Interior Trends 2023
With 2023 well underway, we’re looking at everything with a fresh perspective this Spring – including interiors. After discussing colours of the year already, we’ve got some insight on the home decor trends to look out for in 2023 and how our homes will shapeshift in the future months - with sustainability at the core of it all.
From a focus on sustainability and well-being to a warmed-up and muted colour palette, the new Season has a lot of exciting home interior design inspiration in store. We’ve compiled together a list of new trends that are dominating 2023 to help you get your home looking tip-top and on-trend for the year to come.
Sustainability and wellness
The interior industry’s bid to become more sustainable means that designers and consumers alike are looking for ways to design against global waste, rather than add to it. As a nation, we are now making more informed decisions about the furniture we choose to bring into our homes.
Using furniture that is produced using sustainably sourced materials will be a priority. We are still seeing a rise in sustainability, and a natural consequence of the rise in sustainably sourced and made products will be a focus on organic materials and shapes. From rattan and bamboo to cane and linen, there are plenty of materials that are considered environmentally friendly.
The use of natural materials such as stone, natural woods, linen, jute and cotton allows the body to the ground within our spaces. We feel more connected to ourselves and our well-being when we are surrounded by them in our homes.
The era of focusing on wellness, self-care and nature isn’t going anywhere and is now entering our homes. 2023 is filled with organic and comfortable materials such as ceramics, clay, cotton, wool and velvet.
We’ll see plenty of baskets,live-edge furniture, plants and natural wood. After spending a long time at home the past few years, we know that bringing nature inside helps us feel alive and connected.
As we continue to see the positive effects of being closer to nature, we look to the rising trend in biophilic design to help us bring some of the natural worlds into the comfort of our homes. There’s nothing new about bringing the outdoors in, but it will be magnified as we bring our wellness goals home
Earth Tones and Textures
There has been an increase in the popularity of natural wood tones as well as soft, earthy neutrals as a means to provide both a calming and grounding environment.
Not only do these colours help bring the peace of the outdoors inside, but they also provide a soothing interior colour foundation that is easy to build upon. Brown is back, neatly encapsulating both the 1970s retro trend and the interest in all things natural. The use of warmer wood tones and an earthy colour palette in furniture and fabric will continue to rise and lean towards warmer colours for moodier spaces that are emphasised through rich colours and textures.
Now we’re seeing shades of terracotta, pink and mustard creeping into room schemes, with searches for ‘dusky pink’, ‘brown’ and ‘mustard’ increasing. These colours are warm and relaxing and, along with the trend for sustainability, could also be a result of homeowners looking for rooms that offer comfort and reassurance.
Often red or ‘brown’ ceramics are associated with more coarse pottery, but there’s a finesse to this new wave of earthy vases and pieces, and an altogether contemporary stylistic edge, which makes them avant-garde. Look out for subtle curving forms, an unglazed finish, and an appealing handcrafted raw honesty, ideal to slot into your living room ideas.
Comfortcore
Cocooning furniture and finishes, rounded forms, tantalising textures and whisper-soft tones are defined aspects of 'comfortcore,' a design trend that offers reassurance and respite.
Calming textures came to prominence during the uncertain years of lockdown and unsurprisingly, they’ve yet to fall out of favour.
People want their home to feel like a tranquil haven, particularly in the bedroom and living room – both designated for relaxing and should be filled with plush, soft furnishings.
In application, this translates to lots and lots of warm neutrals as echoed previously. Cosiness is an important aspect of the home, but there is also a focus on the overall ambience of the home.
Seeking comfort doesn’t mean having to sacrifice style. Sometimes the best way to unwind is by surrounding yourself with objects that have a story to tell and immersing yourself in the space around you.
From the feel of plush cotton velvet to a deep seat, you can sink into, a total feeling of ease and comfort that still manages to feel put-together and luxurious, comfortcore is grounded in the highest quality materials.
The idea of refined comforts is a sensory experience, sinking into thoughtful spaces built around sight, touch and smell. To refine your comforts, think thoughtful textiles, deep seating and organisation to keep life in place.
After all, the home is first and foremost a place to relax. For colour, think light neutrals with warm whites and ivories - or if you are after a splash of some colour, look to green with neutral and accent hues.
Bouclé had its moment, and so did other textures like wood, but rather than ushering them out, 2023 is fully embracing spaces with layers of texture.
Squishy sofa trends, curvy shapes and snuggly fabrics are popular this year. More ‘homely’ comfort seating with deep cushions and more curves generally - a place to lay down as much as to sit. We're also seeing the return of minimalism, but in a more sophisticated and homelier manner than we've seen previously.
Warm wood tones and natural textures will become a feature of themselves, without compromising the simplicity and cleanliness of minimalist styles.
A return of the '70s
Influenced by the never-ending popularity of mid-century modern, as well as the long-overdue migration of vintage and antique stores online, interior design is looking back to the seventies.
