Breaking Free from the Norm: Design Trends We’re Quitting in 2023
So you’ve finally had enough of those overplayed decorating trends that have been done to death the past few years. We don’t blame you. Sometimes what’s popular isn’t always the most inspiring or original.
If you’re looking to break free from the norm and forge your own path in interior design, you’ve come to the right place. Say goodbye to the hackneyed styles of years past and hello to a fresh start.
In 2024, we’re over the rustic farmhouse look, shabby chic is out, and boho vibes have officially left the building. Next year is all about embracing your unique sense of style. Ready to quit the tired trends and decorate with a renewed sense of creativity? Join us as we explore the design fads we’re leaving behind in 2023 and the innovative new directions we’re heading. The future looks bright – and your home is about to get a lot more interesting.
Goodbye Shiplap! Why We’re Over This Farmhouse Trend
The farmhouse design craze had a good run, but shiplap walls and rustic wood accents are starting to feel unoriginal. In 2024, we’ll be moving on to fresher looks that are warmer, cosier and more unique to our personal styles.
Consider rich, earthy colours and natural materials like stone, linen, wool, and cotton that create depth and texture. Comfort is key, so include plush seating, soft lighting, and handcrafted decor.
Rather than an “off the shelf” farmhouse feel, go eclectic with a mix of modern, bohemian and traditional elements. Add global-inspired patterns, artisan-made goods from local makers, and greenery for a collected-over-time vibe. Your space should reflect your experiences and stories, not an Instagram filter.
Open-concept floor plans and all-white everything now feels cold and sparse. In 2024, we’re bringing cosiness back with smaller, well-defined spaces meant for connecting with others. Think dimmable lighting, built-in seating, and a unifying palette of warm paint colours, textiles and natural materials.
The farmhouse fad had its moment, but 2024 is all about surrounding yourself with things that spark joy and comfort. Give your rooms a cosy, eclectic makeover with colours, textures and furnishings that tell your unique story.
The shiplap can stay in the past where it belongs!
Open Concept Living Is Out – Defined Spaces Are In
Open-concept living rooms, where the kitchen, dining, and living areas are all combined into one big space, have been popular for years. But not for much longer. Defined, multi-purpose rooms are making a comeback.
Defined Cozy Spaces Are Cozier
There’s something comforting about smaller, defined rooms. A space specifically for cooking, eating, relaxing, or socializing just feels cosier. Open spaces can seem cavernous, making it hard to determine each area’s purpose. Defined rooms give households the flexibility to use spaces for different functions. A dining room could double as a homework spot or game room, for example.
- Kitchens should be for cooking, not on display for the whole house.
- Dining rooms should be for lingering over meals, not just quick bites on the run.
- Living rooms should be for real living – reading, conversation, movies – not just walking through.
Multipurpose Rooms Provide Options
Defined rooms can serve multiple uses, giving homeowners more flexibility. A separate dining room could be an art studio or home office. A closed-off living room may house a workout space or playroom. Multipurpose rooms allow families to shape spaces to their needs. And when it’s time to sell, new owners can repurpose the rooms to their liking.
The open concept may have dominated design for years, but defined, multipurpose spaces are coming back.
They provide cosiness, flexibility, and options that open floors just can’t match. So go ahead, and start breaking down those open spaces into rooms your family can really live in. The open-concept trend is closing, but defined, cozy rooms will stand the test of time.
Tired of All-White Kitchens? Bold Colors Are Back
All-white kitchens have dominated design for years, but their time may be up. If you’re bored of the sterile, clinical feel of an all-white kitchen, you’re not alone. In 2023, bold colours are making a comeback in kitchen design.
Vibrant colours like navy blue, forest green and burgundy are replacing stark white cabinets and walls. These deep, dramatic colours create a cosy, luxurious feel in the kitchen. Don’t be afraid to go dark—dark colours can actually make a space appear larger by creating an illusion of depth. Contrasting light countertops against dark cabinets also helps keep the room feeling open and airy.
Not ready to dive into a fully colourful kitchen? Start small by painting just one accent wall in your favourite bold hue. Or, swap out basic white cabinetry for cabinets in a trendy colour like cobalt or olive green. Keep the walls and remaining cabinets white to prevent the space from feeling closed in.
