While your home should reflect your personal style, it may also reflect the current trends. However, according to interior designer and star of HGTV’s Unfinished Business, Shay Holland, trends shouldn’t be the dominating influence over your home’s aesthetic. “Trends are a great way to glean inspiration and information; not to dictate your home’s design,” she tells me.
Furthermore, choosing the latest trends can be a bad move in the long run. “Trend forecasting is largely geared to motivate people to buy more stuff and I’m very sensitive to the fact that many families are facing tough times in this challenging economy,” the designer explains. “I encourage people to play with trends if they want to, but resist feeling like they have to go out and buy a million things to stay in style.”
Whether you are renovating your current home or simply refreshing a room, it’s best to have a space that won’t already look dated by the time it’s finished. Here are nine interior design trends going away in 2023.
Design Contrary To Location
A downtown Los Angeles loft isn’t an English cottage no matter how many Liberty Of London prints you can stuff into one space. “Modern Farmhouse in Manhattan? Coastal Grandma in Anchorage? You get the picture. I think we’re finally over copying design that has no relation to where we live,” says Holland.
Modern famhouse only makes sense if you live on a farm
Holland recently moved into a chic tiny house in Los Angeles after years of living in the Pacific Northwest mountains. “I found that the county club grandpa aesthetic I brought with me no longer felt natural in the sunny new environment. I still love worn-in leather, rustic hardware, and anything Jake Arnold—just not all at once in my tiny beach home.”
More Isn’t More—Maximalism Is Out
Maximalism has maxed out its moment and people are finally starting to realize that less can be more. After all, the fewer objects there are in a room, the less there is to maintain.
Maximalism can be dizzying
“Who has time to vacuum layered rugs or arrange multiple comforters just to make the bed?” says Holland. “Most people want to simplify life—not in a severe minimalistic approach but in ways that bring ease to the simple, daily rituals—like being able to sit on the sofa without first having to remove half a dozen throw pillows.”
Bid Adieu To Minimalism
“The untextured, minimalist look is definitely on the decline as people are drawn to spaces with more depth and dimension. We are seeing more texture in hard finishes such as stone and tile as people are craving more color and energy,” says Audrey Scheck of Audrey Scheck Design.
Less is less
“This explains why wallpaper is so prevalent right now—it’s an easy way to bring interest into your space without having to bring in large artwork.”
Open Concept Living Is Officially Closed
After years of the open concept being incredibly popular, people are wanting more privacy.“The pandemic really changed how people utilize their homes, and there is now a strong desire for more privacy and quiet time,” says Scheck.
This isn’t ideal for privacy
“While open plan living provides ample space, the communal space is often being shared by multiple family members for different reasons simultaneously. Next year, we expect to see even more intentional spaces mapped out for specific needs in each home.”
Only Using Lighter Wood Tones
Lighter-colored wood has been incredibly popular in recent years, but Scheck sees more dark and mixed tones falling back into favor in 2023.
It’s time to get dark in 2023
“We love mixing wood tones in our design plans, and we are noticing more and more clients leaning into deeper wood variations than ever before. Mixing wood tones may seem intimidating, but it’s actually one of the easiest ways to create a space that feels intentional and collected. Only using one wood tone throughout your home can make the space feel more sterile and less inviting.”
Rattan Everything
From sofas to chairs and even beds, rattan has had a major resurrection in recent years. But the popularity of this material may have finally reached its peak.
Too much rattan
“Rattan has become too ubiquitous,” says interior designer says Nicole Salceda of Eye For Pretty. “While I love to combine it with other contrasting elements, it’s now in every product category and too much of it ends up in the same space. Going forward, it will become more of an accent and less of a focal point.”
White And Gray Monochromatic Color Schemes
Monochromatic neutral color schemes such as white and grey have been in style for a long time, but Scheck believes this era has come to an end. “The trend of utilizing white or gray as a way to make a space feel airy and open is shifting as more designers are incorporating creamier neutrals into spaces,” she explains. “Layers and textures are being used to warm spaces up and make them feel more inviting as people are gravitating away from whites.”
More color please
This especially applies to white kitchens. Many designers believe it’s time to integrate more color into these spaces. “I get the sense that many homeowners are tired of all-white kitchens and will either use color when renovating or make small updates to existing kitchens with colorful backsplashes,” says Tara McCauley, designer and an Ambassador of The New York Design Center’s What’s New, What’s Next.
This also applies to white ceilings. Truly a design opportunity, ceilings are often a neglected element of a space. “White ceilings will go away in 2023. Unless your walls are also white, white ceilings, especially in dark or colorful rooms, feels lazy and like it was forgotten about. Your eye is drawn to white so if the room is colorful or dark, your eye will immediately move to the ceiling. Instead, you will see a lot more rooms fully enveloped in color, including the ceilings, says Sarah Stacey of Sarah Stacey Interior Design.
Fast Furniture Is On Its Way Out
While it’s a great way to save money, fast furniture doesn’t last and creates unnecessary waste, negatively impacting the environment. Because sustainability has become a priority for many, people are gravitating away from cheap furniture in favor of vintage or used pieces.
Fast furniture is fast becoming over
“I feel as though this has been fading out for a while now, but the fast furniture days are gone. People are getting more in tune with the pieces they are bringing into their homes, whether it’s vintage or has meaning from sourcing,” says Tatiana Seikaly of Studio Seikaly.
Arched And Curved Furniture
From sofas to chairs, we’ve been seeing curved and arched furniture for the past few years, but this often impractical look is something we will end up seeing less of in 2023, according to Chelsea Marks, founder of online furniture boutique Paynes Gray.
An uncomfortable place to sit
“It’s been trendy for a while now, especially the curved sofa but it is indeed a trend and not here to stay. Unless you’re designing a corporate lobby or commercial space—major furniture curves just don’t fit in traditional home spaces. A rounded swivel chair or bar stool sure—but don’t put down $3000 on that curved sofa.”