You may normally scour your Instagram Explore page for home decor ideas, but this line-up showcases some of the best interior design in the whole country, and might be a better place to start.
Home renovation platform Houzz recently revealed their Best of Houzz award-winners for 2022, with fellow users rating their favourite designs from over 2.7 million home professionals and photographers.
The people’s choice awards has been running for a decade this year, designed to highlight the work of those in the industry – and offer a badge that can be used on winners’ sites as a marker of credibility.
For us, however, it makes for some perfect inspo on how to decorate our own spaces.
‘We launched the global Best of Houzz awards programme over a decade ago to highlight the work of the most talented and customer-focused professionals in our industry,’ said Andrew Small, Managing Director for Industry Solutions at Houzz.
He added: ‘We are extremely proud of this year’s winners, many of whom have won multiple times, and we’re pleased to give them this recognition and a platform on which to showcase their expertise.’
Whether you’re a design professional, or an amateur looking to recreate a professional look, here are the homes that made the top 10.
1. Indoor-outdoor connection by Charles Barclay Architects
This home was created by Charles Barclay Architects, and came top in the Best of Houzz awards thanks to its outdoors in feel.
Sliding doors give access to the garden and enhance the indoor-outdoor flow, plus the custom-made brise-soleil – an architectural detail used to shield windows from direct sunlight – provides the perfect spot for climbing plants, helping to soften the modern design.
2. Modern Shaker kitchen by Shere Kitchens
Next up is this traditional yet modern room created by Shere Kitchens.
It was popular due to its calming colour palette, along with organic textures such as the timber shelf, woven basket, and rustic vase, that make this room feel bright and fresh.
A spokesperson from Houzz added: ‘We’ve seen a rising interest in natural colour palettes and biophilic design among the Houzz community in recent years, with searches for ‘green kitchen’ up by 64% on Houzz during 2021 and designers on Houzz reporting a surge in client requests for biophilic elements.’
3. Smart home office by Studio Fabbri
Home offices are now a staple in many properties with more and more people working from home, and this smart home office by Studio Fabbri is a standout of the category.
The slim, built-in desk is an efficient use of space, while the vertical panelling helps to highlight the height of the room, drawing the eye up.
4. Multifunctional bedroom by An Artful Life
Fourth on the list is this multifunctional bedroom by An Artful Life, which cleverly harnesses storage space for streamlined living.
Houzz reports a rise in requests for workstations in bedrooms, and this particular room came about because the homeowners found the designer on the platform.
It encompasses built-in shelving surrounding the bed and a small desk tucked in under the eaves. The desk also benefits from the skylight above, which provides ample natural light for working.
5. Spa-like bathroom by Dibujo.design Interiors
Carrying on the natural and neutral theme, fifth place was nabbed by Dibujo.design Interiors for their slate and wood bathroom.
In this winning design, a mixture of materials helps to create different zones, a large window floods the space with natural light, and a smart lighting system allows the owner to control the mood.
This spa-like aesthetic is set to continue, as Houzz research found that bathroom renovation budgets have gone up by 25%, and rising searches for sauna showers and freestanding baths suggest this is because folks are after a touch of luxury in their homes.
6. Outdoor kitchen area by Marsh and Wiesenfeld Interior Design
Our gardens have been in use more than ever over the last few years, as Covid restrictions meant we needed to socialise al fresco.
And the trend for gathering-worthy outdoor space has made its way to Houzz too, where searches for ‘garden designer’ are up by 1250%.
This garden, designed by Marsh and Wiesenfeld, makes the perfect spot for entertaining, with distressed wood and plants integrated into the modern fittings for a sense of contrast.
7. Japandi dining room by Snell David Architects
Japandi design is the hybrid decor style combining Japanese and Scandinavian design principles, characterised by the use of timber, simple linear forms and attention to craftsmanship.
This peaceful dining room epitomises the aesthetic. The warm green wall colour adds depth and interest, as well as creating a soothing backdrop for the natural wood table and chairs.
A large skylight and sliding doors also fill the space with natural light.
8. Statement cloakroom by Into Interior Design
At number eight we have this statement mural in a cloakroom by Into interior design.
The wallcovering in this mini WC makes a striking statement, and the monochrome colour palette is neatly picked up in the black fixtures and fittings.
With searches for ‘bathroom wallpaper’ up by 67% on Houzz last year, it looks to be a trend we’ll be seeing more of in 2022.
9. Timber-clad extension by Fraher and Findlay
If you’re looking to extend your home, this contemporary timber addition to a listed Georgian house shows that you don’t need to resort to UPVC.
Scottish larch timber cladding picks up the same colour tones as the brickwork, helping to soften the visual impact, and a green roof insulates the new extension while providing a habitat for local wildlife.
10. Mismatched dining room by Ruler Interior Design
Grey and yellow are staying put as the colour scheme to covet right now, after being rated top combination by Pantone in 2021.
Bold patterns in this room by Ruler Interior Design creates a peaceful yet uplifting atmosphere, and the contrasting colours create a dramatic feel.
Searches by Houzz users for ‘sage green’, ‘duck egg blue’, and ‘mustard yellow’ have all increased in popularity on the platform – so these brights are going nowhere fast.
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