If cabinets and walls aren’t in the budget, colourful accessories and décor can transform the feel of an all-white kitchen. Hang a patterned wallpaper on one wall, or paint the backs of open shelves in a bright pop of colour. Place colourful bowls, vases, teapots or other decorative items on countertops and open shelves. Switch out basic white kitchen linens for colourful patterned ones.
All-white may have dominated for years, but colourful kitchens are making a strong comeback. Whether through cabinets, walls or accessories, infusing bold colour into your kitchen design will make the space feel cosy, stylish and refreshingly un-sterile. The all-white kitchen may have had its day, but colourful kitchens are here to stay.
Minimalism Is Too Cold – Bring Back Texture and Layers
We’ve had enough of the cold, sterile feel of minimalism. It’s time to bring warmth and depth back into our homes. In 2024, we’re embracing cosy textures, natural materials, and layers upon layers of decor.
Natural Materials
Forget shiny metals and plastics. Organic, natural materials like wood, rattan, cotton, and wool are making a comeback. Rustic wood tables, rattan baskets, cotton rugs, and chunky wool blankets are easy ways to incorporate natural texture into your space.
Layered Decor
Minimalism demanded bare, empty surfaces. No more! Layered decor, with items of varying heights, sizes, and shapes creates visual interest. Stack books on your coffee table, arrange framed photos on your mantel at different angles, toss colourful pillows onto your sofa, or group candles and greenery on your dining table. Start with a few pieces in complementary colours and build up from there.
Cozy Textures
Minimalism was cold to the touch as well as the eye. Knobby fabrics like boucle, chenille and crochet are popular again for upholstery, rugs, pillows and throws. Fur, whether faux or genuine sheepskin, also adds softness. Look for knits, quilts, knotted and braided accents that you can’t help but run your hands over.
Pops of Color
While minimalism favoured monochromatic, neutral colour schemes, the layered look embraces bold pops of colour. Paint one accent wall in your living room a vibrant shade of blue or green. Toss colourful pillows, and rugs and throws onto your neutral sofa and chairs. Group brightly coloured vases, books and decorative objects together on a tabletop. A few bright accents go a long way in creating a cosy, eclectic feel.
The minimalist fad made our homes feel bare and unwelcoming. In 2023, we’re bringing back the cosy comforts of natural materials, layered decor and plush textures. A few simple additions are all it takes to create a warm space you’ll want to curl up in.
Small and Dark Bathrooms Don’t Cut It Anymore – We’re Expanding and Adding Light
Small, cramped bathrooms are a thing of the past. In 2024, we’re expanding our bathrooms and bringing in more natural light.
Opening Up the Space
Gone are the days of tiny 3 x 5-foot bathrooms. We’re knocking down walls to create more spacious, spa-like retreats. By removing the tub and opting for a large walk-in shower, you can gain several extra square feet. Replace a pedestal sink with a wall-mounted one to open up floor space. And swap a boxy vanity for a console table with storage baskets underneath. Every inch counts!
Letting the Light Shine In
Dark, dimly lit bathrooms feel closed in and dreary. We’re adding skylights, larger windows, and light tubes to brighten up the space. For small bathrooms with no windows, install recessed lighting around the perimeter of the room combined with a central ceiling fixture. This layered lighting approach will make the room feel more airy and open.
Natural Materials Galore
In 2023, bathroom materials are going back to nature. We’re using stone, wood, rattan, and woven textures for a relaxed, rustic vibe. A stone tile shower surround, wooden vanity, rattan mirror frame, and woven basket storage are easy ways to bring natural warmth into your bathroom. For flooring, large-format stone and wood-look porcelain tiles create a seamless flow.
Whether you do a full gut renovation or make a few strategic swaps, opening up and brightening your bathroom will make a huge difference. Out with the old cramped and dreary, in with the new spacious and sunlit! Your new spa-inspired bathroom will quickly become your favourite escape in the home.
Conclusion
So there you have it, the design trends we’re officially breaking up within 2023. Out with the old and in with the new, as they say. It’s time for bolder colours, eclectic patterns, natural textures, and free-form shapes to take centre stage. No more cookie-cutter looks or keeping up with the Joneses for us. This year is all about embracing your unique style and decorating without limits or rules. Break free from the norm and create spaces that make you happy. After all, your home should be a reflection of you, not some unrealistic ideal seen on social media.
Here’s to a year of daring to be different! What trend are you most excited to ditch? Contact us for a free consultation.