4 Style Trends That Will Shape Our Homes in 2023, According to Design Professors
With 2023 just a few calendar flips away, we’re excited to see which trends will inspire our home decor. And as much as we wish we could check a crystal ball for next year’s styles, interior design doesn’t work like that.
In lieu of gaining psychic powers, we asked three New York School of Interior Design professors to share their predictions for 2023’s most influential home trends. When they’re not educating the next generation of interior designers, these experts are working with clients to create joyful, inspiring spaces. So they have an incredible sense of the colors, fabrics, and aesthetics that are in vogue today and tomorrow.
NYSID is the home for trendsetters. Whether you pursue a new degree or a single class (online or in-person), you’ll learn how to make design that people talk about. So, ready to peer into the future? Here are four trends the NYSID faculty members expect to see everywhere in 2023 — plus tips for applying them to your home.
1. Colorful Statement Walls
Pamela Durante, who has been teaching at NYSID for over 10 years, expects to see a lot of statement walls in 2023. “These elements bring interest and surprise, and can warm the heart and bring comfort and peace,” Pamela says. “Beauty and warmth in a home changes lives.”
The easiest way to get started? Choose one wall and paint a mural on it! Paint is a quick and rental-friendly way to add instant wow factor to a space. “And if you are not ready for something stronger and want a more relaxed space, use a monochromatic scheme,” Pamela says. Whatever design you choose, Pamela suggests finding fabrics that use the same colors as the mural and incorporating them in the rest of your room. “Reiterate the strongest color in the mural, carry that through.”
2. Art Deco Everything
The 2000s are back in style (even if we’re opposed to low-rise jeans), so be ready to feel their influence on interior design, too. “In fashion right now there are lots of references to the early aughts and Y2K style, which was all about layers upon layers, maximalism, and endless metallics,” says Amy Everard, who teaches at NYSID between recording episodes of her podcast, Soft Landing. “This will show up in our homes by 2023.”
Design aesthetics in the early 2000s were heavily influenced by Art Deco, so expect to see bold patterned fabrics, rounded shapes and profiles (think round kitchen islands), and “lavishly unnecessary” nostalgic trinkets. Amy suggests swapping materials like the wood and ceramics we’ve been seeing lately for black marble and polished nickel. “Even in small ways, like on a serving tray or a vase,” she says. “These richer materials look more striking. Plus, glamour is good for the soul!”
3. Pieces with Personality
“Affordable, online shopping for the home during the pandemic allowed us to experiment. But I think we are hungry for new, more unique styling,” says Daniel Harper, a long-time design educator who is now Associate Dean at NYSID. “Rather than settling for what you can find online for the cheap, take the opportunity to seek out pieces that really speak to you. Let your interior reflect the real you.”
If investing in statement furniture feels stressful, help yourself by ditching the idea that you’re either going to get it right or wrong. Instead, purchase pieces that make you happy (yes, you!) even if they’re not conventionally trendy. Think phones shaped like food; pillows with thick, nubby yarns; and playful art and decor that invite conversation. If you choose items that bring you joy, how can you go wrong?
4. Plush, Luxe Textiles
Every expert we spoke to agrees: 2023 is going to be all about upscale comfort. Expect to see more overstuffed sofas and armchairs; thick, plush area rugs; and ultra cozy bedding and bath accessories.
Daniel is starting to see clients embrace luxury textiles like velvet — once reserved for statement pieces — in entire furniture suites. “I’m looking for materials that catch my attention visually but that also appeal to my sense of touch. There is nothing like running your hand across velvet,” he says.
Amy’s best advice for those looking to add a little luxury to their space? “Opulence doesn’t have to mean expensive!” Choose fabrics in jewel tones for an upscale look, experiment with high contrast colors in your fabrics and throws, and pick affordable pieces with unique details, like a headboard with channel tufting.
Want to learn how to predict and influence trends like the pros? NYSID will equip you with a strong understanding of design theory and technical experience you can use in the real world. “Students leave the school confident and well-qualified for any path,” Pamela says.