4 minute read
Back to the Future
Design trends for 2023 that honour the past and look at emerging sustainability goals
By Clare Tattersall, Coverings Editor and Wood Industry Contributing Writer
Like fashion, interior design trends are vast and varied. But some stand out more than others, partly because they’ve been gaining traction over the past 12 months. As we close out 2022, now is the time to delve into what will be hot in homes for 2023, and how wood products manufacturers can prepare for the coming year.
VINTAGE REVIVAL
Design styles from a bygone era are returning with a new contemporary spin, as people look to incorporate simple comforts from the past into their humble abode to evoke an uplifting and welcoming ambience.
Hard surfaces are taking a softer, curvier turn. Rounded cabinet ends and kitchens islands that were a mainstay in the 1950s are back, but this time with added sophistication, often featuring a textural front like ribbed or reeded wood that’s either painted or left in its natural state. A curved island allows for greater circulation around the space. And with no sharp edges or points, it’s a safer choice for parents with small children. Generally, an island with rounded corners is paired with flat-front 90-degree angled cabinetry (or vice versa) to create a focal point, provide contrast and not overdo the look. This also lends a midcentury flair to modern kitchens.
As seen in the kitchen, where counters and islands are forgoing their clasal choices, are more future-oriented. People are shopping more sustainably, which means buying responsibly sourced and produced items, as well as those that bring as much of the outdoors inside as possible to emphasize the beauty of nature.
Materials like solid wood, rattan, wicker, jute and bamboo cane are increasingly preferred for furniture, as are less toxic glues and fibers used to manufacture these products. In terms of fabric colours, earth tones and soft blues
sic straight lines and sharp angles for softer shapes and edges, furniture and case goods with arcs and curves are also being embraced by consumers as they bring lightness into interiors and naturally draw the eye through a room. From rounded sofa backs and fluid style sectionals to curved sideboards, furniture with a circular silhouette will have a heyday.
ECO-FRIENDLY OPTIONS
Designs may be taking inspiration from the past but some trends, like materi-
DESIGNS MAY BE TAKING INSPIRATION FROM THE PAST BUT SOME TRENDS, LIKE MATERIAL CHOICES, ARE MORE FUTURE-ORIENTED.
and greens are coveted since they add to the people-planet connection.
For cabinetry, the warm look of midtone and dark walnut, and oak sans as well as the 1980s and 1990s honey spice stain, are among customer favourites; however, alternatives like bamboo, lyptus and hemp wood are gaining ground. A grass, bamboo looks most like other woods on the market, making it highly desirable. Where it really stands out is that it grows incredibly rapidly, is generally stronger and harder than other hardwood options, and is touted for improving indoor air quality.
Newer to the cabinetry scene is lyptus, an engineered product from a hybrid of two species of eucalyptus tree that reaches maturity much faster than it takes most hardwood to grow. Its appearance and feel are similar to that of mahogany, red oak and cherry, and it has a vast colour range from light pink to darker earth tones. Then there’s hemp wood, which is made from the stalks of the hemp plant. It grows in a 90-day cycle, is 20 per cent stronger than American white oak and is naturally non-toxic.
DUAL PURPOSE
As people are still working from home, either full-time or part of a hybrid solution, kitchens and living areas continue to play double-duty.
In the kitchen, an island with generous proportions that stretch more than seven feet provides ample room to accommodate a host of activities. Where space is no object, the most highly coveted kitchen feature can be split into two units. The double island allows for functions to be neatly divided – the first can serve as a food prep station, and the second for seating, whether eating, typing on the computer or taking part in a Zoom meeting. Either island option is an ideal addition to a home that doesn’t have dedicated office space since both offer a ton of extra counter surface and lots of hidden built-in storage, allowing one (or two) drawers to be turned into a filing cabinet.
Elsewhere in the home, dual-purpose furniture like storage benches, writing desks and lift-top coffee tables are necessary to save space and make the most of a remote or hybrid work model for homeowners. As designs change, consumers and manufacturers are changing with them to meet the growing demand in home renovations, efficient uses of space, and overall home makeovers.
Clare Tattersall is an interior designer and decorator in Toronto, and the editor of Canada’s floor covering magazine, Coverings.
