Home Design Trends for 2023

A new year is a great time for a home refresher. We sat down with two award-winning interior design experts, including Leanne Jenkins of Leanne Jenkins Design and Louis Duncan-He from Louis Duncan-He Designs, to get the scoop on each of their top five design trends in 2023.

Both of these Calgary-based designers bring a unique perspective to their craft. Leanne specializes in a variety of high end spaces including residential interiors, hotels, restaurants and office design. Louis and his team are the minds behind Rohit Communities Dean’s Landing in U/D.

Leanne Jenkins’ top five home design trends of 2023

1. Bold colours

Whether it be in wallpaper, appliances, bedding, furniture or paint, bold colours will be a strong trend in 2023. A tranquil colour palette with jewel tones, or one with bright cheerful colours, is emerging in interiors. Not sure where to start? Throw pillows and artwork are a great way to introduce colour into your space.

2. Overscale pendants

Gone are the days of three simple pendants over the island. Two large scale pendants at the island, or an oversized single pendant at a nook table are increasing in popularity. Overscale pendants are a great way to add a personal statement to a space. They are also an easy update to make. Experts at local lighting stores like Carrington Lighting and LightForm Calgary can set you up to ensure you find the right size and scale for your home.

3. Brown

According to Jenkins, warm brown tones in furniture, cabinetry, flooring, paint and accents are providing a feeling of coziness and dimension missing from monotone white and grey interiors. Rich wood tones are being used to balance white interiors to create a bright but cozy feel. A natural wood coffee table, warm toned blankets and throws or a new area rug are easy ways to mix and match warmer tones into your space to test them out.

4. 60’s and 70’s influence

This style may be somewhat short-lived, but can be incorporated tastefully into design with some long-term pieces such as Eames chairs or stained wood pieces (tying in with the brown trend). Not all 1970s design was bad design, and it can be done without reminding you of your grandparents’ basement. A great place to start with some small changes is a shag area rug or smaller decor pieces, both of which can be found at the Homesense on Shaganappi Trail in Market Mall.

5. Closed floor plans

As people worked from home during the pandemic, the desire and need for privacy and quiet spaces have led away from open floor plans. Creating cozy quiet areas, formal entries and closed off retreats are becoming a home must-have. Think about repurposing that small nook or unused corner in your home for some added separation from the main living spaces.

Louis Duncan-He’s Home Design Trends for 2023

Louis is an internationally published, award winning designer and entrepreneur. He believes that spaces should be timeless, authentic and designed with heart and soul. Hailing from a background in corporate advertising, Louis applies a unique client-centred approach with the goal to create distinctive spaces that reflect distinctive people.

1. Sustainability

We can’t deny that the focus on sustainability is becoming not just a trend, but a necessity. We’re seeing a real shift towards environmental education which impacts where products are sourced from and their carbon emissions. People are willing to pay a little more for locally sourced quality products and bringing vintage pieces into the mix. In addition, adding in hits of green (think large plants or living moss installations) to help increase the air quality in the home.

For some tips on how to bring some green into your living space, check out our blog on Indoor Plant Tips for Beginners, Collectors, and Pet Owners.

2. Fluted & Caning Detailing 

Fluted and caning details are everywhere! Fluted details offer a ribbed or grooved texture (usually vertical) applied to millwork, metals, glass, furniture and other accent pieces. Caning is a weaved texture (usually out of rattan or wicker) derived from cane, used in furniture and other accents. These details are elegant and are the perfect way to add in depth or a hint of an organic quality. 

Whether you start with a rattan chair or wicker side table, there are plenty of places to find fluted and caning home decor including Homesense at Market Mall, Urban Barn at Crowfoot or Metro Element in Kensington.

3. Curves

Whether it’s furniture, accessories or architectural details, curves are making a comeback. From elegant and simple executions like a curved dry walled staircase and arched wall details to cozy off-white boucle sofas, adding curves throughout a space is a seamless way to add cohesion and flow.

4.Plaster & Limewash

In 2022 we saw the emergence of “japandi”, a minimalist yet rich and layered mix of Japanese and Scandinavian design with key elements featuring limewash and plastered walls, soft and airy woods along with a minimalist sensibility. We are now seeing this more organic textured approach be applied to not just walls, but even in finishing textures of chandeliers and furniture – think plaster textured metals, milky and pearlescent glass and faux finished consoles and credenzas.

Limewash and plaster walls are easy to accomplish at home. By mixing plaster and paint, you can give any wall a rich and layered look.

5.Return of the Dining Room

While the last few years really tested the functionality of our home, one room that became the “sacrificial landing zone” was the formal dining room. We saw them metamorphosize to function as home offices, game zones and even make-shift classrooms. People are excited to claim their homes again and make them feel special for reconnecting with friends and family as we find our new normal, and the dining room is a huge focus for so many of our clients.