10 spring interior trends for 2023, according to designers and stylists
Interiors are beginning to feel more in touch with nature and less industrial. Strong colour trends are bringing us vivid hues, earthy tones, vanilla and every kind of green to signal the start of spring, banishing gloomy greys.
We’ll be using these exciting new shades throughout the home and garden, with verdant kitchens and bathrooms, and pastel French-insipired bedrooms.
Quaint retro touches like bobbin furniture, ribbed glass, chevron-patterned tiles and flooring mean our homes will become a canvas for personal expression and creativity this season.
Below, we’ve asked experts across furniture, lighting, paint, colour and interior design to share their interior trend predictions for Spring 2023.
1. Vivid colours
There’s a choice of two strong colour ‘families’ this spring, says colour and paint expert Annie Sloan: “These are empowering, strong brights and reassuring, earthy folk favourites, representing joy and comfort.”
In the ‘joy’ category come hot pinks such as Pantone’s Viva Magenta, clear purples such as WSGN’s Digital Lavender and Annie Sloan’s vivid Capri Pink which lift the spirts and boost confidence.
Comfort means warm, earth-toned shades such as Carnaby Yellow, Riad Terracotta and Piranesi Pink. “In other words, colours you recognise from architecture in Mediterranean countries, interposed with splashes of brights,” says Annie. “Think of the way a bougainvillea in Corfu will bloom against a Venetian building façade, that mix of vitality and history will bring hope and reassurance.”
At Barker and Stonehouse, head of buying Helena Davies says a favourite trend for Spring 2023 is “earthy and warm tones with more pigment to them; muddy, dusky pinks, ochre yellow, cobalt blue and both moss and olive green are being used more. Colours and texture that make us feel uplifted and at ease at the same time.”
2. Organic lighting
“Now more than ever, our homes are our sanctuary and a cave for cosiness”, says Julian Page, head of design at BHS. “Lighting is not only functional, but also plays a huge role in setting the atmosphere within our interiors.”
He’s predicting bold, sculptural shapes for spring: “Glass bubble lighting, black and brass finishes and sculptural lighting will be evident as people use their spaces for multi-functional living as well as lighting that can act a piece of art.”
The huge trend for natural materials such as wicker and rattan is still prevalent. Mara Miller, director of Industville, says we’re going to go even more handcrafted and organic: “Handcrafted lighting pairs perfectly with organic spring hues showcased in feature pieces, furniture and wall decor. Blending raw materials such as wood, limestone, rattan, and bamboo with handcrafted pewter, copper or brass metal light shades and handcrafted wire shades will create this season’s key atmosphere – earthy and tranquil.”
3. Charming furniture
Whilst sustainability is still a key furniture theme, there’s a whimsical air coming in for Spring 2023 that takes inspiration from traditional influences. Bobbin furniture, for example, decorated with beads inspired by 17th-century lathe-turned designs, was previously a high-end micro-trend, but now appeal is broadening.
The rise of beauty tutorials on social media is sparking a renaissance in classic dressing tables, says Lucy Mather, spokesperson for furniture company Arighi Bianchi, whilst films and television series such as Emily in Paris are informing our choices says Deirdre McGettrick, co-founder of ufurnish.com: “Of course, it may simply a return to the desire for a serene bedroom, but French-style decor will be huge across bedrooms this spring. To incorporate this trend, avoid bold colours or prints and instead opt for light and airy colours, fabrics and French-inspired furniture.”
4. Vanilla vibes
Soft tones of cream, ecru and white are about to appear in our homes. Helena says this “softly-spoken home” is an ideal spring trend if colour isn’t your thing. However, to bring it to life, you should consider injecting texture: “Boucle is leading the way and we’re seeing it cover your living room’s occasional seating or even on your one and only sofa, more so in homes without children and pets running amok. Also, heavyweight natural linens are also becoming more and more popular.”
Jessica Clayworth, lead designer at Morris & Co. advises taking time to plan a neutral scheme to avoid the space feeling clinical or flat. One way to achieve this is to try out lots of soft paint shades for the walls: “The hue you finally choose needs to elevate all the elements within the room, and this will depend on several factors, including the amount of natural light coming in.”
5. Going green
Although green was already trending in 2022, it is now coming in a huge variety of shades and appearing throughout the home. “Green is the new grey this spring,” says interior designer Martin Waller, founder of Andrew Martin. “The austerity of the grey-taupe age is over. It’s the age of Kermit, the Incredible Hulk, and all things emerald, lime, forest, pistachio, jade, and sage from wall colours, fabrics, and cushions to headboards, rugs, and curtains.”
Tom Howley, design director of the eponymous kitchen company says “green kitchens are having something of a moment right now. As a colour we associate primarily with nature, this grounding shade has an incredible way of reconnecting us with our surroundings, creating moments of calm and positivity.”
