IS THIS JUST A TREND IN 2023?

When I meet with a client to talk about their design style and what they envision for their new home one of the questions I get asked most often is, "Is this style too trendy? Will it be considered dated in the next 5-10 years?". I always answer this the same way, and it is never what they expect.

My answer to this common question is "Absolutely!". Not what you expected, right? I think people are surprised by my answer because they are expecting me as the designer to sell them the perfect style that can last years and years to come and to ease their mind by telling them that their design choices they make now will always be in style. But I will let you in on a secret. The truth is if you are leaning heavily into a specific style like "Farmhouse", "Bohemian", or even "Modern" then yes, there is a large chance that the style will be considered "dated" in the next 10 years. And that is great news! Hear me out...

Think about who you were as a person 10 years ago from right now. If you had the chance to design a home however you wanted back then, money not being an issue, do you think you would have made choices then that still reflect who you are now? Probably not! Just like people evolve and change over years, so does design! Your interior should reflect who you are, what you love, and function for the way you currently live your life. And that will ALWAYS be evolving! So instead of being fearful that you will make a "trendy" choice and that it will not be popular in 5-10 years, lean into it and view it as an exciting part of your growth! Now if you are thinking, there is no way I can afford to change up my house every 5 years, then keep on reading sister.

I am a firm believer that your surroundings should be a reflection of who you are and evoke happiness in your life. So, if right now you are loving that dark and moody blue, then paint the dang walls! Style it with the artisan macramé tapestry that you picked up while on vacation years ago, and don't worry about when or if it will go out of style because in time it all will. Enjoy your space and give yourself the permission to let it evolve as you do. Now with that being said, there is a way to design and style a space so that it is a little easier on the pocketbook when you are ready for a change.

One of my tricks is to design the "background" in a way that can evolve and change with you through the trends over the years. It is easy to paint a wall or paint a cabinet, but not so easy to bust out flooring or a backsplash. So those pieces of the puzzle that are a little more costly or difficult to replace should be the more neutral supporting pieces of the design. Lean into the trendy styles through applications such as removable wallpaper, furniture, décor, paint, light fixtures, hardware, or art! There are so many possibilities to transform a space with major impact and a small budget. Below, you will find some of my favorite trendy design elements that I think will be popular this year. If any of these appeal to you, let's talk! I would love to help you get to a place where you love your space you live in, and it not cost you an entire arm and a leg to get there.

TEXTURE

I am noticing that more designers, home builders, and even product manufacturers are adding layers of texture into their designs in interesting ways. I am most excited about design applications such as lighting, wall panels, and glass accents.

The Capital Lighting 2023 Product Preview features some killer light fixtures that have textures such as rattan, bamboo, eucalyptus, natural rope, and seeded glass.

There are so many amazing examples of textured wall applications from popular designers and home builders on Instagram. Of course, Joanna Gains from Magnolia is Queen of feature walls and leading the demand for Shiplap, but even her recent projects use different materials in interesting ways! The snip below is from her Instagram account showing that texture can be applied to a wall or ceiling (or both!) to create interest without giving strong "farmhouse" vibes. @magnolia

Another simple way to lightly layer in some texture is by using a reeded glass! Textured glass is showing up as a popular choice in the design world in applications such as doors, cabinets, furniture, lighting, and vases! Designer & Blogger Bre Bertolini of @brepurposed on Instagram did it best with her kitchen renovation adding a reeded glass accent cabinet, cute light sconces, and then repeating the pattern in a different way on her kitchen island!

CREAMY BEIGE

I have seen a slight move away from the bright white and light gray that dominated the Modern Farmhouse style last year into a creamier white and warm beige gray tone. I actually love pairing the creamy beige colors with a bright white for a look that is a bit more "lived in". Add a warm medium tone stain and I think you have the winning 2023 combination! One of my favorite designers to follow on Instagram, @lindseybrookedesign used this combination in one of her recent projects that gives a more traditional cottage vibe.

I have also seen this color palette introduced in new construction, like this Tulsa local custom home builder @thebirchco in a modern kitchen.

MIXED METALS

A quick and easy way to change up the look of a space is to swap out the cabinet hardware! Most cabinet knobs and pulls come in standard sizes, which means you can easily find a new style to swap them out and not have to drill new holes into your cabinet fronts. Mixing finishes in a space is becoming more popular as opposed to everything matching (example: bathroom faucet, light fixtures, cabinet hardware, and mirror). My favorite combinations are Matte Black + Champagne Bronze, Satin Nickel + Satin Bronze, and Chrome + Brushed Nickel. Tulsa local designer @jenniferstricklerdesign does this so well. In the bathroom reno below she kept the more expensive harder to swap out items such as the plumbing faucets and the light fixture in a classic Chrome but added a fun Champagne Bronze finish to the cabinet hardware and mirrors for interest!

I am so excited to see what new trends may emerge this year, and I hope I have encouraged you to try one of your own!

CHELSEA HARPER

Principal Designer & Founder | Harper House Collective