Interior design trends 2023: The year of colour & personality

Article summary

• 2023 will see creativity expressed in more vibrant and attention-grabbing ways.
• Neutral colours are on the way out, and more colourful interiors are expected as homeowners look to create more stimulating inner spaces.
• A new design, “organic brutalism” is emerging, which combines elements of the old and new.

Interior design has always been about creativity; providing homeowners with the chance to forge the new space in their own image.

But 2023 is going to see that creativity expressed in more vibrant and attention-grabbing ways.

Neutral colours have, for a long time, been the standard approach. But brighter colours and colourful wallpapers are starting to make an appearance. Quirky decorations have also become more prominent.

Why this change? Perhaps because people are spending more time at home and want more stimulating interiors. Perhaps because there’s a more cheerful attitude now that the world seems to be over the pandemic lockdown period.

Either way, expect this new approach to manifest in the design trends listed below.

Warm colours

Rosy colours that remind homeowners of the sunset are becoming popular, leading to warm and rejuvenating interiors. Yellow is a prevalent colour in modern design for the same reason.

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The return of “brutalism”

Brutalism may sound like something antithetical to the nature of design, which should focus on elegance and subtlety.

And brutalism lives up to the name, being a style that emphasises austerity and rawness. It originated in the post-World War II world with the design of low-cost housing.

So why would it emerge in modern design? Well, it’s emerged in a new form: Organic brutalism. This combines the monolithic shapes of brutalism with organic material. It would be better to think of this design as “bold” rather than brutal.

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Striped design

This is becoming especially popular in bathroom design. Striped designs are being utilised in both tile and wall designs. They grant a personality to the room that didn’t come through as strong with neutral colours.

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Wellness rooms

With the increased time spent at home, a lot of homeowners are looking to create psychedelic designs that allow for spiritual escape. These rooms can be set aside for meditation, yoga and other such wellness-boosting activities.

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Sustainability

This has been a priority for a while now and will remain so in 2023 as homeowners make careful choices regarding materials, opting for those that will last longer rather than what’s cheapest at the time.

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Specialised dining rooms

Open-plan kitchens have been the feature of choice for years, but we’re seeing a return of specialised dining rooms. This is probably a result of the desire for larger and more spacious homes to accommodate the work-from-home lifestyle.

Not just any dining rooms though. Home designers are now using the dining room as an outlet for creative and vibrant expression.

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Vintage furnishings

Materials that look aged are becoming more prevalent in homes. It’s probably an element of the sustainable approach, as homeowners prioritise materials that will last rather than end up in a landfill after a few years.

This extends to mirrors as well as furniture, with faux-aged mirror walls being a popular design element.

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Creative lighting

This trend emerged in 2022 and will continue to be prevalent in 2023, as homeowners realise the role lighting can play in setting the mood for an interior space. Interesting forms of lighting as well as quirky designs for the lights themselves will be present.

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Colourful kitchens

All-white kitchens are over, according to Forbes. People are tired of blank white walls and are incorporating colour into kitchen design. There’s no specific colour that can be seen as replacing white, as kitchens in 2023 are expected to feature at least two or three colours.

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In summation

It’s clear that 2023 will provide an invaluable opportunity for homeowners to really unleash their design impulses, and create spaces brimming with personality.

So if all this has inspired you to purchase your own home, bear in mind that a home loan comparison service such as ooba Home Loans can help you secure the best deal and lowest interest rates by submitting your application to multiple banks (including your own).

We also offer a range of tools that can make the home-buying process easier.  Start with our Bond Calculator, then use our Bond Indicator to determine what you can afford. Finally, when you’re ready, you can apply for a home loan.