We’ve all heard of the phrase ‘Spring clean’ but for some people this extends beyond simply cleaning. Spring and Summer – especially in the UK – are key seasons when people take on renovation projects and refresh their interior design at home.
The biggest misconception about interior design and updating a property’s aesthetic is that it will always cost a fortune. If you take anything away from reading this blog, let it be this:
Sometimes the smallest design upgrades — a change in colour palette, accent pieces of furniture or soft furnishings — are the missing piece of the puzzle that’s needed to update a room and add perceived value to the property. You don’t have to rebuild or remortgage to make a difference.
According to research conducted by the HomeOwners Alliance, interior design can add up to 10% to the value of a property in the UK. This is because a well-designed interior can make a property more attractive to potential buyers and increase its perceived value.
Here are a number of current trends that are set to continue throughout 2023 that will add value to your home, and accommodate a range of budgets.
Sustainable Design
“Shaping the change” is the phrase storming the sustainable sector for interior design this year, with the main focus being firmly on creating healthy and resource-efficient surroundings.
Sustainability is a top priority for many homeowners, along with a growing interest and demand for closed material loops (reuse the same materials over and over again to create new products for purchase), and a circular economy which has led to new concepts in the interior design industry.
A few examples of how you can incorporate sustainable design into your home through optimising the use and lifespan of resources include using eco-friendly materials and energy-efficient appliances and lighting.
Biophilic Design
Biophilic design is all about bringing the outside in – something that is extremely popular in coastal towns and cities to further appreciate the natural surroundings. This trend focuses on incorporating natural elements like plants, natural light, and water features into the home.
If this is something that you are keen to incorporate into your property, think about adding plants, using natural materials like driftwood and stone, and bringing in elements of water and light.
There are some incredible local artists that credit their work to the stunning natural materials used within, which are worth exploring especially if you’re looking to invest more heavily into design.
Alternatively, if you’re working to a smaller budget, DIY and biophilia go hand in hand. A brilliant way to incorporate biophilic design on a budget is to create a living wall. Use cuttings from plants you already have as propagations and grow from there.
Maximalism
After years of extreme minimalism and neutral colours, maximalism is making a comeback. Maximalism features bold and playful style that is a firm favourite for those who believe ‘more is in fact more’.
[photo credit Megan Hopp]
In its basic form, this trend is defined by playing with striking patterns and bold colours that give increased personality to a space. You can start small with soft furnishings and build up to feature walls or decorative ceilings and an all round celebration of colour and vivacity.
In the words of interior designer Pallavi Dean “We are leaving the haven of neutrals and stepping into a rainbow!”
Multi-functional Spaces
As a collective we are spending more time at home, and multi-functional spaces are becoming increasingly popular as they deliver a long-term and sustainable living solution. These spaces can serve as anything from a home office, gym, or entertainment zone, all in one.
[Decorating Den Interiors; Designers: Jennifer Ward-Woods And Barbara Elliott]
A survey conducted by Zoopla found that certain interior design features can increase the value of a property by more than 10%. For example, homes with a garden room or orangery can increase in value by up to 15%, while properties with a home gym can increase in value by up to 12%.
Multifunctional or modular furniture and furniture systems can be used when space is at a premium. Fold-away desks and furniture systems that transform from day seating to beds are increasingly in demand.
The key to multi-functional spaces is flexibility. In response to economic developments, including housing shortages and the growing trend towards individualisation, furnishings that can be easily-adapted to current available space and required situations are more in demand than ever.
Smart Homes
We are only at the beginning of this movement. Technology is constantly evolving to deliver time-saving, cost-saving and stress-reducing solutions to our daily lives, and to the extent where it is physically built-in to our homes.
There are now over 2.5 million smart homes in the UK (according to research by the ecoexperts).Smart homes include features such as automated lighting, temperature control, and security systems.
According to research from Compare the Market “smart technology can boost the amount offered on a for-sale property by around £2,000, with 51% of Brits willing to pay as much as £2,409 more for a property loaded with smart technology”.
Vintage and Antique Accents
Vintage and antique accents are a great way to add character and charm to your home, but as always with design, are highly subjective and specific to personal taste.
If you’re on the hunt to introduce a vintage influence to your property, we recommend starting at vintage and ‘flea’ markets, estate sales, and antique shops to search for unique pieces to add character to your home.
Ben White – a design and trade expert at Swyft shared his opinion that ‘the concept of vintage has never been more en vogue. Interior design trends, just like fashion, are proving to be cyclical and the 1970s is prevailing as a key influence in 2023 interior design. You can tap into this key trend by using warm brown, gold and red tones such as clay, honey or paprika as the base for your interior and layer with fun colours and shapes to add interest to your home’.
It’s important to remember that interior design is subjective and personal taste can really vary – even within the same household! It’s always best to choose a design that reflects your own style and preferences but will also have longevity.