The Trends That Will Rule Home Design in 2023, According to People Who Know
No more marble. Vaguely terrifying AI-driven design. The death of the open plan (really this time). And an all-around moodiness. We got a surprising forecast from some industry experts.
No more marble. Vaguely terrifying AI-driven design. The death of the open plan (really this time). And an all-around moodiness. We got a surprising forecast from some industry experts.
For 2022, the collective refrain in the design world seems to be that the biggest trends reflected a sense of optimism and exuberance. To wit, the year was filled with bold colors, richly textured material palettes, organic forms, and nods to the ’80s. There was also a greater attempt to promote sustainability, whether by landscaping with drought-tolerant native plants or designing homes that relied on fewer fossil fuels.
Bold use of color, organic forms, and Postmodern influences were all major players in 2022. In Mo-Tel, a residential project from Studio S&M, for example, the curved blue kitchen larder has a projecting "nose" that illuminates the worktop and a mirrored eye that "winks" each time the door is opened.
Photo by French+Tye
There were, however, certain moves that we might be better off leaving behind. Creatives cited materials or architectural features that are worth celebrating in the right context, but have been overused in recent times. Think marble-clad rooms, beige hues, or curvaceous spiral stairs.
Marble is a beautiful natural material—but one of our industry experts thought it received too much attention in 2022. When sumptuous marble is paired with timber joinery, like in this dramatic kitchen, however, it creates a dark, moody interior, which some think will be a theme for 2023.
Photo by Sharyn Cairns
Others pointed to more systemic issues within the industry that they would like to see resolved, from a rise in knock-off furniture and greenwashing, to the way social media creates viral trends that lead to oversaturation of certain ideas.
According to the seven industry experts we spoke with, 2023 will be less about checking boxes and more about doing what’s best for the world—and ourselves. We’re excited to see creative reuse and high-performance homes at the top of the list, as well as a passion for dramatic, moody interiors and bold personal expression as a response to homogeneous minimalism.
Michael Fohring—Odami
Loved It: Stainless Steel
"The use of stainless steel as an interior finish has been on the rise for a few years now and has really peaked," says Michael Fohring, cofounder of Toronto-based architecture firm Odami. "It used to be pretty limited to retail and commercial spaces, but this past year we also started to see it used in residential interiors, which is really unusual and really refreshing—it’s a bit unexpected and super utilitarian, making the home feel much less precious. Unfortunately we haven’t managed to use it in a project, but we haven’t given up hope."
Stainless steel—such as this mesh ceiling—gives residential interiors a utilitarian edge, says Michael Fohring of Odami. It’s a material choice he hopes to use in one of the studio’s own projects soon.
Photo: Joe Fletcher
See the full story on Dwell.com: The Trends That Will Rule Home Design in 2023
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