How is it possible that 2022 is almost in our rearview mirror? It feels like yesterday; we were thinking about what changes we might see in 2022. It’s exciting to see how many of the trends we thought might arrive this year have been embraced by consumers. Not only have these forward-thinking design trends become a reality, but they are also growing in relevance in the new year.
Significant shifts are coming to the look and feel of our homes, especially in the interiors in 2023. Softer, more complex palettes will replace stark white and gray rooms. One of the color seminars we attended even predicted that white kitchens would be a thing of the past by 2025. Be prepared to see warmer colors like bone, mocha, leafy greens, and dusty blues become the new neutrals and replace the whites and grays that have been so popular.
Desert tones will replace the cool colors we have seen for the last ten years. Instead, reds, oranges, terra cotta, cactus green, and sky blue will be the hot accent colors and looks for 2023.
The grays that have been so popular through the last decade are fading out, and white shiplap siding is shipping out, too. It is being replaced by smooth, natural, and lightly stained wood panels used in strategic locations that add a warm look to a room.
Design for a Healthier Home
The pandemic brought a new focus on health and wellness, which will continue to stay strong throughout the next decade and beyond. Identifying products that are made of sustainable, renewable materials helps today’s buyers make educated decisions. With factory-built housing being one of the most energy-efficient building forms, our industry has an excellent opportunity to share the story of how we are helping the environment. There is also a renewed interest in locally sourced, made-in-America products.
The Green House effect is being seen everywhere. Biophilic Design, or using natural light, natural materials, and vegetation, is here to stay. Lighter natural woods that are pickled or just sealed are back. Bringing the outside in with color, accessories, and artwork will continue to grow in importance.
In 2022, The housing crisis entered an age of minimalism. As the lack of affordable housing continues, we will see smaller spaces and more multi-generational living environments. Furniture is scaled down with open legs and arms to give a more open feel to a smaller space. But, again, watch for every detail to make a statement, and less is more.
A Place to Sit
Authentic conversations are treasured again. Cozy, comfortable rooms where you want to sit and stay for a while continue to replace the cavernous great rooms that we have been embracing for years. Dining rooms are back at the top of the list of what homebuyers want. Post-COVID entertaining is more likely to happen at home than at a restaurant or gathering space. Stark, uncomfortable dining chairs are being replaced with upholstered, roomy ones that encourage you to sit down and stay for a while. Elegant bar carts and bar spaces are also back in vogue.
Kindness, Healing, and a Life Well Lived
Craftivism is “a new social process of collective empowerment, action, expression, and negotiation.” Using crafts and craft projects to advance social causes will become essential to many. Shopping for products that support a specific cause, such as animal rescue, women’s causes, child welfare, and others, will become even more important and celebrated in the future. Flex spaces are becoming even more popular, and they don’t have to be huge spaces. A niche in a hallway or extra space off the utility room can give consumers a place to explore their inner passion.
Digital Design is popular in Europe and is heading this way. It is about seeing the world in a digital form and will be extremely popular in the teenage demographic and move to other ages in the future. Red looks purple on most computers, which has led to purple being seen more in products targeting this demographic — they are used to seeing the world on their computers. Small-scale workspaces, the ability to plug in, and new technology will bring us things we haven’t even thought about.
Hopefully, with the pandemic largely behind us, the interest in creating a home people want to spend time and entertain in will stay with us. In addition, there is a renewed interest in “living within your means,” and affordable housing is becoming a priority for younger homebuyers and our senior buyers too. The stigma that factory-built housing has carried with it for so long is finally fading away, and living in a factory-built home is now considered a wise decision. We will also see more downsizing where people decide to reduce their monthly expenses by moving into a more affordable home.
It feels good to be positive and looking forward to a year full of color, optimism, and living well.
Here’s to 2023!
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