What are the living room trends for 2023 ?

1. OVER-SIZED FURNITURE

white corner sofa in a white living room with a big potted plant

“It’s about scaling up your furniture, even in small living rooms,” states Creative Director of interior design studio Albion Nord(opens in new tab), Camilla Clarke. “Fill a small sitting room with a large sofa, a living room sectional or a large potted plant. It becomes so much more inviting and aesthetically compelling.”

In this project Camilla completed, the sofa takes up the bulk of this white living room - and doesn't it look comfy and like you want to be on it? So, if you’re wondering, now is the time to think big. Oversized silhouettes or large sculptural forms, it’s all about the drama and making a statement.

2. BLUE MARBLE FURNITURE

While marble has been a staple in our homes for decades, opting for unconventional varieties of the stone is becoming more popular. The deeply veined Azul Macaúbas, as used here in the Sun and Moon Coffee Table by Bohinc Studio(opens in new tab), brings theatre and intensity to the home.

'I love blue stone', says the interior designer Noa Santos, whose work is reguarly featured in Livingetc. 'It's so dramatic.'

While marble is often applied into muted or Scandi-style home decor themes, colored varieties paired with metallic finishes are perfect for maximalist environments.

3. CORK STRIP FLOORING

white living room with modern white sofa and cork floor

Cork flooring was a 70s must-have; however, we fell out of love with the trend as other fashions caught our eye. Thanks to Recork(opens in new tab), cork flooring has had a facelift and is a superb solution for homes today, meeting the sustainable and visual needs of conscious consumers.

With natural resources under threat, this material is harvested using only the bark of a cork oak tree meaning the trees continue to thrive and biodiversity isn’t put under threat. Using plant-based oils, Recork offers six finishes bringing a refined aesthetic to cork strip flooring.

4. BRIGHTLY PAINTED WOODWORK

yellow door with orange side to a neutral living room

Make a feature of the woodwork with an accent tone which complements the scheme of the room. “I always go with a general plan of using three main colors in a room,” states Matthew Williamson(opens in new tab). “One for the walls and ceiling, one of larger items such as a sofa and one main accent colour for the details.”

This is similar to the 60-30-10 rule we've seen take hold of decorating this year.

Think softer tones on the walls and ceiling and opt for brighter, more intense hues to spotlight the beauty in the detail of architrave, skirting and window frames. Or, if you want to keep to a neutral living room, painting the door brightly - with an even brighter slither of color on the side - is a wonderful way to introduce this living room trend.

5. BESPOKE DECORATIVE TV CABINETS

living room tv cabinet covered with birds in a modern home

Hiding a living room TV is often a challenge, but designers are coming up with innovative solutions to create decorative and functional alternatives. Interior designer Melissa Hutley, one half of Hutley & Humm(opens in new tab), states that more and more requests are coming in as we see each room as a multifunctional space.

“We recently created a cabinet with gilt bamboo framed prints (as pictured), and it was easy to forget it had another function!” she explains.

6. CURTAINED STORAGE

Our all defining need for our homes to be workspaces too may be over, but that mood is here to stay.

With more tech to store, and the importance of returning the space back to a home after work, practical living room storage has become a necessity. In smaller spaces larger storage units can be cumbersome and curtained storage provides a clever alternative.

With the simple addition of a shallow shelf, under which to store items you need quick access to, you can create a softer aesthetic with the chance to bring in vibrancy through different fabric options as seen here with The Rum Fellow’s(opens in new tab) new Pepenado textile collection.

7. ORGANIC COLOR SCHEMES

neutral living room with brown chair grey sofa and wood storage

“I think for 2023, many people will still be longing to have living spaces that can act as a sanctuary,” states interior designer Margot Tsim. “Despite maximalism dominating the interiors world recently, I think people will long for homes that are calm, serene and uncluttered without too much visual stimulation to promote wellness for the mind & soul, in search of peace, especially given the current climate we are living in.”

Through embracing these neutral living room color trends and natural materials such as timber and hessian, we can find comfort, tactility, and tranquillity to come back to each day, the embodiment of the new organic modern style.

8. OPEN STORAGE DIVIDERS

living room in a warehouse loft with a room divider

Adding functionality into the home is a priority for many as we spend even more of our working days at the dining table or home office area. Open storage room dividers, such as the modular Haller system by USM(opens in new tab), is a great way to zone the living room without removing light or creating something which makes the room feel more enclosed.

This system also offers ample storage for extra technology and plant holder fixtures to bring greenery into the room, again a great way to liven up the space. With an array of bold color choices available, this is a superb concoction of practicality and elegance.

9. POLISHED METALS

Highly polished metals are having a resurgence in living room trends, with designers working with such materials in new forms and applications. Alluding back to the popularity of materials such as aluminium and steel in the 1950s, we are falling in love again with the glamour and finesse they bring to the home.

MDF Italia have reimagined four of its iconic designs in polished steel and aluminium When bringing this into the home, don’t be afraid to mix different metals and finishes to create added depth and interest.

10. LIMEWASH PAINT

grey apartment living room with dark blue sofa

With its breathability, non-toxic and plastic-free qualities making it a popular choice for historical and period architecture across the world, limewash has been used over centuries with its textured, velvety aesthetic being loved by many. It helps to create pleasing, transitional-style living rooms.

This appearance has again become increasingly popular, and, thanks to Francesca’s Paint(opens in new tab), it is available to buy in a ready-made format making application a lot simpler. With a variety of shades available, bringing this finish into a contemporary interior has never been easier.

11. FURNITURE IN PRIMARY COLORS

living room with blue sofa, red chair and graphic blue rug

Bold blocks of blue, red and yellow are the hottest colors for larger pieces of furniture next year. What they do is shimmer like jewels in the crown of the room, ruby, sapphire and amethyst. It's an exciting way to decorate which goes against color theory but somehow feels right regardless.