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It’s a new year, and I’m most excited to see what’s on the horizon for living rooms, arguably one of the most used spaces in the home. “In general, people want a home aesthetic that is simple and easy but still beautiful,” says designer Meredith Goforth, founder of House of Prim, a design and organizing firm. In other words, form and function are both “in” for living areas, and you just have to figure out what that means for you. Need a little inspiration? I chatted with a few of my favorite designers to get their take on what a stylish living room will look like in 2023, and here’s what they had to say.
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Color, color, and more color
Almost all of the designers I spoke to agreed that a more adventurous approach to color was coming to a living room near you. Designer Anastasia Casey of IDCO Studio definitely sees bold hues in the forecast for 2023. “Colored sofas are definitely going to be having a major moment,” she says. “I also think we’ll see a lot of living room furniture with contrast piping details along the edges — likely natural linen pieces with chartreuse or terracotta detailing.” The latter example is perfect for those who are vibrant color curious but want to keep their larger pieces as a neutral foundation on the whole.
Goforth singled out a special shade that she thinks is really going to take off: cobalt blue. “Cobalt blue has been prominent in fashion, which home design trends tend to follow,” she says. “It’s a vibrant, rich, and happy color that feels so good to be around. It’s a great alternative to white, black, and neutrals, which have been dominating living rooms forever.” Goforth says she’s also noticed clients gravitating towards similarly saturated, deeper hues in the purple and green families, too, and she expects that trend to continue as well.
Designer Christina Lehman of C Lehman Home predicts more color in terms of decorative accessories, and designer Samantha Struck of StruckSured Interiors agrees, at least when it comes to what she considers happy, zingy hues. “Color after a dreary season can brighten the mood!” says Struck.
Sculptural wooden focal walls
Think of this wall covering trend as wood paneling, version 2.0. “Although I don’t see the reemerged nostalgic charm of wooden slat walls going anywhere anytime soon, introducing carved or sculptural wooden panels is something I’m starting to see more of,” says designer and Small/Cool alum David Quarles IV. “Whether geometrical or more organic in shape, these sculptural panels bring another element of depth, focus, and care into any living space.” If you don’t have the budget for a full wall, think about incorporating this trend into a piece of furniture like a media console. Plenty of pieces out there have beautiful carvings and feature interesting inset designs (a shown above) that can make a similar decorative impact.
Eco-conscious furnishings
Goforth says shoppers are increasingly concerned about the environment, which will affect what furnishings they’re buying for the living room and beyond. “We’ll see this carry through to home design choices, as people opt for eco-friendly pieces made from renewable and recyclable materials,” she says. “A lot of living room furniture pieces — tables, consoles, chairs — are starting to incorporate sustainable materials like rattan, which is sturdy, beautiful, and will stand the test of time. I love rattan because in addition to being a more eco-friendly choice, it’s minimalistic and adds depth and texture, making your space more interesting. Plus, rattan doesn’t shed!”
You can expect the squiggles and wiggles of 2020 through 2022 to be a little more refined this year, turning into slightly more elegant scalloped shapes. “Scalloped edges will continue to have a major impact in design this year, especially in colored marble,” says Casey. We love the scallop trend and hope it doesn’t go away anytime soon! We’ve seen it done successfully on throw pillows, sofas, baskets — even lampshades.”
Double-duty furniture (especially the sleeper sofa)
“I think living rooms are going to be used more as multi-functional spaces,” Lehman says. “Console tables that can be used as a desk, desk/shelf units, or sofa beds will be used. With more people working from home, spaces are working harder and doing double-duty.” Struck also thinks multi-tasking furniture will be big. “Sofa sleepers are making a come back with people hosting and wanting to entertain more,” she says.
When it comes to fabric, 2023’s living room is going to be all about textural, touchable materials, albeit likely in bolder colorways. “I definitely think we will continue to see our favorite velvets and bouclé but now, in more colors,” Quarles IV says. “For a recent project, I just sourced a mustard-colored bouclé swivel chair, and I love it. And as for our beloved velvets, from the muted to the jewel tones, colorful velvets are here to stay.”
Though she’s in the process of preparing for a major overhaul of her 1940s farmhouse, content creator and author Kennesha Poe-Buycks of Restoration House wanted to address her living room sooner rather than later. “I thought to myself, ‘What can we do that wouldn’t cost a ton but offer a big visual impact in the space?’” she says. “The fireplace, since it was such a focal point in the room, seemed the obvious choice.”
