7 minute read
Keep vs Toss
Interior trends from 2023 we’re carrying along to the new year, and those we want to leave behind
Awhole twelve months of interior design triumphs and pitfalls are now in the rearview mirror, allowing us to review the home trends that have surfaced on TikTok and Instagram, and whether they have staying power beyond the 24-hour news cycle. Trends inherently mean they will blow over, so decorating your home according to the latest fad will never be a good idea, in part because we are striving for a more circular system rather than throwing things out the moment we and the internet have outgrown the phase. There is a big difference between images we like to see on social media that are soothing and beautiful to look at, and the kind of spaces that are practical and that we actually want to live in. This discernment lies with you, but because I like sharing my opinion without being prompted, here’s a run-down of design trends that I believe have staying power, and the ones we should (please) leave with 2023.
WHAT WE ARE KEEPING:
Do it yourself – we can’t all afford the $60 million Kim K house
I get fired up about a visit to the hardware store and using power tools, although probably incorrectly. But more than I enjoy the idea of getting my hands dirty, is knowing that DIY is its own genre of home decoration. On social media salad bowls have become the base of wooden coffee tables, bouclé chairs are upholstered at home and unfortunately also saw the foam spray mirror frame epidemic of 2020. The best DIY projects are thoroughly thought through, approached with measuring tape and lots of discretion. Odds are, if you are eager to pursue a DIY, someone else has done it before you and shared their hacks on the internet, which is why we would like to carry the money saving trend into the new year.
Thrifting – pre-loved will never go out of style
As we collectively lean towards warmer interiors including wood and textures, thrifted furniture has made a rightful comeback. Antique cabinets, retro lamps and vintage patterned sofas are on the rise from Pinterest to Architectural Digest, and can often be acquired at thrift shops at a fraction of the remake price. More often than not, vintage-inspired furniture bought new doesn’t quite hit the mark on look and feel the same way that an authentic piece does. Plus, as far as our fast-fashion, wasteful society is concerned, we could do with a lot less brand new and a whole lot more pre-loved.
Bathroom sanctuaries – the not-to-be-forgotten frequented space
We hate to admit that we spend lots of time in our bathrooms, but it is a fact, especially if you do your hair and makeup in there and occasionally take a very long hot bath. Spa-like, Zen-inducing bathrooms have risen to stardom on socials, and while looking at toilets is not my idea of a good time, what surrounds them gets me excited. Neutral pastel colours, plants, pretty tiles, candles and large bath mats sum up the sanctuary loo trend, and investing in these frequented spaces is definitely welcome as we enter 2024.
The frame TV – spoiler alert, you don’t need the flashy Samsung one
I am an advocate for not designing your living space around a TV. While we might spend a whole bunch of time in front of it, there is no need to have a lifeless black screen be the nucleus of your home. The frame TV entered the chat this year, boasting a sleek wall-mounted design that doubles as a piece of customisable art and, at the touch of a button, ready for a series binge. Only thing is, all smart TVs can be frame TVs, so you really don’t need to go out and buy the Samsung one. Whether your existing screen is wall-mounted or standing on a console, you can quite effortlessly showcase your favourite photography or artworks on it, adding dimension to your living room and perhaps a zero to your electricity bill.
WHAT WE ARE LEAVING BEHIND:
Neon signs – and the apostrophe s dilemma
Listen, I love coloured lighting, specifically of the warm orange and occasional purple variety. And not all neon signs are as tacky as a lightning bolt or “this must be the place”. In fact, some can be pretty darn cute. As with all design trends, discretion and a split second’s thought on longevity is crucial. You can totally add coloured lighting to your space without having to spell out the 2023 equivalent of “live, laugh, love” in fluorescent strips. This past year plenty of bridal couples went for a neon sign of their last name with the foresight of adding it to their home after the big day. Adorable, I’d say! Please just grammar-check whatever you are getting commissioned. Plural surnames don’t have apostrophes.
Marble Everything – the Flintstones’ worst nightmare
Kitchens and bathrooms have become victims to this terribly soulless trend. Marble walls, floors, countertops, sinks and bathtubs. To me that’s what an asylum looks like, or the house of a billionaire who refuses to be comfortable in order to keep hustling. Marble is a marvellous material and I strive to one day afford a Calacatta countertop in my kitchen, but we really don’t need to deck out an entire space with slabs of rock. It’s cold, lifeless and feels sterile, like a post-apocalyptic hospital or a childhood fever dream.
Purposefully wrinkled bedding – when nobody has time to iron their sheets
It really took my entire teens for me to religiously make my bed every morning, just to find out in my twenties that the “undone” look is trendy. I simply never got behind this trend, which is why I implore everyone to avoid linen bedding that wrinkles just by looking at it. Just think back to the first time you can remember where you got out of a refreshing shower and slid into a crisp bed made up with fresh cotton sheets. Now think about wearing a linen shirt. Not the same, never has been and never will be. Trust me, I don’t iron my bed sheets, yet cotton doesn’t wrinkle the way this trendy bedding does.
Hype coffee table books – yes, I mean the Tom Ford one Coffee table books are beautiful bricks of paper filled with awe-inspiring photographs and illustrations, and the genre has diversified to every field of interest imaginable. But for some reason everyone and their mother wants or has the big black Tom Ford book. If you are interested in fashion, buy the overpriced book by all means, but as we enter 2024, I urge you to look into coffee table books that actually reflect your interests. From architecture and gardening to impressionist and post modern art, there is something out there that tells your guests who you are – if they actually ever care to page through it while you are entertaining. Check out Uncle Spike’s Book Exchange for thrifted coffee table books.
Charene Labuschagne
