Interior design trends 2023: 11 of the best ideas to include in your home

When it comes to the newest interior design trends 2023, it's best to get your inspiration from the source. With that in mind, we've asked some top interior designers for their predictions on what trends are set to define the next year — and beyond. 

For 2023, you'll notice a bit of a pattern. With the climate change emergency becoming even more urgent, more homeowners are considering how to reuse materials in their house design ideas, or to invest in sustainable/responsible choices. 

With that in mind, expect to see trends that are focused on health and wellbeing be at the forefront of design, with ideas such as biophilic design, healthy homes and sustainability at the core. 

Here's 11 professionally-approved interior design trends for 2023 to get you started on your decorating plans. 

Should you follow interior design trends in your home? 

While we all want our home to feel contemporary and stylish (especially after a big project), rather than slavishly following interior design trends, try to recognise the themes surrounding the styles and how to tap into them in a timeless way. 

Or, if you're quite set on including the biggest trends of 2023, try to incorporate them in a way that would be easily swapped out or modernised in a few years' time. This includes paintwork, some wall claddings, lighting fixtures and fittings like handles, switches and taps. 

1. Test out textured wall finishes  

Although gypsum plaster has reigned supreme for a number of decades, softer and more natural alternatives (some of which are ancient) are being seen in modern homes. 

Lime, traditionally seen on old stone buildings, clay and hemp types of plasters are all being seen in contemporary-styled interiors to provide a tactile wall finish. 

Or, if you're not in the market to completely reskim walls, products like Bauwerk Colour's lime paint leaves a fantastic chalky effect with depth to an otherwise plain wall. 

"Textured plasters and renders can provide a tactile feel to the room, providing movement and patina to standard walls," explains Alexander Streatfield, associate at McLarenExcell. "They come in a variety of finishes, from flat and waterproof, such as Tadelakt, to rough and characterful, like Clayworks."

2. Get comfy with cork 

If sustainably sourced, cork flooring is a fantastic healthy and eco friendly alternative that is becoming more mainstream by the day.

The new wave of cork flooring is stylish, highly insulating and sustainable — all things we know are high priorities for the homeowners and renovators of 2023.

"Increasingly, people are recognising the importance of tactile materials in their home. This is in part because it is appealing to be able to read and understand the materials that ours homes are made from, and for the interior design of the spaces to honestly express these as part of the character of the space. 

"However it is also important because it brings sensory interest and stimulus. To be able to touch and feel natural materials is uplifting and allows us to feel connected to the natural state of these materials and their inherent qualities," comments Adam Hiles, director of Novak Hiles Architects.

3. Get on board with modern gothic revival

Move over cutesy cottage core and farmhouse chic — there's a new, darker trend for 2023.

Inspired by the overdramatic rich hues of the gothic revival, this trend will see blacks, inky blues and luxurious purples creep into interior design.

While intricate detailing and grand contemporary chandeliers fall into this style, they're not essential — black painted floorboards and metallic modern lighting will do the trick, as this welcoming living room idea shows.

4. Build a reading mezzanine look out

With double-height voids and vaulted ceilings being trends of 2021 and 2022, 2023 is taking it up another level (if you will pardon the pun).

We're seeing more cosy spots to sit and read or work with a view above it all. These spaces still feel connected to the open-plan living we all love so much, but offer the chance for privacy and a quiet moment. 

Split plan or split height living can provide opportunities to gain some privacy in a home while still remaining connected to the primary spaces. Semi-separated 'library' spaces or studies in particular are great for creating areas to concentrate that still have visual links to the rest of the house. 

5. Stay fresh with waves of green

With the strongest and most immediate association to nature, tones of green are one of the most obvious choices for interior design trends in 2023. Green plays well into an over-arching trend for biophilic design in the home — that is, recreating a connection to nature indoors that can help reproduce some of the health and mood-boosting qualities of spending time in nature. 

"Sitting in the middle of the visible colour spectrum, green is an entirely neutral colour and therefore offers visual comfort, even at intensity" says Julia Kendall of Kendall & Co, interior designer TV personality and design expert for the South East Homebuilding & Renovating Show. "Combine with natural tones, woven and raffia fittings and displays of verdant, air-filtering houseplants." 

