The pandemic has had a lasting effect on home design – since we spent so much time at home, we’ve shifted our approach in how we want it to reflect our style. While life has largely returned to how it was, home design continues to reflect our post-pandemic mindset and 2023 showcases another iteration of how we have progressed.

Design choices this year continue to encourage comfort and stability at home. We want to feel safe, able to relax, and find connection with family and friends – essentially our homes should feel like one big metaphorical hug.

The trends for how to approach this swing in wildly different directions. On one end of the spectrum, we’re seeing bold colors and vibrant accents designed to lift moods, while at the other, drawing out moments of calm from whisper-soft tones, tactile textures, and curved cocoon-like forms.

We’re also seeing a bigger emphasis on rest and wellness; investing in pieces deemed to be “worth it” as long as they capture personal style; and an increased focus on sustainability and upcycling. “Comfortcore” has been dubbed the biggest trend for 2023, meaning we want our homes to be comfortable, however that looks to each individual.

Here are the top interior design trends experts say we’ll see everywhere this year:

Earth Tones and Nature-Inspired Elements

Spaces that draw from nature and truly bring the outdoors in, also known as biophilic design, have been a staple in the home since the beginning of this decade – and they’re not going anywhere soon. We’ll continue to see natural elements like stone slabs, wood, and earth tones continue to be popular, but 2023 will bring slight variations to what we’ve seen in the past.

We’ll see more textured, darker hues instead of the light and bright palette that has been popular the last few years. Medium-toned wood in a flat front cabinet is set to have its moment in 2023.

Natural stone slabs will continue their reign, but we’ll see a “more-is-more” maximalist attitude applying to stone in the way of bold marble and rich colors with over-the-top veining. Terrazzo is also being predicted as a new top material for this year.

Earth tones are getting a fresh take with elements of pink and brown taking center stage as some of the new neutrals for 2023. Homeowners are also shifting towards deep, rich greens and soft, tranquil lavenders.

Lighting as a Mood

Having good lighting is key in every space. A well-designed room should have flexible lighting to meet your needs throughout the day. Experienced designers will tell you that lighting is an essential piece when you’re decorating, not the after-thought that many consider it.

2023 is all about taking the basic types of lighting and playing with fixtures to create different moods for different activities. Lighting is being viewed as art and a way to make a statement.

With Comfortcore being a large trend this year, the main focus is on cozy lighting. Homeowners are opting for comfortable ambient lighting that doubles as artwork. We’ll see statement-making sconces, bold lamps with glossy finishes and elaborate shades, and fabrics used to soften the glow.

Multi-Functional Spaces

The idea of our rooms needing to serve double- or even triple-duty is nothing new – especially in the last few years. The shift to an everything-from-home environment showed us that our spaces need to work just as hard as we do. This year, designers are remaining focused on developing flexible interiors wisely and purposefully.

With life regaining a sense of normalcy, homeowners are revisiting the spaces they’ve created in their home. Many workers are being called back to the office, reducing the need for a dedicated home office. With hybrid schedules on the rise, home offices are trending towards dual purpose rooms like yoga and meditation spaces. This ties into another trend we’ll see this year: a focus on wellness.

Holistic Design

This year, interior design is shifting to consideration of a homeowner’s mind, body, and overall wellness. We’re thinking more about how design can make us happier, healthier, and more productive in our spaces. There’s a focus on meditative materials to create a serene place to live in, and an overall mood that is calm and tranquil. We’ll see gentle patterns and soothing pastels such as eucalyptus, mid-level blues, and soft pink.

Dopamine Dressing

On the other end of the spectrum is what design experts have dubbed “Dopamine Dressing” or using color, pattern, and textures in your home as a way to make you feel happier. We’re seeing more energetic and fun color palettes, layering in maximalist fabrics and accessories, and vibrant wallpaper to express our personality and style.

We’re also seeing surrealism in home décor with unexpected, nonsensical, and even trippy accent pieces. Homeowners are playing with scale to create a dream-world effect through the use of extra long couches, fatter lamp bases, and floor mirrors designed to take up entire walls.

Moody & Dramatic Spaces

This trend lies somewhere between Comfortcore and Dopamine Dressing. It’s all about rich, saturated hues to create an eye-catching space or cocoon-like feeling. We’re seeing monochrome rooms in deep greens or purples, daring wallpaper designs, or a combination of the two.

Dramatic spaces don’t have to be dark. Jewel tones are being incorporated in smaller spaces like a powder bath or the laundry room. These areas almost become “jewel-box rooms” with shimmery finishes, richly patterned details and whimsical accessories.

‘70s Nostalgia

The disco decade is cool again. 2023 is bringing back the ‘70s style through color, furniture, and décor. We’ll see an increased use of rust, avocado, and chocolate brown hues, organic shapes, and textural finishes. With our desire to connect with family and friends stronger than ever, old-school conversation pits are becoming popular again.

The key to nailing this trend is not going too retro, but keeping a more sophisticated approach for an elevated design. A great way to do this is by hitting the vintage stores to find pieces that speak to you.

Upcycling & Sustainable Design

Much like the fashion industry is moving away from fast-fashion, home design is moving away from fast-furniture towards more sustainable products. 2023 is all about making the old, new again as homeowners are becoming more eco-conscious and focusing on ways to reduce their environmental impact.

One of the biggest ways to incorporate upcycling into your own home design is through consignment shopping, antiquing, or going through family heirlooms. Many older pieces are quality-built, they just need a little love. Simply by re-staining a wood finish or re-upholstering a chair, these vintage pieces can be repurposed into your modern home.

By shopping the local stores for unique pieces, you’re able to support small businesses, find one-of-a-kind items for your home, and do something good for the environment. Sounds like a winning plan all around!

Curves & Arches

We started to see curved furniture increase in popularity in the last few years, and now we’re embracing the trend throughout our home. 2023 will usher in even more curves with arched doorways, rounded mirrors, more curved furniture, and soft lines at our thresholds and ceilings.

These modern curves evoke old-world architecture and bring a sense of timelessness and softness to any space. Gone are harsh, sharp lines in favor of a more organic feel and overarching (no pun intended) sense of lightness.

Connectivity

We’re still seeing the lasting effects of isolation and disconnection during the peak of the pandemic, and home design is focused on remedying that feeling. This year, we’ll see an uptick in entertaining-focused design and convivial seating, or the best seating design to help us engage in deep conversations and truly connect with one another. Blend your trends and play off ‘70s nostalgia with a sunken living room.

We’re also prioritizing our self-connection and striving to emphasize rest and wellness. We want to create vacation-like retreats through designs that evoke a sense of escape. Once we are able to slow down and take care of ourselves, we are better equipped to enjoy the relationships in our lives and care for others.

We’re reconnecting with the world at-large and want to bring those treasured feelings that come from travel back into our home. We’re placing a higher importance on global design and choosing pieces that create a sensory journey of color and emotion all while remaining effortlessly chic. Gone are trendy shelf-fillers in favor of more meaningful objects that continually make us feel good.

We’ve reprioritized the things that matter to us and our homes reflect this shift. Whether we’re looking for calm designs that promote wellness, bold colors that bring us joy, connectivity with ourselves and others, or pieces that make us feel good and are good for the earth, 2023 remains focused on individual style and creativity.

When you’re ready to find the perfect home to make uniquely yours, we’re here to help! Connect with our team to learn more. We’ll be expecting you!