Every new year brings about a new slate of forecasted interior design trends. But I’ll let you in on a little secret: just because all the usual outlets are writing up the same predictions doesn’t mean that every designer out there agrees with them.
HGTV / Via giphy.com
To get to the bottom of which 2023 design trends designers are actually excited to see and which ones they feel “meh” about, I spoke with several experts to get their individual takes.
The experts were:
• Kiva Brent – Pittsburgh-based interior stylist and content creator
• Cliff Tan – London-based architect and author
• Briellyn Turton – Sydney-based interior designer
Here’s what they thought about the 10 forecasted trends that are popping up just about everywhere.
1.Bold Marble
✅ “Marble with its naturally dramatic veining makes it unpretentiously and effortlessly decorative and rich. Nothing screams old money more than something that’s actually a million years old.”
—Cliff Tan
🤷 “Bold marble is one of my favorite trends. I just love that people are craving ‘wow factors.’ That being said, I’ll never truly get behind bold marble countertops, because the staining is just too stressful.”
—Kiva Brent
2.Stripes
✅ “I’ve been very drawn to stripes in interiors recently! It’s likely to do with the nostalgia element, but it’s also a great way to give your interior space a little more dimension and interest without too much additional effort. Walls aside, we are also seeing stripes coming through furniture, too.”
—Briellyn Turton
✅ “Striped walls help a room feel more spacious, which is always a good thing!”
—Kiva Brent
3.Double Kitchen Islands
❌ “Out! The kitchen has always been the supporting act for the dining room, so unless you have double dining tables, double islands make no sense and never will. Not to mention Gen Z will tell you you’re ‘out of touch.'”
—Cliff Tan
❌ “Unless you have a family of 10, these are unnecessary. Plus, they remind me of lab benches.”
—Kiva Brent
4.“Nostalgic” Design
✅ “This one is coming back big time. In times of unrest, we naturally look into the past for familiar comforts. Nostalgic design is a really exciting style to me as it can’t be boxed into one strict design language, it’s all about an individual’s memories of past spaces. So for me, for example, I’m loving cork floors and striped wallpaper at the moment. Is it a coincidence both these materials were used heavily in my grandmother’s home? I think not.”
—Briellyn Turton
✅ “You can’t dislike ‘nostalgic’ design because it’s sustainable, and sustainability needs to be at the forefront of design. Just don’t forget to infuse some younger elements into the room to keep it current. For example, swap out the oil painting you have in a gilt frame for something contemporary. It’s a subtle but impactful substitution.”
—Kiva Brent
5.Enclosed Kitchens
✅ “People who actually cook know that a kitchen will never look as pretty as how glossy magazines make them out to be. A kitchen that’s separate from the living area where you can guiltlessly mess up and do some dirty cooking will definitely save relationships.”
—Cliff Tan
🤷 “I’m on the fence with this one. We’re already seeing this as people navigate work-from-home life and want to be able to separate work and home zones in their homes. I’ll always design homes with the idea that whoever does the cooking can do so without being boxed away and missing out on family life. If the client or brief calls for it, I’ll design an enclosed kitchen…but I think my default will remain an open kitchen.”
—Briellyn Turton
6.Gold Accents
✅ “Yes! This leans into one of the biggest trends to come in 2023 which has been dubbed ‘limitless luxe.’ This is the concept of ‘no limit to luxury,’ and a great example of this is the focus we are seeing now on beautiful laundry and powder room spaces. Searches on Pinterest for luxury laundry room ideas are actually up elevenfold in volume for the year.”
—Briellyn Turton
7.Dark Wood
✅ “Part of the reason ‘Sad Beige’ is sad is because of its lack of edge and contrast. Dark woods add sharp definition in a natural yet rich way — as long as you stick to woods that are naturally dark, such as walnut, as opposed to light woods that are stained dark.”
—Cliff Tan
✅ “I don’t think it has to be in lieu of light wood, but again, I think people are becoming more risk-taking in their interiors and so we are seeing darker and bolder materials being embraced more than before. Dark timber also feels very luxurious in the right setting which we know is a feeling our clients are wanting to evoke in their homes. I also think cottage core interiors could have had a helping hand in this one.”
—Briellyn Turton
8.The Return of All-White Kitchens
❌ “This one is to be expected. The ‘end’ of all-white kitchens will be a trend two years from now. It’s a vicious cycle.”
—Kiva Brent
✅ “White kitchens are no longer about minimalism, but about creating a clear and neutral backdrop for dramatic pieces that do add character. That said, white comes in a million shades, so make sure you choose the right kind of white to add warmth to the kitchen.”
—Cliff Tan
9.Art Deco Elements
✅ “Absolutely! I’ve heard it is affectionately named the ‘Art Deco Encore.’ I think it’s no surprise that the 2023 Pantone color of the year leans very nicely into the Art Deco palette. ‘Viva Magenta’ is a deep jewel-toned hue.”
—Briellyn Turton
✅ “This is probably one of the most difficult design styles to execute, besides maximalism, but I’m here for it. Art Deco design has so much personality!”
—Kiva Brent
10.“Floor Art” (aka Statement Rugs)
✅ “In. People are nervous to commit when it comes to interior design, and so everything becomes bland with block shades of neutral plainness. Rugs offer a convenient and noncommittal way to add pattern and personality into a room.”
—Cliff Tan
✅ “Yes, this will be a big focus in interior decorating for 2023, particularly oddly or misshapen rugs favoring asymmetry. This again leans into our desire for highly-personalized and unique interiors and, of course, maximalism.”
—Briellyn Turton
For more interior design ideas and trends, follow these design experts at the links below:
• Kiva Brent – YouTube + Instagram
• Cliff Tan – YouTube, Instagram, TikTok + Website
• Briellyn Turton – TikTok + Instagram
