As a designer, it’s part of my job to keep up with the current trends in home décor and design. I read a lot of magazines and stay up to date with new products and what consumers are liking at the moment. I’m not a huge advocate for trends. I believe in taking a more timeless approach to interiors, however sometimes things that are trendy are actually timeless. They’ve just cycled back around and become more popular. Sometimes, things that are considered trendy are just a fun way to add a little something modern and different to your décor. I’m not opposed to doing this, but my philosophy is that you just add in small inexpensive trendy items that can easily be changed out. In other words, keep your expensive items like furniture, appliances, countertops and cabinets traditional and timeless and change out things like pillows, décor and even light fixtures when they begin to look dated.
Here are my choices for the trends in 2023 that you should go for!
Wallpaper.Yes, wallpaper is still very trendy. It will go back out of style, I promise. It’s all part of the cycle of life and pop culture. But for right now and probably the next several years, wallpaper is IN!
Tips for wallpaper use.
Grass cloth is a wallpaper choice that never goes out. It adds a subtle texture that is just enough to create an interesting wall.
Use a paper you absolutely LOVE! It’s expensive and not easy to install. You want to love it for several years. If you tend to change your mind a lot, consider a peel and stick.
Be careful if you have textured walls. It might not work like you anticipate. Test it out before committing to an entire room. Do your research on best practices for your walls and DIY ability level if you decide not to hire an installer.
You can’t really go wrong with a neutral pattern, but bold patterns are more fun! Not quite ready to dive in? Start with a powder room like the ones below.
Considerdecorative painting instead if you’re a DIYer. Paint is very easy to change when you tire of it. And it’s waaaay less expensive.
2. Green everything. Green paint, green furniture, green décor. If you don’t love green, add some live plants.
3. Painted and wallpapered ceilings. The ceiling is the fifth wall, treat it as such. Plus, it makes your ceilings look taller and it’s an unexpected detail. More about this soon on a future post or you can see how I’ve done this before right here.
4. Antique furniture. Do your research and know what you’re looking for. Some things you may find are in bad shape and need to be refinished or painted. Don’t go overboard on the painting though. Most furniture unless otherwise unsalvageable looks better restored to it’s original condition. Know your styles…below, Campaign, Hepplewhite, Chippendale. It’s ok to mix styles. All of these would go in a traditional home just fine. Mixing old and new is the best way to decorate your home. It’s not only a matter of style, it’s sustainability. No harm in reusing solid, good quality items. Why buy new when you can have old, original, character, maybe a story behind it and feel good about not being wasteful at the same time?
5. Patterned and pleated lampshades. You can recover existing lampshades like I did. Learn how here.
6. Natural Materials and fibers. It’s all about mixing it up. My rule is to always incorporate something wood, metal, glass, linen and natural fibers. My favorite way to do this is to add a rattan lampshade or a natural fiber rug.
7. Have some fun with unexpected details or accessories. I like to add items with a story. Perhaps you had a fun or interesting experience during a travel holiday and you have a unique item that you purchased that reminds you of the story. Put it in an area of your home where guests see it. It can become a conversation piece. Maybe you love snails. Start a whimsical collection. My point is, make your home unique. It should never look like anyone else’s. Have fun and do what you like! Individualism is cool. Need some inspiration? Look here.
Remember, don’t take trends too seriously. Everything comes and goes in a cycle. It’s no different than my rule for my closet, “if you save it long enough, it’ll come back in style!”