2023 Interior Design Trends: Connecting to simplicity and ease
When the world is complex, overwhelming, confusing, and frustrating at times, it’s only understandable when we start to feel nostalgic for the past when things seemed simpler and easier compared to today. We have all longed for simple things at one point in time in our lives. Simplicity exudes a sense of calm, relaxation, ease, comfort, and safety that we all relate to on a deep soul level. Through simple living, we become more focused, patient, perceptive, creative, resilient, and self-aware. I believe our connection to simplicity is so strong whether we are aware of it or not that we gravitate towards it on a subconscious level.
Below is my take on 6 interior design trends for 2023 that are all about embracing our connection to simplicity and ease.
Miss Alice Designs
1. Natural Stone with Flair
We’ll see natural stone, specifically marble that has unique or bold veins and even the return of granite. Natural stone is not only beautiful, but visually stunning. It is a sustainable, family-friendly, and durable material to incorporate in any home. People who had granite countertops that lasted for several decades preferred the durability and low maintenance of the stone. Plus, it is heat and scratch resistant and comes in a range of colors you can choose from. A natural stone countertop with flair can make a bold statement, adding classic elegance to any home. Best of all, natural stone is easy to clean making life so much simpler.
If you love the look of real marble but are concerned about using it in your home due to etching and staining, not to worry. There are many anti-etching solutions on the market today that will stop etching and staining caused by acidic foods and liquids so you can enjoy your beautiful marble with peace of mind!
Studio Prineas
2. Invisible Induction Cooktop
For small kitchens, counter space and storage space is usually lacking. Since appliances take up a lot of valuable space, an invisible cooktop is perfect for providing additional counter space and creating more storage. “An invisible cooktop is an induction cooktop that gets installed underneath your stone countertop. It gives you a stovetop without any visible burners that heat the pans through the surface” according to Invisacook You cook by putting pots and pans directly on the counter. There’s a control panel (visible or hidden) to access the cooktop.
Induction heating is desirable because it’s environmentally friendly, more time and energy efficient than conventional gas and electric stoves, safe, and cooks food faster. It’s easier to maintain compared to cleaning a stovetop and recovers precious space on the countertop when not in use.
3. Wood Charm
Wood connects us to nature where we naturally feel calm, relaxed, and grounded. Wood pieces such as a coffee table, side table, or dining chair add color, texture, and depth that we are drawn to. More people are incorporating wood cabinetry in addition to wood ceilings and even wood paneling in their homes. Even two-toned kitchen cabinets with a mixture of paint and wood can give a homeowner the best of both worlds. Wood is a beautiful natural material that ages over time adding character and charm to a room. Plus, it’s low maintenance, sustainable, and family-friendly. It’s a design element that provides a sense of warmth, connection, and serenity to any space.
4. Leather Textiles
Genuine leather, faux leather, and microfiber leather are durable, stain-resistant, hypoallergenic, comfortable, and stylish fabrics that is simple to maintain and clean. It’s great for sofas, dining chairs, lounge chairs, and bar stools, to name a few. With time, leather looks and feels better as it ages developing a beautiful patina and personality that is unique to each piece.
It may come at a high price tag, especially for genuine high-quality leather, but it will last for decades and only gets better with age, compared to other materials where you will most likely throw it out in a few years. Leather is also kid and pet-friendly and comes in many colors and grades of leather. A lot of my clients with children and pets have requested leather primarily for ease of maintenance, comfort, and style and love the look and feel of leather.
5. Multi-Functional Kitchen Tables
Instead of an island, people are opting for multi-functional kitchen tables. In the image below, my clients did not want an island. They specifically requested a table in the kitchen because it brings them comfort, coziness, and a sense of intimacy when everyone can sit facing one another compared to a typical island where stools are along one side and occasionally an end. Since there is no cabinetry, it’s easier to clean and wipe off than an island. If you love to cook or bake, a table provides a work area for prepping food, function as a dining table (if there is no dining room) and can also double-duty as a workspace as people continue to work from home.
Miss Alice Designs
6. Seamless Design
Incorporating stone slabs on your shower walls, integrating stone in your sinks, or continuing your kitchen countertop up the backsplash wall provides a smooth, consistent, and contemporary design with no grout lines. No grout lines display an elegant, sleek profile and a seamless aesthetic that is visually pleasing. With so many options of stone slabs in the market today, you can select a slab with bold striking veins to create a visual statement that provides a uniform backdrop from countertop to wall. Plus, when you use a single slab for different surface areas, you can produce different designs that are creative and unique, elevating the overall vibe of a room.
Simple lines, shapes, curves, colors, textures, and materials that are easy on the eyes and easy to clean provide a feeling of calm and relaxation that we gravitate towards. Life is difficult enough with everything going on in the world. When it comes to our home, we just want to relax, be ourselves, and enjoy our personal space without any stress, drama, or chaos. We want to come home to our own sanctuary that is functional for our needs and reflects our preferences, style, and personality.
As an interior designer, it is my responsibility to report on the latest trends in interior design and home decor, but I always advocate for a simple, comfortable, relaxing, and inviting home that brings out the best in you. If you need a designer’s help and touch to transform your space, please schedule a 30- minute discovery call here.