A forecast led by interior designers with a pulse on trends that will be shaping the upcoming year, and beyond.
With the pandemic somewhat in the rearview mirror, mainstream designers and TikTok creators alike are predicting that home decor will take on an optimistic turn filled with vibrant colors and sustainable DIY projects, all the while maintaining a love for nature-inspired textures and accessories.
While the soft green palettes are still trending, especially when it comes to kitchen cabinets, pinks are coming in strong. Repurposed furniture is also having a moment with tutorials on transforming a dining table into a chic coffee table or building a plant enclave out of an apothecary cabinet. Perhaps one of the most exciting things about 2023 home design ideas is the mix of new and old design elements, a twist on the ever popular grandmillenial trend with a decidedly contemporary refresh. “2023 is taking us to a new level of design,” says Cleveland-based Ashleigh Clark, principal of Ashleigh Clark Interior Design Group. “We saw a neutral approach to design throughout the pandemic, creating homes that look like a Pinterest ad. People are now craving character and warmth. Personality driven decor is sweeping across the nation. Art that is personal, color that evokes a positive mood mixed with natural elements, are creating homes that feel cozy while adding plenty of character.”
If you fear that the only way to embrace all of 2023’s home design ideas means parting with your current decor and starting from scratch—all the while draining your bank account—fear not. Many of next year’s best looks are easy to DIY, meaning you can exercise your creativity and save cash while making your space covetable and conversation-worthy. The following 31 home design ideas are just too good to ignore.
1. Infuse decor with warm wood tones
Warm wood is making a comeback, notes designer Lindye Galloway of Lindye Galloway Design Studio and Shop, based in Costa Mesa, California. “Wood can bring warmth, depth, and an intimate feel that creates a serene scene,” she says. Galloway particularly enjoys incorporating it into the ceiling and vanity pieces in the bathroom. “This can especially help with an all-white bathroom where you want to keep it light and bright but have that warm feeling,” she adds. On a smaller scale, consider DIY’ing a warm wood frame for an existing mirror that could use an upgrade, or swapping builder-grade metal drawer pulls with stylish wooden options.
2. Add a fashionable influence to bedrooms
When formulating a vision for this bedroom, which was featured in the 2022 Brooklyn Heights Designer Showhouse, New York designer Tara McCauley was inspired by fashion designer Elsa Schiaparelli, who lived in Paris at the peak of the Art Deco and Surrealist movements. “The draped canopy above the bed certainly doesn’t echo the streamlined, machine-inspired forms of the Art Deco period, but I wanted to juxtapose the rectilinear headboard and bedside lamps with something soft,” McCauley explains. “The canopy feels a bit more Hollywood Regency than Art Deco, but it takes just one look at film sets from Hollywood’s Golden Age to see how those two styles are closely entwined.” DIY a canopy of your own—no matter your preferred aesthetic—with these designer tips.
3. Pantries continue to reign
Pantries that prioritize function and maximize storage are something we’ve grown to appreciate even more in recent years. “If being under quarantine at home revealed anything during the pandemic, it’s how to become more organized,” explains Houston-based Sherrell Neal of Sherrell Design Studio. “The pantry is not just a junky storage room of dry goods, it’s how we plan meals, sort food groups, and make shopping lists. It’s really become an extension of the kitchen space.” Neal anticipates that we will continue to see an emphasis on pantry organization and design into the new year.
4. Mix and match old with new
Styling antique finds alongside contemporary furnishings will never go out of style, says designer Joshua Smith of studio Joshua Smith in New York. “The thrill of combining these items is incorporating modern pieces into more traditional spaces, or vice versa,” says Smith who suggests by tossing in a French Louis chair into a modern space. Just don’t go overboard by adding too many periods into one room. “It brings confusion to the energy of the space,” he continues. “Think about common threads between the objects, like color, texture, shape.”
5. Say yes to plaster
Take the walls and ceilings to the next level with the addition of a plaster finish. “Plaster is making a comeback along with all other natural surfaces because of the character it adds to a space and the character that it adds over time as it lives in a space,” explains interior designer Katie Paulsen of Maestri Studio in Dallas. “Even in its most polished state, it adds a comfort that can’t be achieved with faux looks.” Not ready for a major revamp? Incorporate plaster fireplace surrounds, chandeliers, and side tables into your home, Paulsen suggests. “Its versatility allows us to use it in so many different ways,” she adds. “We’re predicting that it will be making an appearance just about everywhere.”
6. Go bold in the kitchen
The phasing out of the all-white kitchen continues. And the penchant for color is visible in coating cabinets in bold, unexpected hues. Grab that paint brush and get to it. “Rich cool tones, such as peacock or royal blue as well as emerald green, are colors that create a stunning contrast when combined with the quartzite and marble options,” notes Jerad Gardemal of JF Gardemal Designs in Baton Rouge. “You have two beautiful elements that are distinct alone, but when combined make a grand statement.” High gloss and lacquer finishes further emphasize the jewel-like kitchen spaces.
7. Get artsy with statement light fixtures
Say goodbye to the standard-looking light fixtures and opt for something that makes a statement instead. “Although popular in the last decade, traditional lanterns and pairs of lanterns have become mundane,” Gardemal says. “Improvements in both the design and technology of multi-point lighting make them much easier to work with,” he adds. “You now have the ability to experiment with globe styles, heights, and finishes to create a truly custom statement.”
8. Rethink bathroom walls and floors
If your bathroom floors or walls need a facelift, plan to go retro with hexagons, rhomboids, and circles, Gardemal advises. “These tile shapes have made appearances for hundreds of years and though the shapes aren’t new, the variety of tile sizes available has given them a refresh,” he explains. Opt for tiles with combos of white, gray, and black to nail that classic vintage aesthetic. Alternatively, try larger tiles paired with patterned accent tiles boasting touches of metallics and iridescent glazes.
9. Consider Trompe-L’oeil
Make like designer Nick Olsen and add major wow-factor to your home by incorporating patterns and furnishings that deceive the eye. Take a peek inside his Dutchess County, New York, home to get inspired by clever takes on wall coverings, textiles, and floor designs that go way beyond the basic.
10. Stencil floors
While stenciling tile is nothing new, creators are steering away from the overdone encaustic tile patterns in grey, black, white and blue and experimenting with contemporary motifs. “Choose starkly contrasting colors for a crisp and fresh look,” suggests Annie Sloan, paint and color expert based in Oxford, England, and creator of Chalk Paint, who has utilized household objects including cereal bowls and magazines to create one of a kind stencils. “These simple shapes look fabulous in block bright colors. Pastel square shapes reference ’50s diners, perfect for grandmillennial interiors, while curved designs reference Vernor Patton and ’60s cool.”
See the full list on Architectural Digest.
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