The Shape of Things to Come

Much in our lives and the spaces around us has changed over the past few years. With more of the same unpredictability ahead, we asked industry experts for their best guesses on the trends that could shape design decisions to come, starting with some interior future thinking from trend forecasters WGSN…

Sweaters for Furniture

One of the best ways to warm up the human and the home is with cosy upholstery and textiles. Consumers will dress and undress furniture and decor to renovate, update, customise, protect and soften home goods for both outdoor and indoor spaces. This is an evolution from last year’s tufted textures, where WGSN forecast tufted designs emerging globally, and applies to every part of the home, from the bathroom floor to living room armchairs and dining room walls. By covering old and new furniture with textiles and knits, consumers can bring colour and tactility into interiors, and maximise the life of much-loved products with minimal cost. Even better when you can share a sweater with your favourite chair and cut down on energy bills.

Solar Energy Revolution

Solar energy is starting to go mass, now that solar power has finally become the cheapest source of electricity. With the global polycrisis sending energy prices skyrocketing, energy that is free, local and green is now considered a solid investment. It is here, as we move towards a post-carbon world, that architects and designers have started to push this agenda on the macro scale. All manner of innovative solutions are being demonstrated in the built environment, not to mention transport; an electric car powered by the sun is now in production.

But with consumers struggling to pay energy bills – and many even forced to choose between heating and eating – there is a bigger role to play in helping people to use solar energy in their homes in the easiest way possible, not just in rooftop solar panels, but in everyday accessories such as lamps, kettles, heated blankets, toys and even fans.

The Entryway Update

Even as household budgets shrink, consumers will still want to welcome friends and family into a well-designed space, so they will pick and choose which areas of the home to update. Entryways played a practical, germ-busting role during the pandemic, but now their function is becoming more aesthetically driven.

The entryway is the first thing people see when they arrive in a home, and its small size makes it the perfect budget-friendly place for a makeover, from walls and floors to eyecatching accessories. Its ease of redecorating also makes it the ideal opportunity for seasonal and holiday swaps, for a festive home upon entry. Combining efficient storage with decorative displays, consoles and credenzas are perfect for the entrance hall, while mirrors open up new perspectives in narrow spaces. Finishing touches including plants, flowers, books and baskets personalise the space and make it one that consumers will give greater focus to in 2023.

Jewellery for the Home

DIY continues to be a key area of consumer interest, and in the quest to refresh the home or hack furniture, hardware will increasingly embellish interiors in the style of jewellery. Ceiling lamps connected by golden chains, diamond-cut knobs on cookware tops and accents that enhance and elevate the everyday, such as mirrors, stained glass and hardware, will rise in importance and appeal. From nails and hooks to doorknobs and shower rods, there will be interest in bringing an added touch of luxury to hardware with carefully chosen colours, materials and finishes.

‘Allclusive’ Design

The demand for inclusive design is rising, and the need to consider the full range of human diversity during the design process has never been more important: 15% of the world’s population experience some form of disability. Designing for a diverse range of people and abilities ensures that the end result, whether a space or product, engages and serves as many as possible, whether that means soundabsorbing materials for neuro and acoustically divergent people, a table universally designed to accommodate wheelchairs, or simply floor mats that create a smooth transition for thresholds.

A growing number of brands and retailers are ’designing out’ stigma, and creating beautifully designed, inclusive spaces and items that are intuitive to use. The bathroom and kitchen are key for this trend, as they are functional spaces devoted to wellness, and need to be comfortable, practical and pleasurable.

On the Horizon…

Other trends likely to gain traction over the next year and beyond include…

Decentralised social media: Social media moves towards decentralised models, which are set to redefine connection and community.

Mindful gaming: Gaming will increasingly become a source for healing, influencing product design for hardware, accessories and environments.

Algae-based alternatives: Algae is set to be the new fashion super-solution for creating lower-impact fibres, foams and materials.

Fantasy Fitness: ‘Exercising for fun’ takes on a new meaning with gamified workouts. Consumers are increasingly likely to enter the fitness metaverse for their daily workout in 2023.

Everyday AR: Augmented reality will become a daily tool, moving from smartphones to AR navigation and AR smart glasses. WGSN / wgsn.com