smart boards, high-speed WiFi and plenty of plug-in outlets. Homework rooms can also be repurposed later for a college student's startup headquarters or an adult's home office." — Georgia Zikas
MULTIFUNCTIONAL SPACES
People are starting to understand that they can live with less, especially after the past year. People will start to downsize, or stay in their current homes and become creative with how their spaces can be multifunctional. For example: having your living room be part office. Or office-workout rooms." — Amy Leferink, Interior Impressions
BRINGING THE OUTDOORS IN
"More people are enhancing their outdoor living spaces, which means stylish outdoor furniture. I see more intentionally-designed outdoor living spaces that don't sacrifice on style and expand the families' living and entertaining space in the home." — Mimi Meacham, Marian Louise Designs
COLOURFUL WINDOW TREATMENTS
"In 2022, we’re going to see a lot of color and patterns, especially within window treatments. They play a key role within design because they are the jewelry of the room and can really make an impact. Whether it be drapery, shades or sheers, patterns with a burst of two to three colors will play a strong role in design next year." — Martyn Lawrence Bullard for The Shade Store
HOUSING MARKET PREDICTIONS?
According to the 2022 Canadian Housing Market Outlook Report from RE/MAX, steady growth is anticipated across the Canadian real estate landscape into 2022. While Canadians continue to recognize the value and investment potential of their home, market challenges (such as rising prices and limited supply) maintain their impact on local markets.
It is estimated that Canada will witness an approximate 9.2% increase in average housing prices across the country as a result.
One of the key trends we see continue from 2021 into 2022 is inter-provincial migration occurring in many regions as a result of supply and affordability of homes across Canada. Individuals are also looking for larger homes with more space for growing families. While there is potential for the real estate conditions to continue to shift, 49% of respondents view Canadian real estate as a top investment option and believe the market will remain steady throughout 2022.
If you are looking to buy, sell or simply review your ideas for 2022, please do not hesitate to reach out to me! I would be happy to review your situation with you and help you make the best decision for you and your family now, and into the future.
IMPROVING YOUR FINANCIAL DIRECTION
Make 2022 the year of finance by improving your financial direction from the start! Even if you are living paycheck-to-paycheck, a few changes to the way you spend and look at money can make all the difference. It’s never too late to start again and reverse course! Here are a few simple ideas to get you started:
- Create a Budget: In order to stop living paycheck-to-paycheck , you need to know where that paycheck is going. Creating a budget is simple with Google docs, or look into other online tools and sites to get started.
- Pretend You Earn Less Than You Do: Give yourself a cut in pay. The goal is to put 10% in savings from each paycheck into your savings account. The easiest way is to do an automatic direct transfer from your chequing account to your savings every pay period.
- Pay Down Debt: If you have a lot of credit card or unsecured debt, try paying the minimum on all but one of them and aggressively pay down that one card. Once it's paid off, attack the next one. If you're so deep in debt that you can't fight your way out, consider consulting with myself or your local mortgage broker about your debt consolidation options and if your mortgage can be used to help you clean the state. They will be able to review your debt and possibly recommend a way to consolidate it into one simple payment with a single point of interest charges.
- Build an Emergency Fund: Once you have your budget in place, review it and break it down into non-discretionary expenses (rent, groceries, utilities, etc.) and discretionary expenses (eating out, entertainment, clothes, etc.). See where you could cut down on discretionary spending and put that money towards your emergency fund. Even starting with just a little amount is great and helps you build the habit of saving.
- Don’t Forget Your Future: Putting at least 3% of your paycheck into a retirement fund is a great idea, or maybe when you get your first raise instead of thinking of it as free money, simply put it into a fund and forget about it. You'll be glad it's there when you need it in the future.
- Consider Downsizing: It may be time to consider a lifestyle change. Consider moving to a smaller place. Get rid of that cost of going to that expensive gym with a trip to the local park. Think about if you really need that brand new car or if a used one would work just as well.
