These are the top living room design trends for 2023

In 2023, answers to the question, “how should I decorate myliving room?” are about to get a lot more varied. The reason is because maximalism is emerging as an important part of the panorama of decorating choices. Alongside the minimalist solutions, these new approach offers a more colourful, eclectic, and personalised approach to interiors.

That doesn’t mean, however, thatminimalismis leaving us. Instead it continues on in a warm and cosy version, influenced byMediterranean decor. Other trends that we expect to see emerge include more rounded shapes, an emphasis on natural materials, and handcrafted pieces. Read on to learn more about the decorating trends that will be big in the new year.

1. Long Live Imperfection!

The aesthetic philosophy ofwabi-sabihas triumphed with its embrace of things that are imperfect or incomplete. It has left an enduring legacy in which materials exist in their natural and raw state, highlighting their appealingly unfinished textures.

This season expect to see the wabi-sabi aesthetic in the use of raw, organic materials. “Solid wood, high-contrast marble, leather, natural fibres, and textiles… The simple textures and imperfections of finishes will be the source of their beauty,” says Manuel Delgado, interior design manager at IKEA.

Interiors retailer Westwing, for its part, shares Delgado’s opinion. “Natural materials, like unstained, light wood, porcelain, and pink marble will be in fashion. When it comes to fabrics, we will see organic cotton used for cushions and curtains while sheepskin will appear on armchairs and poufs.”

A living room by Westwing with the colour pink, curved shapes, and natural materials playing leading roles.

Courtesy Westwing

© Karel Balas

According to Delgado,terrazzoand cement will also continue to be popular, especially in minimalist spaces. They will be joined by ceramic and clay—new “musts” that will be introduced through handmade pieces. “We will see more locally produced, handmade, and meticulously crafted products. They humanise a space and give it personality, combining tradition and innovation,” he says.

Of course the trend of using recycled materials will continue to grow. “These items add value, creating a positive and environmentally responsible impact,” says Delgado.

2. Minimalism With a Natural, Mediterranean Twist

In 2023, minimalist and sustainable spaces will continue to shine, decorated with simple pieces, made of organic materials. In this case, the trend is characterised by its preference for light andneutral tones, such as “whites in different ranges, with warm accents and shades of ochre, grey, and lavender”, according to Delgado.

“Minimalism will continue to be very fashionable, and ‘less is more’ is a maxim that still applies to all aspects of interior design. The important thing will be to create environments that provide a feeling of spaciousness, with pieces that are in harmony with each other and the right decorative accents complement them,” explains a spokesperson from Kave Home.

The living area of this Gujarat home by SAK Designs is inspired by Mediterranean design and Cycladic architecture.

Ishita Sitwala

事实上,在这个最小Mediterra起居室nean style, ornamentation is almost always superfluous. Beauty is achieved through the sculptural nature of a few select pieces and their own materiality. This is why this Mediterranean approach in increasingly popular. It follows other trends like the use of natural and local materials, often left in a raw state; a friendly and functional minimalism, in which nothing is superfluous, and everything is useful; a soothing environment in which light plays an essential role.

In this Ahmedabad home designed by Jetsons, a concrete finish texture is applied onto some parts of the walls, fostering visual continuity, while the others are coated in a clean white paint to complement the raw finish.

Ishita Sitwala

Exposed finishes, such as cement; concrete-effect paint; and the use of natural coatings, such as clay or lime mortar are also on the rise. The use of built-in furniture is also becoming more common.

Also read:Trend spotting: Why “listening rooms” are the next big thing in interiors

3. Eclectic Maximalism

At the other extreme of design trends, it seems that in 2023, we will also see more maximalist and eclectic interiors, in which the personalities of the residents become the main focus. It is a trend that began to emerge at the end of the last decade, and which is finally taking on a bolder form, as seen in a number of noteworthy projects.

Inside Kaustav Dey's Bengaluru home. On the vintage armchair is a throw from Istanbul; the rug below it is from Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh. Around it are (from left) a midcentury wooden partition from the Karnataka High Court; a pattachitra of the goddess Durga vanquishing the demon Mahishasura by Kolkata-based artist Priyodorshi Chitrakar; a wooden deer’s head made by a friend; and a Kalighat painting of goddess Kali, by artist Mamoni Chitrakar. On the wall, behind the vintage dining table and chairs from Puducherry is a hand-painted paper fan from Rumtek monastery in Sikkim. The framed commemorative signage of Kate Moss by Banksy is from the Moco Museum, Amsterdam. The pattachitra on the wall titled Raas Leela is from Cuttack, Odisha.

Gokull Rao Kadam

“Vintage maximalism—lots of colour, warmth, antiques, and eclectic touches—is about to be huge. I think in the age of social media (which feels like it’s at an all-time high point??), we are all craving our own unique stamp on our spaces. We are looking for unknown and unnamed pieces to make our personal spaces stand out from the crowd,” interior designer Tali Roth explained toAD.

“We came out of the pandemic filled with energy, and eager to show it to the world. This leads us to an explosion of extremes, from minimalism, which reflects the search for calm and personal balance, to maximalism. The latter explores the need to bring personality to the spaces in which we live, to humanise them, and make them feel like our own, mixing styles and adding identities without limiting ourselves," an IKEA representative says.

Also read:4 unique Mumbai living rooms that make a case for minimalism

4. Nature-Inspired Colour Palettes

According to IKEA, we will see living room styles inspired by nature that imbue peace and tranquillity. Westwing adds: “Olive green will stand out in unexpected places, such as a sofa or a pouf, as well as in minimalist style vases and even wallpapers. As with brown and all its shades, colours that take us back to nature will be prominent, mixed with raw materials such as wood.”

In the living room of this Chennai home by Sunita Yogesh Studio, a custom-made, moss-green three-seater couch is paired with tan leather armchairs and a rectangular glass coffee table in this nook that overlooks mango trees.

Phosart Studio

“The year 2023 will be characterised by deep, rich colours that give personality to rooms. We are moving away from bright and pastel tones to shades with personality, which, combined with more vibrant colours, will give life to a home. Furniture with dark finishes such as walnut will also take centre stage, combined with metallic elements, which will add an industrial touch”, say Kave Home. We have already seen painting living rooms in dark colours is a growing trend.

When it comes to prints, Bloomsbury florals are on the rise, notes Westwing.

5. Curves Continue to Enjoy Their Moment

As a hospitality space catering to people for hours far longer than a home does, Tin Tin required to be more in sync with human energy. Studio Renesa realised this through dynamic curves which flow organically and eliminate any strong rigidity, just like human motion. Photo: Niveditaa Gupta.

Niveditaa Gupta

Everyone is embracing the move towards appealinglycurved designs. This big trend is not about to give up its prominence, quite the opposite: “Rounded silhouettes will be the absolute stars of 2023. We will be able to find them in interior and exterior furnishings as well as in decorative elements. These organic shapes bring calm, tranquillity, and extra comfort”, Kave Home says.

IKEA agrees: “To find connections with nature and to create cosy spaces, curved and organic shapes will be popular. They will show up in two different forms. For minimalist spaces, these silhouettes will create calm and harmonious rooms. For colourful, maximalist rooms, curved furniture will give them a lot of personality. Pieces without edges provide a sense of movement and dynamism, while creating more friendly, feminine, delicate, and ergonomic environments.”

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