THE ZEITGEIST: DESIGN TRENDS TO WATCH
The 2023 conversation when it came to art, style, home design and amenities was nuanced and vibrant, with a complex array of trends that touched on a growing desire for self-expression, vivid storytelling, genuine human connection, a balance of old and new, high-tech and hand-hewn. Here are the seven trends that told the story of 2023 and will live on in 2024.
Reviving the Classics
Old was gold. Along with old money and old clothes, vintage furniture and decor items were given a new life this year as thrift culture exploded. People were in search of historical items of quality, bringing storytelling into their homes. Homeowners and developers also undertook the task of revitalizing existing features rather than tearing things out, harmonizing with a global intention of ecofriendly living. The question still remains: How does one achieve timelessness? This year suggests diving back into time itself.
Textural Tendencies
And you didn’t have to just choose one. An influx of textures and shapes brought depth and vibes to interiors this year. From natural materials like rattan to puffy textures and organic shapes, things got both inventive and sophisticated at the same time. Scalloped edges, mushroom-inspired shapes and velvety textures were layered into spaces—and outfits, too. More texture, more for the eye to play with.
Ambiance-Inducing Palettes
We were unapologetically hungry for color in 2023. From pasteldrenched decor to 70s-inspired spaces, color was highly involved in the 2023 aesthetic, creating anything but boring rooms. Feminine tones such as lilac purples, lime greens and warm pinks brought the fun, while more muted masculine tones brushed walls dark green and nearly black.
Wanting to Feel What’s Real
We worked to balance tech with truth. As AI permeates more aspects of work, art, home amenities and design, consumers balanced their desire to embrace new technology with a deep-rooted hunger for authenticity and the honesty of an unaltered human experience. This dichotomy led to both the creation of remarkably integrated smart-home features and nomadic, non-traditional living centered on real connections over amenities and modernity.
Home as the Stage for the Theater of Life
Drama? We’re living for it. In a shift away from ultra-minimalist, white-on-white styles, today’s high-drama interiors represent modern maximalism at its most magnificent. Think highly curated color-saturated rooms with one-of-a-kind design details, vintage furniture and bold art that demands attention. The 2023 Pantone color of the year, “Viva Magenta,” captured passion, power and vigor with touches of the romantic.
Well, Well, Well
Feel good vibes only. Wellness looked a little different this year. People mixed up mocktails, took cold plunges and were obsessed with their skin. In the home, folks added rejuvenating, detoxfriendly features usually confined to specialty spas—like infrared saunas, LED-lit rooms, hammams, steam rooms and cool pools. Plus, proximity to local co-ops, neighborhood gardens and weekly farmers markets emerged as top priorities for buyers seeking a grassroots vibe and a tangible connection to their community.
New Paths Forged
The road less traveled got some traffic. While interiors leaned traditional, lifestyles played on the other side, with people breaking away from conformity and what was. They opted for privacy rather than partying, land over convenience and access to nature over buzzy big city attractions. Side hustles were on, and many made their own rules about what the work day (or night) could and should look like. With inflation and interest rates high—plus the cost of child care—multi-generational living also made a comeback.
A LOOK INTO THE CRYSTAL BALL
What’s ahead in 2024?
2024 will likely segue into a heightened take of 2023’s narrative. Pastel tones will expand into shades of apricot and peach; we’ll continue to see soft, playful edges; and the old-world vibes that were the stars of last year will amplify into something along the lines of palace-core. More texture, more color and more art will transform homes into personalized, petite versions of Versailles. Lighting will likely take the stage as one of the key factors of ambiance (isn’t fluorescent starting to feel like an f-word?).
People will continue to embrace mess and realness, turning away from the picture-perfect illusion of all things organized and tidy— because, hey, maybe we just need to accept what is (including ourselves) in 2024. Although, we do look forward to more automated home cleaning technology this next year, please. Our relationship with artificial intelligence is connected to it all—if we don’t consciously stay real, is our humanity at stake?
Big questions, big statements and big aesthetics. We’re here for it all in 2024.”
