Vintage Décor Trends for 2023
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Incorporating vintage pieces into your home décor has an eco-friendly appeal for many people. What's more, with the recent criticism of fast homeware – a cousin of more well-known fast fashion, retro design styles are trending as people reuse vintage items and revolt against the ever-modernizing way we look at our homes.
Some people are looking for a nostalgic aesthetic, others are looking for pieces to repurpose into something new, and still, others want quality pieces made to last. The charm of post-war optimism appeals to many after difficult times, with the lively look providing an opportunity to brighten up dreary interiors and everyday life.
Interior designers are seeing an exponentially growing desire for eclectic interiors or interiors that tell a story and engage in a conversation between the past and the present. This trend plays with mixing traditional looks that are energetic and impressive and 'forever pieces' that exude personality. Timeless silhouettes with a lived-in feel characterize the new retro aesthetic. As a bonus, this movement also prevents waste and allows for reinvention.
Repurposed Furniture
You can breathe life into vintage furniture that may deteriorate elsewhere by giving it a new purpose. If you have a vintage record console on hand but no longer need to store vinyl, it could serve as a drink cart.
Traditional bathroom vanities, while functional, may feel boring in 2023. Add historic charm by retrofitting a vintage credenza or dresser as your bathroom vanity. With a bit of polish, some new drawer pulls, and careful reframing of interior drawers to fit the plumbing pipes, give your bathroom a custom look and nostalgic feel.
Photo by Steph Wilson on Unsplash
Maximalism
In recent years, design has been trending toward minimalism, but maximalism is on the rise, working its way into design trends in fashion, graphic design, and home decor. The maximalist decor trend is all about adopting excess. Think pops of color, high-spirited patterns, and plenty of textured components. While 'more might be more,' the current trend for maximalism doesn't equate to disorder. The key to this interior design trend is vivid hues, elegant pieces, and lively patterns.
Bold Wallpaper
As part of the return to maximalism, wallpaper is having a big, big moment in 2023. Watch for jungle themes, botanicals, and daring florals to take center stage with new textures available through the advances of technology and manufacturing.
Another contemporary twist on the classic wall covering is a wallpaper mural. These murals don't necessarily have a repeating pattern and can be sized to your room's dimensions, which makes them feel custom-tailored to your home.
Photo by Phoebe Tan on Unsplash
Mid-Century Modern
Mid-century modern furniture is inherently multifunctional based on the design principle that furniture should conserve space in tiny homes and apartments rather than overwhelm it. Mid-century modern decor is known for elegant chairs, statement lamps, and TV stands with tapered legs, bold pops of color, sleek materials such as chrome, and geometric shapes and patterns. You'll often find that vintage pieces can be nested, stacked, or folded.
The core of mid-century modern design and the reason for its enduring popularity is rooted in the clarity and functionality of the iconic pieces. Many people buying houses and furniture today have grown up around mid-century design, giving the style a nostalgic appeal. The use of mix-and-match materials makes mid-century modern pieces an ideal addition to any home.
Pop Art
Pop Art rose to prominence in the 1950s and 1960s through the work of artists like Andy Warhol, Jasper Johns, and Roy Lichtenstein. The movement is known for its inclusion of pop culture references.
Pop Art began as a revolt against the artistic conventions of its day, which placed strict approaches to what art should be. Pop Artists wandered away from the realm of high art and turned instead to the language of everyday people, like Hollywood movies, Madison Avenue advertising, pop music, and comic books.
Image Source | Deco House. Architects: Folk Architecture. Photography by Lisa Cohen.
Postmodern Style
The styles of the late 1980s and 1990s have crept back into our consciousness lately, and trendy interior influencers are already including them in their homes in unique ways.
Marked by oversized, daring geometrics, unapologetic color, and pop art, the postmodern style adds unexpected fun to almost any room in the house. The postmodern style's significant, over-bright, devil-may-care attitude feels luxuriant, delightful, and exciting after years of monochromatic, tailored constraint.
Earth Tones
Right now, hot Earth tones come straight from desert sunsets—colors like terra-cotta, rust, goldenrod, and mauve. Pair these colors in a tone-on-tone palette that feels both grounding and refreshing, much like a trip to a desert spa.
Decorating with earth tones does not have to be limited to your chosen colors. Add earthy and natural elements that complement your palette and bring in the outdoors. Consider earthenware vases, candle holders, or a ceramic or stone bowl on your tables or countertops.
School House Lights
Schoolhouse lights were a staple in large, shared spaces such as schools, libraries, and courthouses, starting in the 1920s due to their ability to provide even ambient light.
Schoolhouse style has a timeless appeal and is known for practical, symmetrical opaque glass shades, functional materials, and classic lines. What was true then is still true today: the reproductions still throw a lot of beautiful, diffused light, which makes them both beautiful and practical. Vintage examples can be found online from renovated or demolished buildings or through salvage yards. But good reproductions are available in lighting stores.
French Mirrors
A French mirror offers a little art and function, and these mirrors pop up on walls everywhere. While most of these mirrors can be found in bright golden tones, depending on their age and finish, you might find some in darker hues.
Create a vignette by pairing an ornate-looking glass with an equally elegant lamp set on a glam console or desk, or add one to a wallpapered foyer or elegant bathroom or as an accent on a gallery wall. Shapes and prices abound, making it an easy, on-trend choice.
Painted/Color Cabinets
The demand for color cabinets has continued to rise over the last few years. They are incredibly trendy among those who love the traditional English cottage look. Dark green is a hot color choice, while another option for traditional cabinets is a less traditional hue like coral pink, which puts a new twist on a vintage classic.
Photo: Dustin Askland; Design: Elizabeth Roberts Architecture & Design
