Key Takeaways

  • TikTok has revealed some trending design buzzwords used by its community of creatives - and Airbnb is seeing these same buzzwords being used by its community of Hosts.
  • Common aesthetics include eclectic, vintage maximalism, cottagecore, and the ever popular botanical trend.
  • Creators and Hosts have defined their homes by collecting unique artifacts and thrifting vintage items that reflect their personalities.

As we round out the year, Airbnb has partnered with TikTok to identify new design trends for 20221. Looking at home decor buzzwords used by TikTok’s huge community of creatives, Airbnb has ranked the trends according to the number of times they appear on Airbnb listings. Here are TikTok and Airbnb’s design tips for 2022:

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 in recent years. 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, utilizing materials like patterned vintage wallpaper, floral upholstery and wood.

Dating back to 1624, this adorable one-bed home is the very essence of cottagecore. Central design elements include a neutral palate with bold pops of color and a lived-in look.— Source: Airbnb
Dating back to 1624, this adorable one-bed home is the very essence of cottagecore. Central design elements include a neutral palate with bold pops of color and a lived-in look.— Source: Airbnb
The Host of this upstate New York home invites guests to 'make their cottagecore dreams a reality'. The cottage aesthetic comes to life with vintage pieces, warm neutrals and macramé.— Photo by Steph Mossey
The Host of this upstate New York home invites guests to 'make their cottagecore dreams a reality'. The cottage aesthetic comes to life with vintage pieces, warm neutrals and macramé.— Photo by Steph Mossey
Cottagecore celebrates the joy of domesticity. This tiny house in Nashville, Tennessee is a fine example.— Photo by Julia Steele
Cottagecore celebrates the joy of domesticity. This tiny house in Nashville, Tennessee is a fine example.— Photo by Julia Steele

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.

Simple natural materials have been used by the designer and blogger host of this 100 year old home in Waco, Texas.— Source: Airbnb
Simple natural materials have been used by the designer and blogger host of this 100 year old home in Waco, Texas.— Source: Airbnb
Inside and out, it's always the holidays in this Christmas Cabin in Ozark, Arkansas. Situated on a tree farm, the cabin's festive decor is made from natural materials.— Source: Airbnb
Inside and out, it's always the holidays in this Christmas Cabin in Ozark, Arkansas. Situated on a tree farm, the cabin's festive decor is made from natural materials.— Source: Airbnb
This home in none other than Bethlehem, Pennsylvania is always holiday-ready. Host Bonnie uses natural touches like pine cones, dried fruit and garland to make her stay festive. — Source: Airbnb
This home in none other than Bethlehem, Pennsylvania is always holiday-ready. Host Bonnie uses natural touches like pine cones, dried fruit and garland to make her stay festive. — Source: Airbnb

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.

The 80s Time Capsule in Kent, Washington, is the very definition of nostalgic. Bright colors, 80s memorabilia and a sense of fun complete the eclectic nostalgic look.— Source: Airbnb
The 80s Time Capsule in Kent, Washington, is the very definition of nostalgic. Bright colors, 80s memorabilia and a sense of fun complete the eclectic nostalgic look.— Source: Airbnb
Statement vintage furniture and a daring mix of pastels imbue this Dallas, Texas home with a sense of nostalgic fun.— Source: Airbnb
Statement vintage furniture and a daring mix of pastels imbue this Dallas, Texas home with a sense of nostalgic fun.— Source: Airbnb
Travel even further back in time with this 70s inspired entire home in Yucca Valley, California.— Source: Airbnb
Travel even further back in time with this 70s inspired entire home in Yucca Valley, California.— Source: Airbnb

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.

Full to the brim with potted plants, The Hunter Barnhouse was built in 1845. The botanical aesthetic gives it a modern yet historically sympathetic look and feel.— Source: Airbnb
Full to the brim with potted plants, The Hunter Barnhouse was built in 1845. The botanical aesthetic gives it a modern yet historically sympathetic look and feel.— Source: Airbnb
This incredible converted 1920s loft in Auckland, New Zealand, couldn't be more botanical. — Source: Airbnb
This incredible converted 1920s loft in Auckland, New Zealand, couldn't be more botanical. — Source: Airbnb
This planted filled villa, a short drive from Melbourne, is a plant-lovers paradise.— Source: Airbnb
This planted filled villa, a short drive from Melbourne, is a plant-lovers paradise.— Source: Airbnb

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.

Sumptuous velvets, luxurious furnishings and beautiful artworks give this seaside Victorian home maximum designer impact.— Source: Airbnb
Sumptuous velvets, luxurious furnishings and beautiful artworks give this seaside Victorian home maximum designer impact.— Source: Airbnb
'More is more' must surely be the central design principle of this richly decorated apartment in Florence, Italy.— Source: Airbnb
'More is more' must surely be the central design principle of this richly decorated apartment in Florence, Italy.— Source: Airbnb
Minimalism is no where to be seen in this delightful top floor apartment in Kent, England.— Source: Airbnb
Minimalism is no where to be seen in this delightful top floor apartment in Kent, England.— Source: Airbnb

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.

