Credit: Sophie Dries & Photographer Stephan Julliard
2023 Interior Design Trends
I’ve always believed that creative people were put on this earth to bring more beauty into it. To use their natural talents to create. Create and not hold back. Create and keep going. Create for a better world. No matter what creative industry they are in or what their talent is, they have the ability to add beauty into this world, and that is a magnificent thing!
So how does the design world feel in 2023? A quick temperature check would reveal that, in the face of a looming recession and soaring interest rates, designing with intention, purpose, and conscience has become ever more important. What fascinates me the most though is how these principles trickle down into our homes. The evolution of Biophilic Design and Neoclassical Design would indicate a desire to feel more grounded yet fluid enough to blend the classics with modern sensibilities. Natural material and vintage furniture are becoming ever more desirable, and creating spaces that lend to a person’s lifestyle continues to lead the conversation.
So without further ado, here are 10 interior design trends for 2023!
Source: Pinterest
Neoclassical Design
A design aesthetic that takes its inspiration from classical architecture and visual and decorative arts, Neoclassical design is the adaptation of traditional design approaches into today’s more modern lifestyle. Herringbone floors, plaster mouldings, and gilded mirrors are all classical design ideas that have seen a resurgence thanks to the rise in popularity of Neoclassical design. Sustainability and a movement away from mass produced furniture has also played a part in the increased demand for antique and vintage furniture. With its ability to add character to a room, and in some cases a good story too, Neoclassical design is definitely the interior design aesthetic hogging the spotlight in 2023!
Credit: Bule By Belenko
Biophillic Design and Organic Forms
Biophilic design and organic forms continue to have a huge influence on the interior design industry in 2023. More and more, organic elements are making their way into our homes and can be witnessed in the movement towards the use of natural material like wood, glass, marble and pottery. The use of plaster also goes beyond crown mouldings with the rise in popularity of plaster light fixtures and range hoods. A need for natural light has people opting for big windows and Crittall doors that let the outside world in. Said to enhance a person’s creativity and general well-being, organic forms and Biophilic design promote the notion of a balanced and environmentally conscious lifestyle through design.
Credit: Pion Studio
Vintage Decor
One interior design trend that is super easy to stand behind is using vintage pieces to give a room more character. Not only can it add a unique element to any room but the thrill of the hunt can also yield a good story. More and more, the demand for vintage furniture and heritage decor is increasing and today, nice vintage decor has become easier to find thanks to showrooms, instagram resellers, and vintage auction websites popping up online. Facebook marketplace is also a great source for finding vintage decor as well as your local flea markets if you have the time and energy. With mid century modern pieces working well in contemporary or modern spaces, and ornate chandeliers, sconces and mirrors playing perfectly into neoclassical design, this trend not only promotes sustainability but allows you to create a personalized and cool space no matter what your budget.
Credit: Vincent Leroux & Lisa Sicignano
Warm Woods and Earth Tones
What once went out of style now seems to be making a come back thanks to Bioliphic design. Warm wood and earth tones have become more popularly used in kitchen design this past year as homeowners and designers alike crave the grounding and balancing effect it can have. Natural wood cabinets in rich, warm walnut, chestnut, and mahogany hues are gaining traction unlike previous cabinet trends of maple and oak. Favouring darker profile, natural wood cabinetry can act as a grounding counterbalance to both light/white and saturated colour palettes. Additionally, natural wood finishes that play up grain lines can do wonders when trying to create a warm, rustic atmosphere and look great when paired with tiled floor or stone countertops. Warm earthy tones likes terracotta, dusty rose, mauve, and sage also continue to be popular paint colours and are a great way to add warmth to a room.
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Source: Pinterest
Textured Artwork
I know everyone hates Instagram’s new algorithm but sometimes it does do me right, because at least once a day I see a new piece of textured artwork on my feed. From professional artist to weekend DIY-ers, everyone seems to be incorporating textured artwork into their homes. Often made using natural materials like plaster and fabric, textured artwork provides a modern play on organic forms and silhouettes. Often done in a monochromatic palette, they are an easy way to add dimension to an otherwise boring wall and a focal point to a room. If you are into Scandinavian design or modern/contemporary interiors, this trend is definitely going to strike a cord with you!