Prior to the redo, Poe-Buycks fireplace didn’t fully jibe with age of her home. Specifically, while lovely, the slate blue painted brick looked a little too modern in style and made the room appear a bit darker. Even though she had spruced up the mantel with vessels to distract from her television — and added a pretty plant to the hearth — the setup wasn’t doing the space any favors. For that reason, Poe-Buycks decided to focus on upgrading the fireplace but with period charm at the core of the project. She knew she was going to update the firebox with a gas insert and worked with a contractor to source and install that component of the redo after demo. With that in place, Poe-Buycks then turned her attention to the fireplace hearth and surround, and her home’s age and history came into play for inspiration.
“In an attempt to restore [the home] to its original character and pay a nod to my affinity for English cottage style, we went with a mortared wall front for the re-facing,” Poe-Buycks says. While she didn’t want to splurge on whole stones, limestone veneer from a local stone yard offered a more affordable material that could also be installed in a quicker and easier fashion, especially since she and her husband would be doing the framing work and surface installation themselves.
To make the fireplace look more authentic though, Poe-Buycks took matters into her own hands, literally. “It was really important to me that even though we used cut veneers, they didn’t look like veneer,” she says. “We broke many of them into more organic shapes and carefully laid them out in a pattern that felt more natural.” The couple used mortar for the joinery, stacking the pieces from the hearth at the bottom of the surround to its very top.
Poe-Buycks knew she wanted a mantel to break up the surface and help situate her television and sound bar. She choose a slab-style wooden ledge in a darker finish to contrast with the lighter limestone veneer pieces and mortar. This perch is the perfect spot should she want to add smaller objects here in the future. She also placed a rattan basket on the hearth for yet another hit of texture in this spot.
The new firebox and surround set Poe-Buycks back a total of $800, which would have been way more had she and her husband not completed most of the labor themselves. The project wasn’t an overnight success though, and had some setbacks. The couple ran into a supply chain delay with their insert and the limestone veneer, and a few challenges also arose with installation. “The hardest part was learning how to place the stone — getting the mortar consistency right — and deciding on the mortar color,” she shares. “We ultimately went with white mortar, and I love that we decided not to dye it.”
From start to finish, the project took about four months due to the aforementioned product delays, but it was the perfect reno kick off for Poe-Buycks, who looks forward to completing more work in line with the history of her home. “I love English cottage style, so as we continue renovations, we’ll integrate both our personal design aesthetic with some of the original style of millwork and finishes indicative of that time period in the home,” Poe-Buycks adds.
Now that the hard work is done, Poe-Buycks feels perfectly at home in her newly styled living room. “With the addition of the stone and new insert, the space is much more inviting and cozy,” she says. “We spent a lot more time in the space this past winter, and now I can’t wait for the fall!”
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As the new year ramps up, I’m saying hello to new trends. Today, I’m eager to share that if you love to kick back at home (and who doesn’t?!), you’re in luck. Upholstered lounge chairs — almost like the kind you’d find outdoors poolside, only fluffier, a bit fancier, and somewhat more compact — are popping up indoors, and I’m most definitely here for it. After all, anything built for the sole purpose of kicking back and relaxing is a winner in my book.
Thinner than chaises and less bulky than accent chairs with separate ottomans, these small space-friendly loungers are ideal for placing in an empty corner of a living room or bedroom and make for a wonderful place to curl up, watch TV, or even work from home. As temperatures drop, maybe you’ll be more than okay with the idea of snuggling up on one of the trendy chairs below. These pieces are investments that you won’t regret!
Gowans Tufted Armless Chaise Lounge
If you love classic design, you’re likely a fan of anything tufted. In that case, this chair is an excellent option all around, given that it looks significantly more expensive than its under-$600 price tag and comes in two different fabric shades (with a third, beige, on back-order until February). The rounded feet add a nice traditional detail, too, making this piece a fabulous choice for an English-inspired reading nook.
If your style leans more mod, consider this leather lounger that’s sure to be a show-stopping, statement-making piece wherever it’s placed. It’s also available in two color combos — the black on chrome version would look ultra-sleek — and is a must for any mid-century lover’s home.
Bouclé enthusiasts, I found the perfect lounger for you! This on-trend chair is an A-plus pick for those who are all about texture and love a boho, contemporary look. The white hue is excellent for minimalist homes but can be jazzed up with throw pillows and blankets, too.