The Host of this large apartment in Richmond, Virginia describes his style as 'New Orleans Gothic glam'. Dark colors, tasseled curtains and wall tapestries combine to create the distinctive look.— Source: Airbnb
The Host of this large apartment in Richmond, Virginia describes his style as 'New Orleans Gothic glam'. Dark colors, tasseled curtains and wall tapestries combine to create the distinctive look.— Source: Airbnb
Dark colors, dark wood and an abundance of antiques give this gorgeous getaway in Scotland a distinctively gothic aesthetic.— Source: Airbnb
Dark colors, dark wood and an abundance of antiques give this gorgeous getaway in Scotland a distinctively gothic aesthetic.— Source: Airbnb
From the Mansard roofline to the lush velvet furnishings, every element of this Victorian Gothic tiny home in Dripping Springs, Texas, has been carefully considered.— Source: Airbnb
From the Mansard roofline to the lush velvet furnishings, every element of this Victorian Gothic tiny home in Dripping Springs, Texas, has been carefully considered.— Source: Airbnb

Grandmillenial

According to TikTok, the hashtag #grandmillenial was first used on the platform in 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 14K listings that include grandmillenial buzzwords in their descriptions8.

"Grandparent" design elements like satin cushions, a frilled sofa and birdcage come together to create the ultimate grandmillenial interior in this two-bed apartment in Edmonton, Canada.— Source: Airbnb
"Grandparent" design elements like satin cushions, a frilled sofa and birdcage come together to create the ultimate grandmillenial interior in this two-bed apartment in Edmonton, Canada.— Source: Airbnb
Handpicked floral patterned mugs and glassware complete the grandmillenial style of this Nova Scotia home.— Source: Airbnb
Handpicked floral patterned mugs and glassware complete the grandmillenial style of this Nova Scotia home.— Source: Airbnb
The floral theme is strongly present in this grandmillenial-style home in Toowoomba City, Australia.— Source: Airbnb
The floral theme is strongly present in this grandmillenial-style home in Toowoomba City, Australia.— Source: Airbnb

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.

Reduce, reuse, recycle are the central tenets of this off-grid converted 1940s boat in Sutton, England.— Source: Airbnb
Reduce, reuse, recycle are the central tenets of this off-grid converted 1940s boat in Sutton, England.— Source: Airbnb
Nestled between three sturdy oak trees this treehouse made of recycled timbers has uninterrupted views across the glorious north downs in Kent, UK.— Source: Airbnb
Nestled between three sturdy oak trees this treehouse made of recycled timbers has uninterrupted views across the glorious north downs in Kent, UK.— Source: Airbnb
This custom built, ecological and self-sufficient 'Tiny Inn' in the Netherlands has been constructed with local, recycled timber.— Photo by Lotje Hondius
This custom built, ecological and self-sufficient 'Tiny Inn' in the Netherlands has been constructed with local, recycled timber.— Photo by Lotje Hondius

*Feature image photo credit: Russell Bloodworth Photography, listing is the grandmillennial-inspired Color Mountain Bike Preserve in Bentonville, Arkansas.

1 Based on design-related hashtag seeing the most growth on TikTok between October 2020 and October 2021.

2 Cottagecore keywords: ‘countryside style’, ‘arts and crafts’, crafty, romantic, chintz, floral print, knitted, embroidery, macramé. As of October, 2021.

3 Seasonal keywords: seasonal, halloween, autumn, spooky, warm-toned, Thanksgiving, Valentine’s, Christmas. As of October, 2021.

4 Eclectic keywords: disco, eclectic, nostalgic, 70s, 80s, psychedelic, vintage. As of October, 2021.

5 Botanical keywords: botanical, planttok, plants, indoor plants, green, lush, earthy, monstera, potted plants. As of October, 2021.

6 Maximalist keywords: maximalist, maximalism, eclectic, ‘vintage maximalism’, ‘more is more’, ‘loud style’, ‘mixed patterns’, ‘animal prints’, ‘velvet’, ‘velour’. As of October, 2021.

7 Gothic keywords: gothic, goblincore, witchy, cosplay, eclectic gothic, whimsical, fairy, fairytale. As of October, 2021.

8Grandmillenial keywords: thrifted, vintage maximalism, grandmillenial, curated, patterned, kitschy, kitsch, wicker, chintz, needlepoint, granny style, granny chic. As of October, 2021.

9 Based on Airbnb internal data measuring active listings between October 2016 and 2021.

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