Interior designer Naomi Astley Clarke likes to drop jewel-like greens into a neutral scheme: “Think cream linen furnishings with punchy emerald velvet cushions or a deep teal-painted lounge with a warm, wooden desk and pale carpet.”
6. Chevron flooring
Herringbone pattern has been the most fashionable way to lay real wood flooring for some time now. Although this distinctive graphic pattern isn’t going anywhere, there’s competition in chevron. A definite trend for spring, according to Katie Hudghton, head of marketing at flooring company Woodworks and Ted Todd: “Characterised by its continuous ‘V’-shape, stylish and geometrically eye-catching, chevron makes a statement and demands to be noticed when you enter a room,” she says. “We’ve been pairing Pantone’s colour of the year, Viva Magenta, with rich chevron flooring, and this achieves a confident and bold interior style.”
Away from wood, luxury vinyl flooring company Amitco, predicts that the fashion for a heavy stone or concrete look is fading, and this spring we’ll be moving towards chalky, paler marble-effects and softer-looking concrete finishes, to reflect the gentler tone of walls.
7. Kitchens open up
William Durrant, owner of Herringbone Kitchens says we’re going to take the ‘less is more’ trend even further, with a definite move away from kitchen cabinets and far more emphasis on open shelving.
“To help create more wall space for oak or stone floating shelves and display units, we’re designing floor-to-ceiling units, and lower runs of cabinets are being designed with clever storage in mind,” he explains.
It’s also all about adding interest, depth and colour to kitchen walls. With this, Helena Myers, director of kitchen company The Myers Touch, says the trend for slatted wood walls in darker woods “to provide textural contrast and definition” will expand further early this year. This is a look, she adds, that works well with soft-toned grey cabinets and “marble and moody-toned quartz work surfaces.”
Also on this understated theme, Howard Miller, co-founder of bespoke kitchen designers H.Miller Bros feels there is a strong leaning towards a streamlined and utlilitarian mid-century design: “Our theory is that there is something about the general optimism of post-war interior design and the accompanying design flair that feels really refreshing right now.”
8. Bolder bathrooms
Terrazzo is definitely here to stay, but bold tilework, especially in classic black and white checkerboard and geometric patterns, gun-metal sanitaryware fittings and accessories, and panelling are all bathroom trends to watch in 2023, according to Ruth Foster, interior designer at online bathroom retailer Victoria Plum.
“Geometric tilework allows you to be bold and put your creativity to the test and many are feeling daring in their bathroom design with online searches relating to geometric bathroom tiles jumping by 34,900 per cent since last year,” she says. “Popular geometric patterns include hexagons, bricks, chevrons and parquet-like designs, and for a more masculine, yet artsy feel, opt for this in a monochromatic colour scheme.”
To work this dramatic trend with a modern twist, Ruth advises pairing strong tilework with a neutral colour palette and plenty of bathroom greenery.
Gunmetal is this spring’s most exciting metallic finish, and works well with lots of bathroom materials including marble, wood, stone and ceramics. And for a touch of lavish glamour, bringing in period-style panelling adds depth and interest to even the smallest room.
9. Textured accessories
Again, it’s all about texture. Interest in ‘fluted’ home accessories, such as glass vases and lampshades, has soared in the last six months and Brendon Haxby, co-founder of homeware and furniture company, Naken, thinks it’s a trend that is going to stick around. “You can trace fluted interiors back thousands of years but 2023 will be the year they once again take centre stage,” he says. “Evoking the glamour of the Art Deco movement, fluted homewares will command attention. From tableware to tiles, cabinets to cupboards, expect to see plenty of beautifully tactile pieces appearing in homes this year.”
A clever mixture of textures and patterns is key to making this look work seamlessly, says Judith Harris, head of house and home at Toast, and we can all enjoy experimenting. “Our homes will become a canvas for personal expression and creativity,” says Judith. “Our new season pieces include soft kantha-stitched quilts, traditional woven stripe bed linen and patch work cushions that can be layered.”
Marie Goodwin, head designer at Prestigious Textiles, thinks characterful prints will play a big part this year too: “Think grand architecture, tropical flora and fauna, trailing florals with complimentary lace work.”
10. Nature enters the workspace
This spring marks almost three years since working from home became commonplace, and using our homes as offices is having a noticeable effect on how we use our living space.
As Lucy Mather says, "never before have our homes taken on so many guises – from office to gym to entertainment space to wellness retreat, there is no going back on how our homes have evolved over the past three years.”
We are seeing the rise of “dual work and leisure zones”, which integrate workspaces neatly into kitchens, bedrooms and living areas, says Tony McCarthy, commercial director of fitted furniture company Crown Imperial.
However, in visual terms, the biggest trend in home workspaces will be embracing the world outside your window: “Calm colour tones are helping to create a feeling of well-being and bringing the ‘outside’ in. Consider introducing a subtle colour pop with timeless pale blues and sage tones to elevate your work zone.”
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