With the grey days of pandemic and lockdown finally behind us, 2023 will see an explosion of joyful creativity with big trends around new color palettes, fine patterns, and exquisite furniture design. At the end of last year, Pantone set the theme for 2023 with the announcement of their Color of the Year, the frankly delicious Viva Magenta 18-1750 – a beautiful, rich, cheerful tone with a fullness of crimson and depths of indigo. Cautious neutral tones will still be there, but as a canvas for great color; not primary but nuanced pastel shades of yellows, pinks, blues and plenty of greens. Expect to see pops of fresh colors enlivening swathes of wood and stone using paint, tiles and soft furnishings – anything. I’m really looking forward to bringing back a little joy.
The last few years have dwelt on sound shapes, arches, and merged spaces. We’re going to start seeing more definition and clean lines, not in the stark minimalist cubes, but lines of purpose to bring spaces back from the architect to the home. Bold wallpaper borders, footboards and architraves are not only decorative but add pizzazz, underline the architecture, and can bring intimate detail. The curved line isn’t quitting, it’s coming down to earth in panelled walls, opulent sofas, and accessories. Expect to see more wavy stripes. Keep a lookout for waves and curves adding a softness to all types of spaces.
There is a real love emerging of flora and fauna depicted in glorious detail. Colorful, bespoke patterned wallpapers are making a huge return along with hand-printed fabrics, especially those featuring a nod to retro 1930s or 1950s block colors, geometric shapes and fruit or wildlife designs, with plenty of fresh green shades to echo the flow of nature. I was recently sent samples of some fabulous, playful designs with toucans, inspired by Iris Apfel, and shapes that borrowed from the vibrant art of Clarice Cliff. From antique botanical designs to vintage block prints; there are some truly inspirational designs produced during lockdown.
Always close to my heart and set to become a big trend over the next few years is a return to the craftsmanship of skilled artisans. Custom-made, or restored originals; the focus will be on quality work, uniquely designed and beautifully crafted. Leading the skills will be traditional stonemasonry and woodworking using sustainable products to create bespoke, tactile items of beauty. Add some hand-made tiles and maybe a little delicate metalwork to create a distinctive home. There are some incredibly talented women and men out there producing a huge range of custom-made objects. I know many superb, unique, independent craftspeople who kept busy during lockdown creating fresh designs – watch this space!
There’s plenty of scope for antiques in 2023 interiors with the trend towards craftsmanship. Integrating loved pieces into a room is always one of my favorite challenges with interior design. You don’t need an art deco house to display a period cocktail cabinet, but you do need a place to enjoy it with comfortable, connected surroundings; and this doesn’t mean the whole space needs to become a museum, far from it! A cherished piece makes the perfect focal point. Mixing design styles to integrate art or antiques in a room is a trend we’ll see more and more – a collection of antique delft vases next to a modern Gonzalo Lebrija projection, if you love them both.
Biophilia, means an innate affinity for humans with nature. During lockdown many people embraced nature, for want of something to do, and discovered the simple joy it can bring. Even I somehow developed a green thumb and now love my plants! Biophilia has been a growing décor trend in interiors for a few years, and has now risen to the front alongside a desire for sustainable materials. Forget the tricks of smart technology to enhance the mood of a living room – the future is about letting nature calm the soul with plants, waterflows, natural stone and woods. It’s more than a few sticks of bamboo, there will be cocooning real wood panelling, exciting, bold marbles and, of course, plenty of plants, all aimed at bringing the spirit of nature inside the home.
A strong trend this year will be around the clever use of layered lighting: overlapping different lighting to produce an atmosphere that’s right for the room or can be changed to suit the mood. It’s all about combining practical, multifunctional, and beautiful lighting, with the comfort it adds to a space. Good lighting creates spatial flows, enhances natural textures, and links perspectives designed to comfort the user at different times and makes the home feel like a real sanctuary. We will see emphases on threads of lighting running through a building, merging the different spaces with calm continuity so tasks don’t feel confined to regulated spaces. Clever layered lighting is the biggest unnoticed contributor to any interior design, when it’s done properly.
The world is thinking about the Earth and how we use its materials, so expect to find luxurious spaces created from sustainably sourced woods; a sort of art deco refinement highly crafted from bamboo, instead of teak. Comfort and curves will lead the way pulling nature’s themes into spaces with emphasis on calming, natural fabrics highlighted with select focal points of stone. We will be waving goodbye to stark minimalist contemporary chrome and monotone plastics, and welcoming environmentally friendly woods, leathers, and fabrics, with salvaged, recycled and upcycled materials exquisitely repurposed throughout the home. Most manufacturers are investigating ways to increase sustainability; it can be done, and the market demand is growing, so expect more choices over the years ahead. I can’t wait to start including some of these fresh and exciting ideas into my designs in 2023.
