In interior design, there are two kinds of trends.
The ones that come and go in a flash. The ones that surprise us, like pineapples, flamingos and the resurgence of fringed lampshades.
And then there are the slow burner trends. The trends that aren’t invented by retailers simply make us buy more stuff. But genuinely evolve as a result of our human response to what’s going on in the World.
So as we embrace 2023 what can we expect more of???
1. Colour
There is no doubt that the political events of the last few years have had an impact on our decor decisions. We’ve seen a shift from the beige/greige pre-COVID era. To the grounding, muted tones that helped us feel more stable when the pandemic hit. To the fresher, more optimistic hues that dominated last year as we picked up our normal lives again. So what about this year? What colours suit us when we are facing economic and climate devastation? It’s being reported that warm, strong colours are rising in popularity with people seeking out bold terracottas, mustards and pinks. These are energising and comforting colours and are a great way to incorporate primary colours in a way that’s easy to live with.
2. Curated second-hand furniture
Carefully curating unique pieces of furniture has always been in style. But now, more than ever, the younger generations are getting on board with this philosophy. It’s now far cooler to show off your eBay or charity shop find than to post a pic of your matching bookshelf, coffee table and sideboard.
This trend has probably been born out of necessity. Of course, we can’t carry on buying new furniture when there is already so much old furniture in existence, our planet will implode. Plus we can’t afford it. So the only option is to make old furniture cool again. And that’s exactly what has happened. Bling is out. Granny furniture is in.
It’s amazing how everything comes full circle. When I was a child it was a ‘keeping up with the Jones’s’ World. It was cool to invite your neighbours around and brag about how much your new kitchen cost. Now it’s cool to post images on social media and brag about how little your new kitchen cost.
3. Music rooms
Okay, so a dedicated music room may not be a feasible option for most of us in our modest-sized houses, but what we are definitely seeing more of is people making music a focal point in their living rooms. Record players and vinyl have seen a huge surge in popularity, and the television, which we can now watch anywhere on our phones, is becoming less of a priority in entertaining spaces. As well as looking good and sounding good, vinyl also satisfies our appetite for nostalgia, which is something many of us still crave in our homes.
4. Embracing flaws
As with so many aspects of our lives, we are trying to move away from the unrealistic, unhealthy expectations of perfection. It’s okay for our homes to be a bit messy, unfinished, or rough around the edges. This year we will definitely see more of us embracing the flaws and using objects in our homes that may have previously been sniffed at. Big love for the mismatched dining set, the ugly vase from the charity shop and the kid’s art on the fridge #flawsome.
5. LUXURY LAUNDRY ROOMS
So whilst some of us are embracing sustainability, digging charity shop finds and embracing the imperfections of the items in our homes. Others are creating utility rooms where laundry dreams really do come true. If you are part of the interiors community on Instagram or Pinterest then you’ll know what I’m talking about. An entire beautiful room with stunning cabinetry, patterned tiles, a butler’s sink, all the appliances, worktops, baskets, drying racks and open shelves with labelled jars holding decanted cleaning products.
Am I jealous? Yes. Do I get it? Also, yes. If you have the budget then I totally understand why you would want to create a space like this. Household chores suck. So if you can create an environment where your heart sings every time you walk in to get your hoover then why not?
6. PANELLING
If Instagram is anything to go by then panelling has the be the biggest trend of 2022, and it doesn’t look like it’s going away. I only have to scroll for around eight seconds to see a reel tutorial on how to add panelling. So I’m guessing it’s still going to be up there as a big trend for this year. Here’s why it’s so popular; it adds texture and visual interest to a boring wall, it gives you the opportunity to add colour without painting the whole wall, it can make your walls appear taller, it can add character to a new build, and it can make a large room feel cosier.
7. Biophilic design
Our desire to connect with nature is here to stay. The principle of biophilic design within our homes is making any changes that enhance your connectivity with the outdoors and have a positive effect on your physical and mental well-being. So this year we will continue to see an emphasis on enhancing levels of natural light with skylights and large areas of glazing. There are also more simple changes you can make such as using colours and textures that reflect nature as well as using real plants, or adding a water feature to your garden.
8. CURVES, RUFFLES AND WAVES
It’s all about the curves (again). Of course, curves are nothing new, they started their comeback a couple of years ago, particularly in the shape of furniture. But we will start to see them more and more in our homes, from architectural details to the print on a cushion. Curves evoke feelings of romance, softness and comfort, and are strongly linked with nature, so it’s not hard to see why we would want them in our homes.
Which of these trends will you be getting on board with this year?
If you are thinking about making some changes this year and would like some design help, then why not get in touch? I offer interior design services across Southampton and Hampshire including room designs and colour consultancy
Happy designing, Sarah x
