Interior Trends forecast for 2023
The key interior design trends of each year often hint at much deeper things than just buying habits. They represent what people want from their homes, what sort of comforts are being sought by the masses and what we might expect in the following months. As passionate purveyors of contemporary, industrial and eclectic furniture, the team at Where Saints Go have been keeping a close eye on what’s been proving popular, allowing us to anticipate the interior design trends of 2023.
However, before we fast-forward to the future, let us first consider what furniture and design trends we’ve seen in 2022.
The top interior trends of 2022
While 2021 was the year of renovations and home improvements, 2022 has been the year of perfecting and personalising, with the following trends making their mark.
Mid Century Modern
From Hans Wegner’s Wishbone chair through to the teak tones of Jeanneret’s angles, Mid Century Modern has made its mark on both private and commercial projects far and wide. An American architectural movement of the post-war period, we’ve seen this iconic interior trend crop up everywhere this year, from Olivia Wilde’s eerie ode to 1950s palm springs in Don’t Worry Darling through to the continued success of the trifle-sponge seating in sketch London’s iconic Gallery.
So it ultimately comes as no surprise that among our bestselling products this year we’ve got the Wishbone Collection, Butterfly Chair and Adagio Dining Chair.
Cottagecore
After being effectively locked inside for months, it was no suprise that early 2022 saw us pining for country cottage gardens and crisp, fresh linens. Cue cottagecore. An internet aesthetic made popular by young adults and teens, cottagecore celebrates an idealised rural lifestyle - think glorious gardens spilling over with beautiful blooms and hand-embroidered cushions propped up on a window seat. Maybe it was all the baking we did during lockdown or maybe it was Bridgerton. Either way, this trend was as wholesome as it gets.
Green
If the interiors of 2022 could be summed up in one colour, it would be green. In all shades, green has been the colour of choice throughout the last 12 months, hinting at a desire for creativity, energy and refreshment. Popular items have been green velvet sofas, deep green leather items and turquoise bathroom tiles. In short, 2022 has been our Slytherin era.
Industrial-Luxe
Does the stylish city loft look ever go out of style? The key components of industrial interior design such as weathered leather and metal have remained popular throughout 2022, as our incredibly popular Brooklyn range has demonstrated by being one of our bestsellers this year.
The interior trends of 2022 that are here to stay
As we transition into 2022, we expect the industrial-luxe trend to stick around, but perhaps with a futuristic twist. Think bold neon lights alongside reclaimed, hardworking accent pieces and lush, leafy houseplants paired with heavy metals.
Similarly, bouclé upholstery continues to gain popularity and we anticipate that it will be a serious staple well into 2023. Originally drawing attention in 1948, bouclé was the upholstery of choice for Eero Saarinen’s Womb Chair. Made upon Florence Knoll's request for "a chair that was like a basket full of pillows - something she could really curl up in,” the combination of comfort in both shape and material is something we all desire right now, especially when the outside world seems so tumultuous. The fabric then went on to become a style staple for Chanel, causing other fashion houses to follow suit. Relatively durable and striking a beautiful balance between heavy and soft, bouclé was the deliberate choice for our Lorenzo Accent Chair thanks to the comfort it provides and the visual texture it adds.
Another key trend that we envision will continue to reign supreme is the ‘social media styled space. Known for being a great backdrop for content creation, these interiors feature bold typography, statement pieces and eclectic urban finds.
What new interior trends can we expect for 2023?
Reinvented heritage
The updated answer to cottagecore, reinvented heritage is all about classic style and statement fabrics with a contemporary twist. Picture traditional tartan alongside a reclaimed dresser painted in vivid pink. Straight out of a Farrow & Ball spread, this trend has a quintessentially British and European character about it and is delightfully versatile. Also known as Modern Renaissance, this interior trend is perfect for our naturalist drawing prints, flock velvet candelabra and our brand-new coloured wishbone chairs.
Statement background walls
Keen steamers beware, wallpaper is back. An effortless way to add eclectic character to your abode, we think wallpaper is about to become a big trend for 2023, with just about every style, shape and shade available from our Mind the Gap wallpaper collection.
One of our favourites is the Incantation design, which merges folklore and fantasy in beautiful, rich colours. Alive with eclectic abandon, Incantation is perfect for adding instant personality and intrigue.
Warming colours
We believe that Dulux announcing their honey-hued colour of the year is just the tip of the iceberg, and that 2023 is going to see an increase in soft, comforting shades such as brown, beige and sunlit yellow. Whether that might lead to an all-out seventies scenario of shag carpet and sunken conversation pits, we are yet to find out…
- Please introduce yourself. What is your background in the industry?
My name is Tracey Hague and I’m one half of the duo that founded Where Saints Go, a luxury furniture retailer specialising in industrial and vintage pieces. I’ve always enjoyed seeing spaces come together through key accents and have a particular love for eclectic interiors. Over the course of the Where Saints Go journey we have been lucky enough to branch out into other design spaces such as Mid-Century Modern and Scandinavian.
- What have been the top trends for 2022?
2022 has been a huge year for Mid-Century Modern. We’ve seen a real revival of Hans Wegner and Jeanneret styles which is why our Wishbone and Adagio Collections have been incredibly popular. I think what we can take from these trends is that people are now really investing in their interior pieces, choosing to opt for iconic, timeless and versatile pieces that they can mix and blend with different styles. It’s about longevity in both look and function.
- What have been your best-selling products this year?
As I mentioned above, the Wishbone and Adagio collections have been bestsellers, along with our industrial-luxe Brooklyn range, which combines beautifully soft buffalo leather with sleek metal. It’s almost a cross between the vintage American diner and the subtle brutalism of industrial chic.
4. What trends from 2022 will continue in 2023?
There’s been a surge in bouclé fabric furniture recently, and I definitely think this will carry through into 2023. It’s interesting really, because bouclé was made popular by Florence Knoll when she requested a chair that was like a “basket full of pillows,” something that she could “really curl up in” and I think that’s what people want now more than ever - the outside world is chaotic and uncertain, so people are creating spaces of comfort.
5. What new trends do you expect to see in 2023?
I think we’re going to see reinvented forms of trends that have already been around. I predict that statement wallpaper is going to make a comeback, because it’s just such an easy way to add depth, colour and texture to spaces of all sizes. One trend I’m really loving is the Modern Renaissance theme, because it allows you to play with classical accents and bring together different eras of design. Some great examples of this style are our coloured Wishbone Chairs and flock velvet David Bust.
I’m also intrigued to see what the emerging generation will bring to the table, because we’re seeing lots of Y2K references across social media and throughout fashion - will it be the year the lava lamp returns?