The concept of vintage has never been more popular. Interior design trends, just like fashion, are proving to be cyclical and the 1970s is prevailing as a key influence in 2023 interior design.
You can tap into this key trend by using warm brown, gold and red tones such as clay, honey or paprika as the base for your interior and layer with fun colours and shapes to add interest to your home.
Soft shapes, and relaxed style seating designs not only tap into the 1970s aesthetic but are comfortable and have a cocooning effect which ties into creating a happy and enjoyable interior. We are seeing customers buying into sofas with deeper seats and plumped-up cushions for a real “sink-in” experience.
Layered Lighting
Lighting is set to become more complex and according to Sam Bramley, Lick’s lead colour consultant: “Lighting is the second most important design element in your home, after colour.”
We are beginning to see an increase in the layering of lighting - a mix of wall lights, floor lamps and sculptural table lamps. Layering your lighting adds warmth and cosiness to a space, and it also gives you an opportunity to have fun with different lighting designs.
Layer your lighting with illuminated pockets on the walls, striking linear lines in your floor lamps to zone areas for their function and style, and oversized pendants hanging from the ceiling for added drama.
Wall lights are now stars in their own right and taking centre stage, where hanging a little lower than you might expect, creating something called ‘light washing’, using bulbs cleverly to cover your walls in the light rather than just beaming down on them from on high.
Pendant lights, shades and chandeliers are playing with perspective, especially in smaller rooms. A statement lamp can have such gravitas in a living room whilst similarly-shaped lamps on a smaller scale can be a lot more practical in a nook or placed on a small shelf.
Hints of Green
One of the leading interior design trends of the past couple of years has been the use of green as a dominant hue—and in 2023, don’t expect that to change.
Once again, emerald snags the top spot, followed closely by earthy sage. These green hues echo the sentiment mentioned discussing bringing nature closer into our spaces and adding a touch of biophilia into our homes.
Colour palettes this year are already following in the steps of nature, such as Dulux’s Colour of The Year Wild Wonder, which you can read more about here.
When it comes to following colour trends, however, it is not essential that you redesign your home on a large scale, rather a simple switch-up of simple decorative elements can be a powerful tool that can change the look and feel of a space with minimal effort.
Think cushions, throws or rugs or a characterful piece of artwork -all of which can help reference the different shades of trending colours.
Colours can be some of the easiest trends to tap into, and doing so in small yet effective ways, will ensure they remain relevant in your home for many years to come.
Gold Accents
This pleasantly warm hue is elevating interiors with a touch of pure luxe - this leans into one of the biggest trends so far in 2023 which has been dubbed 'limitless luxe.
This is the concept of 'no limit to luxury’ and parallels the overarching trend of warm tones over cool tones as previously mentioned. With gold being a timeless material, it’s unlikely to ever go out of fashion.
In recent years, however, chrome and brushed nickel accessories have reigned supreme.
This year, gold will be back - and not just in the kitchen. Incorporate this home interior design trend with gold accessories in any room to add a touch of luxe to your home. Think statement pieces such as a wall mirror, legs for furniture and smaller decorative objects.
Dopamine Dressing
Waves and stripes both listed separately as trends, fit right in with dopamine dressing and maximalism.
Wavy stripes are, quite literally, making waves in the design world. As the importance of the home and its role as a place of comfort, sanctuary and protection continue to grow, so will a lean towards colours, patterns, materials and shapes that provide people with a sense of emotional refuge.
Stripes are going to come back in a big way. They’re the original high-contrast design element, whether used in wallpaper, textiles or paint and make an unmistakably bold statement, unlike any other pattern.
Finding moments to be playful and have fun is key – and this is reflected in our homes, as bold colours become increasingly prominent.
In 2023, watch out for pops of primary colours as accessories and accents in the home. From a colour psychology perspective, the three primary colours of red, blue, and yellow represent the body, mind and emotions respectfully.
Loud and unapologetic, primary colours are high saturation and will add a playful charm to a space, bringing with them unmistakable energy.
Dopamine décor can be interpreted as using colour, pattern and tactile furnishings in your home as a way to make you feel happier. You might start off small – by introducing a print here and a coloured piece of furniture there, or you might fully commit to vivid colours, such as zesty yellows, punchy pinks, and brilliant blues to dress homes and evoke feelings of
happiness.
You only have to look at Pantone’s colour of the year for 2023, Viva Magenta, to see how bold colours are going to be big this year. You can see our previous blog on how to use Viva Magenta in your home.
At Cousins Furniture, our destination showrooms have a wide range of furniture and accessories that will suit any style of home from traditional to contemporary. Each sofa, dining set, bed or accessory that we have on display is carefully selected and our showrooms are constantly being refreshed and re-imagined to create immersive room sets for you to be inspired by.
Although trends may come and go, we believe our furniture truly stands the test of time and is adaptable to a variety of trends. Our expert, friendly sales staff will be happy to provide any guidance that you may require.
