The previous year was one of emergence, with the return of travel, dining, and nightlife swiftly embraced. But while we’ve revelled in the freedom of the public world, the comforts of the abode have not been forgotten. Continuing on from pandemic times, the home has acted as both a sanctuary and a place of interest for many, providing respite from the external world while being an all-encompassing space in its own right.
The interior design trends of 2023 reflect our changing times, with a continued emphasis on biophilic design and indoor-outdoor living, as well as wellness spaces and zen interior design. Minimalism has been shunted to the side over the past couple of years, with eclecticism and moody maximalism appearing in its place. Sustainable and ethical design is still very much at the forefront of our minds, with homeowners and interior designers alike gravitating towards using locally sourced and thoughtfully produced furniture and décor in their spaces.
Regardless of whether you choose to incorporate interior design trends into your home or make a concerted effort not to be swayed by them, there’s no denying their impact. The key interior design trends of 2023 are representative of our cultural zeitgeist and collective emotional state, and have a tendency to infiltrate your consciousness; whether it’s noticing them in a celebrity home tour or lounging in an upscale cocktail bar and convincing yourself that you too require a performance velvet occasional chair.
Without further ado, these are the top 11 interior design trends you can expect to see in homes across the globe this year.
1. The renaissance of the dining room
Once dismissed as a relic of the past and shunned in favour of open-plan living, the dining room has experienced a return to form. Born out of necessity during lockdowns, dinner parties and at-home entertaining continue to reign supreme, with colourful glassware, quirky tableware and serveware, and dining accessories also trending. In line with the disenchantment for open-plan living, dining rooms create a sense of cosiness and intimacy, imbuing dining with a touch of gravitas that eating with the television in the background simply can’t provide.
2. Statement powder rooms
Often deemed the ‘jewel box of the house’, the powder room provides the ideal opportunity for incorporating bold patterns and colours you may be hesitant to use in larger areas of the home. Large-scale patterned wallpaper (particularly botanical prints), luxurious materials (think natural stone slabs and crystal sinks), brass or gold hardware, and vibrant accent colours contribute towards creating a delightful element of surprise upon entry.
3. Textured walls
The age-old practices of Venetian plaster and limewash reentered the conversation last year. The trend isn’t going anywhere, with textured walls set to be seen in more homes this year. Using limewash or plaster is particularly useful for adding interest to neutral spaces, creating visual impact in a subtle way.
4. Conversational seating
Statement sofas that take centre stage in living rooms have become something of a status symbol over the past couple of years, with the advent of Zoom cocktail parties and subsequent intimate gatherings giving rise to the need for furniture that is not only comfortable but also stylish. Post-pandemic, there’s a new era of furniture design, with seating being used to foster in-person conversation. The concept of the ‘conversation chair’ originates in 19th century France, however, it has experienced a modern makeover. The Hemicycle Vis à Vis designed by Philippe Nigro allows people to sit side-by-side but separately, with each seat angled so that users needn’t turn their heads during conversation.
5. Lighting as art
Lighting is no longer a solely functional necessity, with sculptural iterations doubling as a work of art. Ambient lighting is set to become more sculptural and incorporate mixed materials. Case in point: the Trueing Studio chain chandelier hanging above Emma Chamberlain’s dining table.
6. Moody tones
White, greige, beige, and grey have officially been shown the door. Rich, moody, dramatic colour palettes are in, with viva magenta, Pantone’s 2023 colour of the year, joined by hues like emerald green, purple, deep blue, and chocolate brown. Not merely accent colours, entire rooms are being drenched in bold shades, creating a visual feast for the eyes. Extending into furniture choices, the ever-popular Scandinavian-style pale oak is set to be swapped for darker woods like mahogany and walnut.
7. Luxurious, functional fabrics
The tactility and luxurious aesthetic nature of velvet have made it a must-have upholstery option for sofas and occasional chairs. However, when it comes to actually using your furniture, the fabric has its drawbacks. Fortunately, technical advancements have given rise to performance velvet, a hardwearing material that is virtually indistinguishable from conventional velvet. Durable, stain-resistant, and hydrophobic, performance velvet sofas sit at the intersection of style and practicality. Plus, performance velvet sofas in deep, jewel tones are the perfect fit for the trend towards a more moody colour palette.
8. Sustainable design choices
An undeniable buzzword, sustainability is front of mind for homeowners and designers alike. There’s an increased emphasis on buying for life, with people gravitating towards investment pieces rather than ‘of the now’ designs. When selecting furniture and décor, ethically and locally made pieces are a key trend, as are designs that utilise materials that would have otherwise gone to landfill. However, sustainable design isn’t limited to individual products, with the building and construction industry being one of the biggest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. Going forward, we’ll be seeing more attention paid to incorporating passive design principles into homes, renovating rather than rebuilding, and repurposing waste materials.
9. Wellness spaces
Wellness rooms are the new home gyms. Dumbbells and treadmills are being pushed aside in favour of spaces that embrace holistic wellness. Although the term ‘wellness’ might connote saunas, steam rooms, spas, and pilates studios, the best wellness spaces are those that cater to your definition of the term. While that may be a lavish home spa à la Gwyneth Paltrow, it can also be a nook dedicated to meditation, a fitness room, a massage room, or even a soaking tub on the deck.
10. Biophilic design
A source of inspiration and solace for many, nature continues to come indoors through biophilic design. Tapping into the innate affinity humans have for the natural world, biophilic design works to bring the outdoors in to improve cognitive performance, mood, and mental health. This year, expect to see indoor designs focused on bringing natural light in, as well as the use of an abundance of plant life and natural, textural fabrics (think linen and rattan).
11. Indoor-outdoor living
In addition to bringing the outdoors in through biophilia, there’s an increased interconnection between indoor and outdoor spaces. Rather than being entities of their own, the best outdoor rooms are an extension of the indoors, combining the style and comfort of the latter with the natural beauty of the former. Technical innovation has resulted in outdoor furniture that boasts the style of its indoor counterparts while being able to withstand the elements, allowing for a seamless transition from the indoors to alfresco settings.
Words by T. Angel
Feature image courtesy of Colin Price Photography for Noz Design
