5 Trends Designers Are Ditching in 2023

One look that proves there is, indeed, too much of a good thing? Wall-to-wall marble. “One trend in contemporary design is to use the same material over and over again…what a lot of high-end designers are doing is putting marble on the floors, ceilings and walls—sort of like a marble coffin,” Lewis explains designer Nick Lewis in a TikTok. “I think this is looking very over the top and quite ostentatious. Marble is beautiful, but I think this is an example where you can have too much of a good thing.”

So, what should you try instead? The walnut wood trend (according to Lewis). “I'm seeing more of a shift towards walnut: a rich, medium-toned woods that will fit in darker and moodier spaces,” he explains in another video. It’s also worth mentioning that while lighter blonde woods have been trending for a while now, Lewis thinks the darker walnuts are here to stay for years to come. Case in point: Lulu and Georgia's recent campaign, featuring the Otti rug. (See how cozy and inviting those brown tones are?)

It’s official: Stacked, open shelves—the kind that were ubiquitous during the modern farmhouse movement—are making an exit from the design scene. “While I love a good floating shelf, I think that the stacked shelves in the kitchen are going to be completely out [in 2023],” says designer Katelyn Fuller in a TikTok.

Instead, Fuller predicts they're going to be replaced with long, linear shelving that acts as an extension of your kitchen backsplash. “It’s still [kind of a] floating shelf, but instead of doing multiple shelves, [you’re] just doing one shelf all along the wall, which makes the space seem so much bigger,” she explains. Basically, you want to play off of your kitchen’s backsplash material to create one, seamless look. “It's such an intricate detail to your kitchen that we're going to see a lot more of in [2023].” 

Yet another trend Fuller would be happy to, uh, never see again? Olive trees. “I have yet to see one well-produced faux olive tree. They all look extremely fake and bare to me,” she says in a video. “I try to steer clear of oversaturated decorating [trends], and all olive trees have become that way.” 

Luckily, Fuller follows this up with another video on what to replace them with: Red oak trees. “To me, they're a little bit more unique, and since they're not so widely used, it makes [the piece] feel more interesting,” she explains. “If you're looking for a corner filler or a [textured] tree to add to your house, these [are the way to go].” 

Try the trend: Pottery Barn Faux Burgundy Oak Tree ($349; $244)

Let’s just get one thing straight: While herringbone tiles might look outdated, herringbone flooring will never go out of style. “I don't think herringbone is going anywhere, just the way that it's being used,” says designer Chloe MacKintosh in a TikTok. “In fact, I love herringbone when it's used on a floor. I just really don't think it's a very timeless look when it's used in a large format on a wall.” 

So instead, designers across the board seem to be replacing the look with glossy, zellige tiles. “These handcrafted ceramic tiles are definitely having a moment—mostly, because they fit with a sort of organic modern aesthetic that people are really loving right now,” explains Lewis. “Every tile feels like a unique, beautiful work of art, and make for a beautiful tile to use in both bathrooms and kitchens.”

Try the trend: Floor And Decor Zellige Verde Glossy Ceramic Tile ($1.69/piece), Floorzz Marazzi Zellige Glazed Ceramic Wall Tile in China ($10.34/square foot)

By now, you’ve definitely seen those ultra-colorful, ultra-textured walls on your feed. And while we thank this trend for scratching our wanderlust itch—and bringing our lives some much-needed color during lockdown—designers have decided that three years of this look is more than enough. “Something about the texture on the bright plaster walls really shows contrast,” explains Lewis in a TikTok. “[The look is] sort of gives a '90s textured wall that I think will look really dated very soon.”

Instead, Lewis suggests leaning into the Parisian design movement with a timeless trend that’s straight out of the Palace of Versailles: panel moldings. If Soho Home and Zara Home's recent shoots (above) are any indication, panel molding backdrops can add visual interest without distracting from the furniture: “[They're a great way to add texture to a wall. Light plays off the panels in really interesting ways and can make your home feel really luxurious,” Lewis says in another video. “For a more timeless and understated look, I would really recommend painting the moldings the same color as the wall paint. This creates a really subtle look [while providing a] neutral backdrop for your furniture to sit against.”