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Interior Trends 2023 and Beyond: Calm Nature & Digital Realism
by Yvonne Heinen-Foudeh, Senior International Correspondent In times of changing consumer awareness with a view of protecting the environment and an outside world seeming more threatening the cocooning trend is experiencing a revival. The possibilities opened up by technology for home entertainment, participating in cultural and even professional life from the home office, or the comfort of the sofa at home are reinforcing the trend. According to futurologists and trending augurs, social life with friends and family will also experience a retreat into their own 'four walls'. Splendid economic conditions for the furniture industry and its suppliers of materials and machinery (see report on the Furniture Manufacturing Expo, the "Hickory Show" at the end of July in this issue).
Any shifts in culture, economy and technology have a direct or indirect impact on our daily lives and determine the products consumers want - their functionality, their look and feel – the overall style and design. What applies to our clothing also applies, if not more so, to our immediate environment - our home - which is increasingly also home to workplaces, space for learning, for sporting activities, for growing one's own plants, whether in the garden, on the balcony or on the roof terrace of an apartment building. "The worlds of hospitality and home are merging. As commercial premises seek ways to bring a more homely aesthetic to hotels, restaurants, and co-working spaces, consumers are also borrowing elements from hospitality styling to bring into their own homes," predicts leading trend forecaster WGSN in their most recent Interior Trend Report. As UK interiors tastemaker Laura Jackson explains, "During the pandemic, we have all spent more time enjoying the simple pleasures of home – the satisfaction of setting the table for dinner or putting fresh sheets on the bed. As the pace of life speeds up once again, we find ourselves wanting to hold on to the importance of those things."
Attitude & Awareness In conjunction with the change in consumer attitude, the nature chapter trend creates a link between wellness with natural colors, happily accentuated with colorful eye-catchers. Materials display organic structures (and often provenience) and coziness with wool, cotton, clay, velvet, ceramics, light woods, and terrazzo for a smooth, feel-good environment. “Instagramable Lounge” trendbook.com calls the variant of the hospitality trend for the young target groups - Generation X and Z. The Instagram generation will tend to appreciate more eye-catching interiors for sharing on their accounts. Full of colors and geometrics furniture and decor of this direction appears. “Digital Realism” here is the title of a flow that translates another decisive social influence: The underground digital world applied to interior design, it’ll be mostly seen in specific decor elements, with bright, even neon colors.
Restorative bedroom retreat influenced by the desire for tranquility and escapism: Leading trend forecaster WGSN counted 19 million Google searches for how to create a boutique hotel bedroom: “Travel restrictions but also changing awareness have given rise to interest in hospitality inspired design.“ Source: K.Kong Home Decor
Hospitality means primarily the creation of free space where the stranger can enter and become a friend instead of an enemy. Hospitality is not to change people, but to offer them space where change can take place. It is not to bring [people] over to our side, but to offer freedom not disturbed by dividing lines. Henri J.M. Nouwen
The Lewis Armchair by Circu employs fluidity to convey warmth and comfort by combining a soft bouclé for the sitting and back plus a delicate velvet for the back frame. The Portuguese furniture collection runs under the motto: ‘Mom and Dad have dreams too’ and is distributed via the company’s online store. Photo: Circu
Designed by one of the most iconic design legends of our time, the great Karim Rashid, the Karlotta Single Sofa aus der Kasual Collection captivates through the comfort with its ergonomic shape and fun through color. Catalog message to the customer: “Whether you are seen TV or just scrolling on your phone, you will be feeling like you are on a cloud.” Source: Essential Home
Defined by a classic style, the curved Wales Sofa by BRABBU is upholstered in cotton velvet and shows polished nail head trim, a base in matte vintage. Upholstered in velvet and with golden details this piece is capable of creating a warm and inviting space. Source: Covet House – Curated Design
The Cyber Punk or Digital Realism theme transfers a megatrend of our times into interior design. Source: TRENDBOOK