2023 Recap: Biggest Interior Trends of the Year
DESIGN
STORY BY VIRGINIA BESHEARS
As we kick off the new year, it's the perfect time to reflect on what made waves amongst interior design lovers over the course of 2023. Whether you're an avid designer or just curious about what's been brewing in the realm of home aesthetics, join us for a stroll down memory lane.
Trending, but not trendy
First off, we need to look at something super interesting that the overwhelming majority of 2023’s big trends had in common: ideas and styles trended while not necessarily being trendy.
We saw vastly fewer niche or specific trends that will eventually look dated, and more of broad ideas and strategies being discussed. Even the more specific aesthetics that have been trending, like coastal grandmother, tend to be very eclectic and versatile by nature.
Basically—micro-trends are out, and timeless design is in.
VIA STUDIO PLUMB
Designing for wellness
Did you know that one of the major contributing factors to the rise of modernism was the 1918 Spanish Flu? The epidemic prompted a new, widespread obsession with health and hygiene, and the ornate furniture and luxurious drapery of the Victorian era fell rapidly out of favor to sleeker surfaces that could be easily sanitized and wouldn’t collect as much dust.
When we all started spending more time in our homes back in 2020, conversations about interior design shifted to focus on how we can design spaces that prioritize our wellbeing. And, while the internet has certainly made the trend cycle much shorter than it was in 1918, this emphasis on mental wellbeing in our homes is still going strong.
Biophilic design was one way this idea manifested in 2023 (and carrying over into 2024). Research has shown again and again that exposure to nature has direct effects on our mental and physical wellbeing (like lowering blood pressure!), so designers have been focusing on bringing the outdoors in with things like color palettes, nature motifs, natural materials, plants, and natural light.
Comfort & coziness
Creating a light and airy space is just one approach to designing for wellness. A focus on comfort, like turning your home into a cozy, safe cocoon, is another manifestation of the idea of designing for mental wellbeing. “Moody” spaces are one example of this. The pillars of moody design are dark colors (especially on the walls) and rich texture, which can be used in tandem with a number of personal styles.
Granny chic, grandmillennial, and coastal grandmother are three more examples of cozy design that were big in 2023. While a big cushy armchair and warm quilt are certainly literally the definition of cozy, the sweet, retro, comforting vibes of these aesthetics also feels like it’s giving our brains a hug.
Flexible spaces
We’re also seeing people spending time trying to figure out how to get the most out of their homes, particularly by creating multi-function rooms. Although garages, home offices, and guest rooms are definitely the most popular rooms to revamp, the amazing part of this trend is that no two flex spaces are the same.
For example, while one person might need a guest room + home office, someone else could get the most out of a craft room + home gym. It’s endlessly fun to see all the brilliant strategies being used to create these multi-function rooms.
Maximalism revamped
Lastly, “new maximalism” emerged as one of the biggest interior design trends of 2023. We’ve seen a number of terms for this style, including “millennial maximalism,” “new maximalism,” “layerism,” and “fresh maximalism.” It’s clearly distinct from maximalism, but it’s hard to pin down, because the crux of the style is a rich and personalized expression of individual style.
These spaces looked lived in, and like the pieces were collected over time from many sources. It’s also more reined in than past iterations of maximalism, with the current focus being more on creating spaces that are playful, personal, and creative.
We can’t wait to see what 2024 has in store for interior design!
