As 2022 comes to a close (we know, we can’t believe it either), we’re already looking ahead at what’s next for the design world. And, as one of the central gathering spaces in any house, the living room is at the heart of our focus. 2022 proved to be the year of bold wallpaper, warm woods, and a resurgence of antiques—all of which are still going strong. But what’s on the other side of the calendar? Well, we spoke with designers and pored over recent projects to get a sense of what we’ll be seeing more of in the year to come. The good news? The prognosis is great, with warmth, style, and details galore. Read on to learn what to expect. (Want more trends? Here’s what we foresee for colors, kitchens, kitchen cabinets, and more).
If a few years ago was the heydey of Millennial Pink and the last few years were all about verdant shades, 2023 is shaping up to be all about rich, vibrant colors in muted tones. We love the feeling evoked in this room by Rupp Studio with a burgundy velvet sofa, deep sage lime-washed walls, and pillows that are the sexier cousin to teal. House Beautiful’s 2022 Whole Home also saw designers leaning into deep, dark palettes to evoke warmth and comfort.
In terms of neutrals, warm, earth tones complement those rich hues well. “We see a trend in 2023 toward warm, non-intrusive, neutral tones and materials, which provide comfort and security,” Max Gansow, co-founder of furniture brand Vetsak, told House Beautiful this fall. “Raw, organic materials, and tones such as brown ocher, which we showcase in our genuine bovine leather collection, offer a cozy-yet-modern grounding base.” This living room by Chad Wood proves how well the rich hues and warm neutrals pair.
Let’s hear it for 2023 being the year we…actually use our living rooms. Now that we know better than ever how we use our homes, they’re adapting to better serve those needs. In his space at the 2022 Whole Home, Duväl Reynolds devised one room complete with areas for reading, napping, drinking, entertaining, and even stargazing.
This trend was so big at this year’s Kips Bay Dallas showhouse that we devoted an entire report to it. Next Wave designer Linda Hayslett agrees, saying “fluted and reeded pieces in neutral spaces” are huge right now. While the look was once reserved for small detail areas, we predict next year will see it expand into living spaces, like in this room by Jean Liu.
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Next-Level Media Experiences
With new bingeworthy shows launching weekly and an increased comfort in staying in, 2023 proves to be the year many homeowners splurge for an upgraded media experience, whether in the form of a large-scale TV (this LG one in a room by Keia McSwain measures a whopping 136 inches) or custom sound system.
“It’s the objects we fill our homes with that hold the most power to ease our anxieties,” muses Jean Lin, the founder of design co-op and firm Colony. “Maybe it’s your grandfather’s collection of fly fishing lures, or maybe you’re zealous for antique maps—whatever it is that brings your truest self to your living space is on trend.” In a New Jersey home for a recently-widowed art collector, Halden Interiors’s Kesha Franklin designed space to showcase the owner’s collection of art and souvenirs.
Maybe it’s their multifunctionality, maybe it’s their element of nostalgia, but we’re seeing a big return to daybeds in large living spaces. Here, Zoë Feldman uses a Serena & Lily daybed to divide the large living area of the 2022 Whole Home without blocking the sculptural window. Covered in a Sanderson fabric, it gets a bespoke look.
Finally, living rooms in 2023 will push beyond the house, as outdoor entertaining proves to have staying power. After all, when you devise your outdoor space with living areas as good as your interiors (like this one by Ashley Gilbreath), why do you even need to go inside?
Hadley Keller
Digital Director
Hadley Keller is House Beautiful’s digital director.
