One of the best things about owning your own place is that you don’t have to just drool over home renovation trends – you can actually get them done without pleading your case to a landlord. After all, our homes are our refuges from the world; a place we can relax, get work done, enjoy time with friends and family, and play with pets – all on our own terms. Improving them to become more accessible, livable or stylish (or sometimes all three!) can be extremely rewarding for you in the short-term, while increasing the home’s value over the long-term.
If you’re planning a 2023 renovation, you’re not alone. While experts forecast a slowdown in home renovations in the first half of 2023, Abbe Will, the Associate Project Director for the Remodeling Futures Program at Harvard University, says that annual remodeling expenditures during that time “are still set to expand to nearly $450 billion.” That’s a lot of grout. And a lot of home renovation trends becoming reality for a lot of folks.
Whether you’re determined to improve your place in the coming year, or just thinking over the options, scroll down to check out our top 10 home renovation trends. And don’t worry that these are going to fall out of style at the end of 2023. Trends in home design and decoration tend to move a lot more slowly than they do in fashion. We also picked many that pre-date 2023 and all will probably remind “trendy” for years to come.
2023 Home Renovation Trends
If there’s one thing home remodeling experts agree on, it’s that most 2023 home renovations will be focused on increasing comfort and functionality. While a lot of us remain intent on pinching pennies rather than spending them, home renovation trends predict that what we do remodel will have to pull double-duty to serve our emotional and physical needs in order to make the grade. 2023 Home Renovation Trends
- Natural Light – When you’re spending a lot of time in your home, as most of us are these days, natural light can do wonders for your connection to the environment while boosting your mood with a hefty shot of Vitamin D. If you’re ready to let the light shine in, New Creations Home Remodeling in Austin says that banks of windows not only make your home look more beautiful and feel much larger, but they can also help lower energy usage.
- Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) – With housing costs, interest rates, and inflation all hitting new highs, it makes sense that adding an ADU (or mother-in-law apartment as they’re sometimes known) is at the top of many lists of home renovation trends. Even before the pandemic, Freddie Mac reported that the number of new ADUs on the market was growing at a rate of nearly 10% a year, offering both landlords and renters new options in an oftentimes cramped housing market.
- Curves, Curves and More Curves – We’ve covered how to incorporate curves into your home in the past and must say: this home renovation trend has sticking power. Perhaps it’s the softness, the fluidity, or the comfort that curves convey that keep them so in-demand. Whatever’s behind our collective fixation on curvilinear design and decor in 2023 and beyond, we’re here for it.
- Making More with Less – Another popular theme of 2023 renovations is “making more with less” or “getting creative with what you’ve got.” This could mean anything from adding an ADU on your extra land to upcycling your furniture for a brand-new look – and everything in between. Improving on elements already in place is oftentimes much cheaper than starting anew.
- Home Oasis – Better Homes & Gardens anticipates that home oases will be big in 2023 as “Consumers …look to their spaces to create a vacation-like retreat.” With travel getting harder (and costlier) by the day, it makes sense that we’d want to renovate our homes to offer the feeling of getting away – without the actual cost or hassle of it.
- WFH Office – The pandemic convinced many employers (and employees) that working from home is a viable option. As such, many 2023 renovations will be spent turning living space into working space. Doorstead points out that “the way you organize and decorate a room can impact your energy levels and productivity,” so be certain that your home office renovation has the proper lighting, furniture, and technology to put you in the best frame of mind.
- Eco-friendly Finishes – Many home renovation trend pieces indicate environmentally-friendly decor and design choices are becoming even more popular. One example is cork flooring, which HGTV calls “a mega home reno trend for 2023 thanks to its eco credentials, sustainable sourcing, and heat-retaining properties.” Other hot materials include reclaimed wood, stone, adobe brick, and bamboo.
- Efficient Energy Usage – If part of your 2023 renovation project includes replacing appliances or windows, you’ll find many energy-efficient choices on the market. Designed to save you money (and reduce environmental impact) over the time of its use, energy-efficient goods often cost a bit more upfront but provide value for years to come.
- Spa Bathroom – One home renovation trend that is gaining steam is turning an existing bathroom into a spa. Think neutral hues, organic materials, and luxury at every turn. Add rugs and plants for a boho vibe to welcome and invigorate you.
- Bold Colors and Patterns – From wallpaper to paint colors to rugs, bold is in. Forget the beiges and whites of Scandinavian design. Make a statement without saying a word through your choice of maximalist colors, shapes, and designs.
We hope you find inspiration for your 2023 renovation in the trends we highlighted above. The bottom line is that it’s your space: ensure it speaks to you and for you (no matter what home renovations trends are in).
One word of note: With labor and materials both in short supply, and inflation sending prices sky high, any renovation you embark on will likely cost more and take longer than you anticipate. That seems to be how they all go. Be patient and try to maintain a sense of adventure. In the end, a more comfortable and workable home will make the expense and inconvenience of remodeling worth it.