Need inspiration for what colours go with green for your 2023 scheme? "For a pop of much-needed enthusiasm, combine with bursts of complementary orange or coral," suggests Julia. 

6. Look up to internal louvres

In an effort to combat overheating from large areas of glazing, architects are using window louvres to deflect direct sunlight, but to retain the natural light.

This idea is inspiring all manner of slatted designs in kitchen, hallways and living areas.

"Rooflights are a fantastic way of bringing natural light into a space, particularly when creating a rear extension, in order to get lots of light into the centre of the house," says Novak Hiles Architects' Adam Hiles. 

"By utilising exposed joists and continuing these across the ceiling underneath the rooflight, these will act like louvres, helping to filter the light so that softer ambient light remains high but direct and excessively bright light is controlled.

"This allows a more regular temperature to be maintained, so that the space remains comfortable throughout the year. It's also beneficial for houseplants and pets, both of which often prefer more even temperature and light levels."

7. Source sustainable materials

"It is crucial that we understand where new materials are being sourced from, as well as how carbon heavy their production and transportation is. If we can use locally sourced materials and work with local craftspeople to make things then this is beneficial on many levels," says Alex Hiles. 

"Equally we need to be conscientious of where the waste materials from our project sites end up. Disposing of materials from demolitions and removals can be a real problem," he continues. 

"Try to think of creative ways of reusing materials as part of the project, for example utilising crushed masonry for hardcore as part of any landscaping works, or integrating it into new finishes. Always check out where the waste from your site ends up and use reputable demolitions companies to avoid issues like fly tipping."

"The modern organic trend continues to be hugely popular in kitchen trends of 2023, with consumers opting for natural materials with rustic qualities. Reclaimed wood is a strong favourite, thanks to its rustic appeal and environmentally friendly nature," adds Sally and Sarah Wilkie, Founders of Home Barn. 

"Incorporating reclaimed wood gives kitchens a unique aesthetic, with natural age and markings creating intricate details on the surface. It is also highly sustainable as it recycles wood meaning fewer trees need to be cut down. Reclaimed wooden tables are a great way to introduce this material into the kitchen, as they are an investment piece that can move with you."

Find out how to buy reclaimed wood flooring the right way with our guide, 

8. Include slatted designs in interiors in 2023

The trend for fluted and slatted designs seems to show no sign of abating in 2023. 

This wall panelling idea can also help to zone your space and shift the sense of proportion in your room. "With clever, elongating properties, the linear nature of slatted designs also helps to give the appearance of taller ceilings,” says Poppy Peace, creative director of Milc Interiors. 

9. Go for timeless Japandi

Japandi is a design concept that's both a portmanteau of Japanese and Scandinavia and a literal mix of these two classic interior styles which both have roots in pared- back minimalism. While Scandinavian interiors have dominated for decades, it's this twist on this interior design trend that we’re seeing coming through in 2023. 

"Japandi design is a shared aesthetic of Japanese and Scandi interior elements, to make a for a really impressive concept," explains David Conlon, head designer and founder, en masse bespoke. 

"The Japandi minimalist trend is full of sleek dark timbers, Scandi light timbers and natural materials, light-coloured walls and minimal and simple design, which when well curated, is really quite exceptional to look at and is actually very cosy and comfortable."

When it comes to material choices, consider bamboo in a Japandi scheme. "Bamboo is a prolific grower and super strong will really bring the feeling of nature and create a calming effect on the home," says David. Japandi lends itself well to both sustainable and biophilic interiors, making it a perfect choice for interiors in 2023. 

10. Let personalities loose in flooring

"We believe that stronger colours will continue to be at the forefront on the interiors going into 2023, for example smoked products with more visual grain will start to come through alongside an increase in bleached products to offer light, wood options for the home," comments Asaph Wahing, sales consultant from Havwoods. 

"More homeowners are also opting for character and rustic grade boards, this helps to add texture and enhance depth to interior spaces whilst also creating an authentic feel."

11. Give black steel a go 

Copper, brass and nickel have all had their time in the limelight over the past few years, but now it's black steel's time to shine. 

Seen in crittall doors and windows of the past, large swatches of black steel are being included interiors to bring a new, deeper aesthetic as a cladding. This mysterious-looking material can be matt or have an acid effect to give a patina. 

Not convinced? Try out black steel taps or handles to inject some 2023 trends into a existing scheme.