As we move into 2023, many owners will be thinking of redecorating to help maintain and even increase the value of their homes.
There is nothing like a fresh coat of paint to make your place feel like new again, boosting your spirits in the process.
If that idea appeals, you'll be fascinated by the décor trends for the next 12 months.
Interior designers will still be hitting the environment theme hard this year. It's still all about moving the "outside inside". Hues of soft greens and blues, and rustic reds and golds, are all high on the agenda for furnishings and wall colours.
A modern interior will now feature natural wood tables. Those with live edges – rough edges sometimes featuring bark – will be the height of fashion. Meanwhile, indoor plants will expand their domain beyond the kitchens and bathrooms.
Baskets of natural fibre will return for storage, offering the opportunity to gather up all those magazines, books and toys that litter your living areas.
Some American designers are relishing the return of black and gothic-related interiors. However, this is hard to imagine in Australia, given our architecture and general love for open-plan and outdoor living.
Check out these other home trends likely to be in vogue in the next 12 months
Curveball
Sharp edges are out. Design this year is all about curves and rounded edges. Straight-back chairs are giving way to those of classic art deco and Scandinavian designs. Circular tables get the vote over rectangular ones. Art deco has been cited as making a comeback this year!
Play It Again
Professionally recycled furniture, along with a "less is more" mentality, is a favourite of many interior designers. Choose your rejuvenated pieces carefully and sparingly. No one is suggesting your home becomes an antique store.
Mood Lighting
Interior designers are a chorus line of unity, recommending a greater investment in lighting. For kitchens, it's all about lighting up the work areas. In living areas, select one of multiple configurations to match your mood or the moment.
Soothing Colours
Pastels will be the rage. Like the renewed passion for curved furniture, this trend is designed to make your home easy on the eye. Soft pinks, blues and light greens are all on the menu for 2023.
Change of Pace
There are always designers who'll go against the flow. Some are talking up the return of fun colours and bright wallpaper patterns, plus random furniture that adds character but doesn't fit a theme. It's a pushback against the minimalist approach much-favoured in modern homes.
Stay Trim
If you're going for neutral colours, consider being brave with your trim colours, matching them to lampshades, cushions, throw rugs, or all three. Greys and light blues are already popping up in renovated homes in the US. Maybe Australia will follow?
by Sarah Lowry in Home & Design