White has for years been a trending shade used throughout the home on kitchen cabinets, trim, and interior doors. It’s also often used in exterior finishes, from plank siding on modern farmhouses to whitewashed brick. But homeowners are growing tired of it, and this year we are expecting to break trends. If current indicators are correct, we are going to see more bold colors and natural wood popping up in interior décor. Here’s what we are seeing so far.
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Colors of the Year
Major brands specializing in color have predicted 2023 will be a year on the red spectrum. Pantone chose Viva Magenta and Benjamin Moore picked Raspberry Blush, both of which are bright, energetic colors. Sherwin-Williams, on the other hand, chose a more subdued Redend Point, which is a blush-beige that looks like a hue from a Southwest terracotta color palette.
If you like Viva Magenta, make sure you check out our blog post on incorporating magenta into your home décor.
Ocean Colors
With the rise of home decor aesthetics like Coastal Grandmother Style, Crustaceancore, and Beachcore, designers are expecting to see more bold blues and greens. As a coastal community, we see ocean colors frequently, so it may not be as big of a leap for us. Matter-of-fact, our blog “15 Color Palettes Inspired by the Ocean” has been re-pinned on Pinterest thousands of times.
Two-Tone Kitchens
Specifically in kitchens, interior designers are seeing more two-tone color palettes. The most common combinations are upper cabinets in a white or light gray with lower cabinets that are a dark blue, gray, or teal. The next most common colors are off-white on top and green, taupe, or brown on the bottom, but dark natural wood (top or bottom) is on the rise. Typically, the colors are high contrast but they don’t need to be. Whatever color combination is used, the darker color should be on the bottom to create the illusion of a larger, taller room.
High-Contrast Bathrooms
Bathrooms are also seeing a high-contrast color palette, but the colors are trending to much brighter choices. Bright green and blue tiles are some of the more popular finishes, though homeowners who tend to change their minds every few years may want to stick to updating the less permanent parts of their bathrooms, like the wall color and shower curtain.
Peel-and-Stick Wallpaper
Designers are expecting more people to incorporate wallpaper into their interior décor now that peel-and-stick options have become so available. Homeowners can choose bright and interesting designs for their walls and easily change it in a few years when they tire of it. It’s also great for updating furniture. Stick it to the back of a shelf, inside a drawer, or on a cabinet panel to add a bit of color.
Spoonflower is a great resource for peel-and-stick wallpaper, because they have so many different patterns. Homeowners can go bold, like with this monkey wallpaper…
…or more understated, but still colorful, with this horseshoe crab wallpaper.
Whatever brings you joy, they have a design for you. Even aliens!
Natural Wood & Drama
When farmhouse décor became a big hit, so did painted, distressed furniture and whitewashed flooring. Now that these trends have seemingly passed, natural wood is making a comeback. No, that doesn’t mean the ‘90s honey oak is finally back in style. Instead, we are seeing more stains that let the natural beauty of the wood grain come through. Bleached pine and other very pale stains are popular, as well as dark and dramatic espresso type colors.
View the second article in our 2023 Home Trends to Watch series, Multi-purpose Function.