Source: Pinterest
Statement Lighting
If it’s a little drama you’re after, a simple lighting update may just be all you need! No longer just functional, unique and interesting lighting is a major theme this year with many designers favouring clusters of plaster lighting. Other natural materials like rattan, cane, wicker and rope will also continue to remain popular in the year to come as well as the practice of layering your lighting. From vintage Murano glass antique chandeliers to modern over-scaled LED chandeliers that span horizontally, new and old styles of lighting are welcome in 2023. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, a simple lighting update can have the ability to breath new life into a space without having to redo it entirely (not to mention it’s a lot cheaper too!) If you are looking for an easy way to update a space, sourcing a new chandelier for your dining room might just be all you need.
Credit: George Possenti
Mosaic Flooring
A luxury choice when it comes to flooring, mosaic flooring patterns often seen in classical architecture like Herringbone, Chevron and Versailles Parquet have begun to see a renaissance. A style that practically went extinct, mosaic flooring is becoming requested by designers and luxury home owners once more as Neoclassical design continues to gain momentum. A great way to add an air of sophistication to any room, installing mosaic flooring does come with quite a hefty price tag and isn’t for the faint of heart. I recently had Herringbone floors installed on the main floor of my house and straight plank floors installed upstairs, and they were three times the price and time to install. The heart wants the heart wants though and clearly the design world is putting their money where their heart is by bringing back this flooring trend.
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Metal Side Table by Mc Mullin and Co
Metal Accents
From side tables to coffee tables (and even radiators in my case), metal accents are gaining traction when it comes to interior decor and small decor pieces. A fun way to add a unique and unexpected detail to a room, metal accents add visual interest and another layer of texture to a room’s aesthetic. Designers are also playing with and mixing metals. No longer always opting for unlaquered brass, more and more designers are gravitating back towards silver, nickel and even iron. The best thing about this trend though is that you don’t have to go crazy and commit large sums of money to partake in it. Focus on incorporating only a few, small, key metal accents and you’ll be nailing this trend in no time!
Credit: Vincent Leroux & Lisa Sicignano
Playful Tiling
When it comes to tile trends in 2023, creatives are using playful tiling more than ever to add personality to a room. Checkered, mosaics patterns, and kit kat tiles are just some of this year’s most popular styles and patterns. They can often be found in smaller spaces like bathrooms and laundry rooms to help add an element of interest to an otherwise often overlooked/secondary space. I love diamond shaped checkered floors and have decided to do the majority of my master bathroom in a checkered pattern. I also have plans to incorporate Victorian mosaic tiles in my front entrance and main floor powder room in the spring as I kick off a partnership with french tile manufacture Winckelman Tiles. If you are unfamiliar with them, they are have been manufacturing porcelain mosaic tiles for over 120 years. You have probably unknowingly seen a lot of their styles in restaurants and hotels around the globe as they are an internationally recognized brand. Their distributor in Toronto is Deco - Tile and a few weeks ago I went into their showroom to place my order! The tiles do come in sheeted format (boarders included) for easy installation, and I will definitely be sharing more on this exciting partnership in the next episode of my home renovation series on YouTube, so stay tuned for that!
Credit: Kemp Studios
Interior Archways
Making a comeback in 2023, interior archways are a great way to add a focal point to a room or draw your eye upward towards the ceiling. From bar areas to closet and hallways, more and more people are favouring archways over rectangular door silhouette thanks to their ability to elevate a space with minimal effort. Even I am jumping on this trend’s band wagon having incorporated one into my newly renovated Romanesque Victorian home. Where before there was no internal archways, I wanted to bring that design feature inside considering we have one at the front entrance. What I ended up doing was using it as the entrance way into my small walk up bar/wine display and I think it helps create an interesting design feature on the main floor.
Despite the fact that this blog post is all about interior design trends for 2023, remember it’s always best to design your space based on how you interact with it, and what works best for you! Thank you for joining me today and taking interest in this 2023 interior design trend report! If you have any questions or comments about Neoclassical design, Biophillic design, herringbone floors, textured wall art, architectural mouldings, plaster lighting, places to find antique chandeliers or checkered tile, feel free to leave them in the comment section below!
Until next time,
-S