For an ultra-budget friendly buy, check out this lounger that truly brings the versatility with 42 different adjustable headrest and backrest angles. This is a great choice for larger households — every member of the family will be able to customize the chair to their liking, and the fabric cover is removable and easy to pop into the wash as needed.
Equipped with a pillow at the top, choose this lounge chair if you’re looking to get 10 minutes of shut-eye in between meetings. The gray fabric complements a number of room styles, while the metal legs add a modern touch.
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You love, love, love candles, and you almost always have one burning to set the mood and add a soothing scent to your space. But here’s what you don’t love: the steep price tag. As much as you adore the sense of peace you feel whenever you light one, it’s tough to justify the cost of some of the luxury brands. So, if you’re a devoted candle aficionado, it’s time to get acquainted with Perry Boyce.
This Brooklyn-made brand features hand-poured candles with an indulgent feel, but without the luxury price tag. “As someone who has splurged on more expensive candles and been disappointed by their intensity and burn time, this brand does not disappoint,” says Kitchn’s senior commerce editor Danielle. “These candles offer luxury-level fragrance at a much more affordable price point.”
Company founder Tracey Boyce is a visual artist who was inspired to launch the line because she wanted to make lavish, pretty, functional home items without the super-expensive prices. The candles come with 10 ounces of wax weight and a 50 to 70-hour burn time. Best of all, the scents are amazing! Enjoy the a fresh bouquet of lily and rose petals with Concrete + Jungle (without have to keep any plants alive). You can also get a wintery and intimate vibe going with their vanilla and musk scented Amber + Wood candle.
One of the most popular scents, perfect for warming up on a winter day, is Fireside + Chill. “The peppery, woodsy fragrance with just a touch of citrus made my entire living space feel like a cozy fireside cabin,” says Danielle. Best of all, Perry Boyce’s candles are incredibly reasonably-priced compared to other luxury candles. Order a few to give to friends this holiday season, keep one hand for host and hostess gifts, or indulge yourself (after all, Santa said you were very good this year!).
It seems like everyone I know has had a major obsession with British design for the past year or so, and now, with colder weather season underway, I can only anticipate that this admiration for England’s quirky, traditional-meets-eclectic spaces will increase. Something about the interiors across the pond just feel cozier, so I reached out to four British designers for tips on how they make their living rooms (and those of their clients) feel more comfortable as winter approaches. These tips should help you hunker down in your space in style, too.
Light a fire in a fireplace or heritage stove
“Still today in 2021, a majority of Londoners live in period houses where original chimneys are in place, so fireplaces are naturally high on the list. One of our clients opted for a wood burning stove in this pared back family living room. They told us how much this space became a cozy haven when everyone was locked up during the last Christmas lockdown due to COVID.” —Designer Yoko Kloeden, founder of Yoko Kloeden Design in London, England
Add layers, layers, and more layers
“This means just enough ‘stuff’ in the room and every piece being the right scale in relation to the space and the piece it’s accompanying — a side table or two by the sofa, a footstool of the right proportion — don’t go too small. Getting layering right is key to cozy!” —Designer Julia Alexander, founder of Julia Alexander Interiors in London, England
Incorporate elements of surprise
“British interior design is creative and eclectic. In our London studio, we love to use a mix of furniture pieces — old and new, contrasting textures and patterns, and sculptural shapes to tell the story. Colors can be bold or muted, but every design should be peppered with surprise and interest.” —Designer Jo Hamilton, creative director at Jo Hamilton Interiors in London, England
Aim for a variety of textures
“To achieve a quintessentially British aesthetic, aim to create a warm and homely environment using plenty of textures and natural hues. A wicker basket is a great example of this, creating a rustic aesthetic, and it could either be used to store logs or perhaps throws and blankets. We would recommend using thicker, heavier throws, which help to encourage a relaxed and inviting atmosphere.” —Designer Louise Wicksteed, design director at Sims Hilditch in Cold Ashton, South Gloucestershire, England
Prioritize entertaining pieces
“To inspire a cozy atmosphere fit to enjoy with friends, we suggest placing a drinks trolley in the corner of the room; antique ones are particularly lovely. Similarly, placing smart games such as backgammon or chess on the coffee table provides the perfect set up for an evening to be enjoyed with friends.” —Louise Wicksteed
