Trends for 2023

So how about the new housing trends in store of 2023?

I love reading about the “color of the year”, the latest trend in homes and yards, and how to update your style without breaking the bank.

Pantone has declared “Viva Magenta” as the color of 2023. It’s a cross between cranberry and pink although Pantone describes it as a “crimson red tone with a balance between warm and cool” – whatever! It’s a fun color and could be brought in with a throw or pillows or if you are adventurous a couch!

In the past few years, we’ve seen the “biophilia” trend explode, and there are no signs that it will be any less popular in 2023. This trend is all about bringing the outside in by adding natural touches throughout your home. Wooden kitchen cabinets and islands will become more common in 2023, with white oak and walnut among the most popular choices. Wood will also appear in bathroom vanities and shelving and furniture throughout the home. 

Spending more time at home has shown us the importance of having the right lighting for specific tasks and times of the day. As a result, many homeowners are reconsidering the ways they light their homes and using light fixtures to change the usability and mood of their spaces. In particular, homeowners are rejecting bright, flat overhead lighting and replacing it with lamps and task-specific options. A layered approach to lighting—such as using a combination of under-cabinet, task, and ambient lighting in a kitchen—enables homeowners to tweak the level of light they’re using based on the time of day and what they are doing.

In 2023, we expect to see more statement chandeliers, pendants, and wall sconces in a variety of shapes and materials. Thinking about switching up the lighting in your home? Start by adding floor or table lamps and swapping out fixtures before you invest in rewiring your space. Take note of what works and what doesn’t and watch how the light in your home changes throughout the day. You can then use that information to make lighting decisions that require a bigger investment. 

Goodbye, sharp corners. In 2023, arches and curves lend a sleek feel that draws on classical design and retro trends while remaining modern. Rounded corners feel more relaxed and natural than sharp edges, lending more of a sense of flow and comfort to a home.

Other styles trending are some throwbacks; like dark wood, mirrored surfaces (walls, ceilings), and gold fixtures. All with a twist to keep it current and new, but mirrored surfaces? I don’t think I can get on board with that one. Neutral colors with that pop of color, think grey house with a bright yellow front door, have always been popular but you’ll see lots of white kitchens with painted upper cabinets – or just a bright piece of stone for the island countertop. Stone and natural finishes are also very “in”.

The “modern farmhouse”, popular for many years now, is being re-named to “luxurious modern farmhouse.” Luxury in general is a trend – must be where the gold fixtures come from. But then nostalgia is also trending. Like re-purposing your grandmother’s furniture or lamp by painting it or adding new pulls to update and modernize a piece. Along with nostalgia is sustainability. Don’t throw away, re-purpose or change it somehow to use it in a new way or with a new look. It’s tough for me to paint a quality piece of wood furniture, but if you don’t like the color of the wood or the old look, then go for it. You can always strip it (ugh) if you change your mind. Which there is absolutely nothing wrong with doing! A changed mind it simply a learned mind  and we should keep learning all our life long – correct?

Private spaces became popular as the pandemic forced everyone to be home more – and then many of us kind of liked the idea of being home more and why not make it nicer? Find those private spaces and make them nicer… and larger, and more colorful and efficient. Private spaces also moved outside to the patio that can second as an office space for zoom calls. Also, an excellent space for entertaining as we brought friends back to our homes.

So, my overall take on the new trends is old is new and new is new. We all like what we like so thank goodness anything goes. Gone are the days of what you must do or not do. Make your space to please yourself and happiness will follow. Now, on to find some viva magenta!