What's in fashion for 2023?

Interior design is a constantly evolving concept, and each new year heralds significant new trends. To some extent, these fashions are borne of necessity, as this $121 billion industry seeks to reinvent itself and stay fresh. Yet despite some justifiable cynicism about the recurrence of well-worn trends, the interior design sector rarely stands still.

If you’re about to move into a blank-canvas new home, or simply looking to give your existing property a 2023 aesthetic, these are the colours, trends and materials which are likely to dominate the coming months.

Colours

Pantone’s Colour of the Year is Viva Magenta. Described in official literature as “invoking the forces of nature”, it actually resembles red wine spilled on a white rug. Some might question whether this is “electrifying” and “boundless” as Pantone claim, but it does mirror a wider trend for natural tones. The same is true of Dulux’s chosen colour this year – a neutral gold called Wild Wonder. Golden shades are proving especially popular in geometric wallpapers right now.

Throughout 2022, we saw a gradual move away from cool shades towards pink, mustard and brown tones. These retain an earthy aura while adding more warmth than the monochrome hues which previously dominated. The rise in painted ceilings is a more niche phenomenon, which we would respectfully counsel against.

Materials

If the word ‘magenta’ summons up memories of 1970s carpets, that’s not a coincidence. Nostalgia is a key driver of modern interior design trends, with repurposed antiques and upcycled salvage maintaining their popularity thanks in part to TV shows like The Repair Shop. Sustainability is on-trend (as it should be very year in these environmentally troubled times), with reclaimed timber appearing everywhere from flooring to dining tables.

The cottage core phenomenon encourages a rustic, rural lifestyle dominated by self-sufficiency and farmhouse chic. A Welsh dresser or 1950s wardrobe could become the centrepiece of a room’s design, alongside vintage ornaments or heirloom textiles. Again, a splash of earthy colour will be bang on-trend in such apartments, with brass and bronze finally edging out polished chrome in kitchens and bathrooms. As a cottage core staple, expect to see more terracotta tiling in kitchens and porches this year, while Mediterranean-style heritage tiles are also growing in popularity.

Panelling

Over the decades, wallpaper has fluctuated in and out of fashion. This year is likely to see a rise in wallpapered panels on an otherwise neutrally coloured wall, with outsized frames dominating without completely filling the space. Property website Houzz say searches for ‘decorative wall panels’ have more than doubled recently, replacing artworks as go-to statement pieces.

Another trend involves textured surfaces, from heavily embossed wallpaper to micro cement. The aim is to catch the light in unusual ways, introducing more character to a wall than a flat two-dimensional covering could achieve.

Lighting

As awareness of Seasonal Affective Disorder grows, there is a trend for full spectrum lighting in bedrooms, offices and living spaces. Also known as biodynamic lighting, this works particularly well in shaded north- or west-facing apartments. Full spectrum bulbs replicate the serotonin-generating effects of sunshine on the skin, while their clean white light is far better for reading or craft activities than the yellowish illumination of incandescent bulbs.

Oversized light fixtures are also on-trend for 2023, with geometric shapes and statement lamps in high demand. Expect to see elaborate lampshades in show homes by the year-end, while a large lamp or prominent wall-mounted downlighter behind a high-back accent chair also works well.

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