5 Summer Design Trends to Transform Your Space
As temperatures rise, we’re all ready to sit back and enjoy the summer vibes. Our home décor can play a role in how we enjoy the summer months, so it’s always fun to see what trends are on their way in. According to visual trend researcher Jamie Shackleton, this year’s interior design trends are all about creating a cheerful, optimistic atmosphere around your home—and that’s no different for the summer. The upcoming trends will make you want to spend as much time in and around your home as you do at the beach! Here are some of the top summer trends we’re looking forward to, and how you can incorporate them into your home.
Earth and sky tones
Neutrals have been a perennial trend, but they’re taking a quiet step back for summer 2023, according to HOMMÉS Studio. This season, we’re taking notes from the bursts of colour outside and introducing shades of blue and earth tones, like terracotta, coral, cobalt blues, burnt oranges, and moss green. These colours invoke the feeling of a beachy getaway and add a pop of brightness that will be even sharper in the sunshine.
Valerie Lauritsen, owner of Val Anderson Interior Design in Port McNeil, British Columbia, says “it’s no secret we’re craving warmth and texture and softness right now,” and this can be incorporated into our homes.
“[Add] layers of outdoor pillows in earthy tones like clay, and umber, moss, or tan,” she says. “You can’t go wrong when you borrow the colours & textures of nature. Mix it up and have some fun. Make it perfectly imperfect, put your feet up, and enjoy summer like it’s meant to be enjoyed.”
Pair light blue walls with earthy brown accessories, for instance, to create an atmosphere that’s both energetic and grounding. You can also add earthy tones around a room to create a sophisticated look or discreet pops of blue to bring in some liveliness.
Bold patterns and accents
Maximalists, rejoice! Summer’s approach signals a departure from minimalism. This season, Foyr—a design program built specifically for interior designers—is predicting bold accessories or accent walls that highlight a room’s layout and create a fun focal point, as well as patterns that catch the eye.
Explore this trend by bringing in vibrant art and patterns to your walls, furniture, area rugs, throw pillows, or shelf décor. Nature-themed art is especially popular, with people increasingly seeking ways to highlight their indoor greenery. Ultra-modern lines are also being replaced by attention-grabbing geometric patterns. If you’re up for a DIY project, try shaking things up using peel-and-stick wallpaper to add a bold, but temporary, pattern to your space.
Natural textures
In keeping with the organic design style, natural fabrics and textures will have their time in the spotlight, according to Decoist. Fabrics like cotton and linen are favoured during the summer because they brighten a room and can be used in many ways. They also breathe well, keeping you cool when the weather gets hot. Woven wood and textures like rattan and bamboo will conjure a coastal vacation mood indoors.
Rattan is a versatile material you can incorporate in unique ways like lampshades, chairs, and mirrors. You can also experiment with bamboo furniture which is a less common choice, or opt for bamboo accessories like rugs or décor pieces. For fabrics, swap out your heavy curtains with linen drapes, or replace the throws on your couch with lighter cotton options.
“We are craving uncomplicated [vibes] with soul & purpose, and this is showing up in interior design trends,” Lauritsen tells us. “A nod to the ’90s or further to the ’70s, [look to] woven jute like—indoor outdoor area rugs—large enough to fit under all your furniture. [Plus,] a variety of mixed materials such as terracotta, warm sand coloured clay, raw black metal.”
Biophilic design
According to decorator and lifestyle blogger Jane at Home, biophilic design will be big this summer, creating a calm environment while still bringing energy and life to the space. Biophilic design incorporates plants, natural wood, and stone accents to a space—great news if you’ve accrued a collection of house plants over the last few years. Having plants around can also help purify the air and reduce humidity levels, depending on what you stock up on.
Use orchids as a place to start, then add things like hanging vines, aloe vera plants, snake plants, dracaena plants, and succulents. Make sure you check the light and watering requirements for your plants so your décor stays green and fresh!
Lauritsen suggests going for an “earthy boho [look] with luscious plants in baskets, or clay pots.”
Outdoor trends
Creating a summer vibe inside your home involves colours, patterns, materials, and accessories, but outside trends are a little different. According to landscape designer Amy Hovis, sustainable outdoor design is an increasingly popular approach that’s here to stay. A manicured lawn, once thought of as the outdoor décor must-have, is being overlooked in favour of more natural greenery. Think summer blooms, seasonal shrubs, and a small herb garden, all coexisting in your outdoor living area. While a well-kept lawn will always be in style, this season is all about creating a wilder, more joyful look reminiscent of a mid-July meadow.
Outdoor areas will also become more than an occasional hang out spot, according to Decoist. Thinking of getting a floor pendant lamp for your patio? Go for it! Outdoor armchairs? Why not? Curate your outdoor area so it looks and feels like a comfortable extension of your home.
“The more we can be outside the better, and now it’s easier than ever to create the same vibe outside that you have inside,” Lauritsen says. “Gone are the days of slippery waterproof pillows and woven plastic area rugs. In Canada, setting up your patio is like adding an extension to your home! A brand new living space to enjoy the great outdoors in, entertain or just chill.”
For specific patio trends, check out our interview with Calumma Creative Landscapes, an award-winning landscape design company in North Vancouver, for their predictions.
You can explore this summer’s design trends in exciting ways. A couch pillow here and a new throw there will discreetly transform a room from spring to summer without breaking the bank. Impactful changes don’t have to be permanent either. Swap the art in your frames to reflect the season’s bright and natural vibe. Use peel and stick wallpaper to give your home a dramatic colour transformation that you can reverse with zero hassle.
“Make it perfectly imperfect, put your feet up, and enjoy summer like it’s meant to be enjoyed,” Lauritsen says.”
Whatever you choose, just make sure it matches your own style—after all, it’s your home!
Which of these trends will you be trying?
