Airbnb’s design predictions for 2022, inspired by TikTok

Cottagecore

Topping our list is Cottagecore, which is an aesthetic that appears in the descriptions of over 110,000 listings² on Airbnb. According to TikTok, the buzzword is quite new – appearing as a hashtag on their platform for the first time in 2017. Since then, TikTok has seen the hashtag take off, possibly due to the uplift in crafting since the start of the pandemic.

The aesthetic embraces the idea of living a simple, rural lifestyle, utilising materials like patterned vintage wallpaper, floral upholstery and wood.

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Seasonal decor

It wouldn’t be the holidays without seasonal decorations. According to TikTok, videos featuring table scapes and quirky fall decor were their most popular posts around this Thanksgiving period. Earthy colors and natural products like dried fruits, canvas, cinnamon and twine are used in table setting demos from many in the TikTok community. Dried fruit is also highlighted by TikTok creators as a way to celebrate the holidays more sustainably. On Airbnb, there are almost 90,000 listings that use seasonal descriptions like Thanksgiving, Christmas and seasonal³.

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Eclectic Nostalgic

An abundance of objects, shapes, and bright colors are key identifiers in eclectic interior design videos on TikTok which, according to the social media platform, have seen rising popularity in the latter half of 2021. Some creators employ a nostalgic, 70s and 80s disco vibe with their eclectic interiors to be more eye-catching. On Airbnb, listings featuring words like disco, eclectic, nostalgic, 70s and psychedelic appear in over 50,000 listings⁴.

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Botanical

The craze for potted plants shows no signs of slowing down: the green thumb community on TikTok has grown significantly over the past year and the hashtag #PlantTok has amassed a total of 1.6B views according to the social media platform. A major trend in the TikTok community is to complement dreamy, eclectic aesthetics with a collection of indoor plants. On Airbnb, almost 45,000 listings make use of botanical buzzwords such as monstera, potted plants and lush⁵.

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Maximalism 

Over the past year, TikTok has seen interior design and decor videos on its platform veer away from sleek minimalism towards maximalist styles. Creators on TikTok have defined their homes by collecting unique artifacts and thrifting vintage items that reflect their personalities. An offshoot of the trend is ‘vintage maximalism’, which features thrifted gems and more of a throw-back aesthetic. On Airbnb, over 35,000 listings include maximalism keywords  (‘velvet’, ‘mixed patterns’, ‘animal prints’ & more) in their descriptions⁶.

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Gothic

Gothic embraces a whole sub genre of styles including ‘goblincore’ and folk, and, according to TikTok, it is becoming especially relevant within self-identified communities like #WitchTok. There are almost 19,000 listings on Airbnb using key gothic terminology in their descriptions⁷.

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Grandmillenial

According to TikTok, the hashtag #grandmillenial had never been used on its platform prior to 2020. A portmanteau of grandma and millennial and coined by creators with a more traditional ‘grandparent’ style, grandmillenial is one to watch out for. Creators say it may be a rebellion against previously popular sleek, minimalist styles. Central elements to this style include thrift, patterns, needlepoint and chintz. On Airbnb, there are over 14,000 listings that include grandmillenial buzzwords in their descriptions⁸.

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Sustainable

According to TikTok, videos using the hashtag #zerowaste have clocked up 1.6B global views on their platform. TikTok creators share their tips to reduce their household waste by recycling products unlikely to biodegrade, or replacing them altogether with reusable items. Meanwhile, on Airbnb, homes that mention sustainable features, such as energy efficiency, energy saving and biomass are growing at a rate of more than 15 percent higher than other listings on Airbnb⁹. 

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