The Trends That Will Rule Home Design in 2023, According to People Who Know

For 2022, the collective refrain in the design world seems to be that the biggest trends reflected a sense of optimism and exuberance. To wit, the year was filled with bold colors, richly textured material palettes, organic forms, and nods to the ’80s. There was also a greater attempt to promote sustainability, whether by landscaping with drought-tolerant native plants or designing homes that relied on fewer fossil fuels.

There were, however, certain moves that we might be better off leaving behind. Creatives cited materials or architectural features that are worth celebrating in the right context, but have been overused in recent times. Think marble-clad rooms, beige hues, or curvaceous spiral stairs.

Others pointed to more systemic issues within the industry that they would like to see resolved, from a rise in knock-off furniture and greenwashing, to the way social media creates viral trends that lead to oversaturation of certain ideas.

According to the seven industry experts we spoke with, 2023 will be less about checking boxes and more about doing what’s best for the world—and ourselves. We’re excited to see creative reuse and high-performance homes at the top of the list, as well as a passion for dramatic, moody interiors and bold personal expression as a response to homogeneous minimalism.

Michael Fohring—Odami

Loved It: Stainless Steel

"The use of stainless steel as an interior finish has been on the rise for a few years now and has really peaked," says Michael Fohring, cofounder of Toronto-based architecture firm Odami. "It used to be pretty limited to retail and commercial spaces, but this past year we also started to see it used in residential interiors, which is really unusual and really refreshing—it’s a bit unexpected and super utilitarian, making the home feel much less precious. Unfortunately we haven’t managed to use it in a project, but we haven’t given up hope."