In June 2023 I went to the Design Show Australia in Melbourne to learn about new interior design trends which will be growing strong this and next year. It is an important event for our industry, not only to connect but also to learn from each other. The talks I attended were brilliant and informative. In this post I’m introducing 5 new key trends related to the world of interior design.
To visit this year’s Design Show in Melbourne was an absolute must for me. With Covid it got very quiet with trade fairs but our industry thrives on trends and evolving products and innovations. It was great to see so many manufacturers focusing on sustainability, quality and Australian made products. In this design trends 2023 report you are going to learn what kind of trends are coming up and what manufacturers are going to focus on.
Trend 1: Coloured + Textured Tapware
Tapware is not just tapware! Coloured tapware is a continuing trend and still going strong. What’s new though? Textured tapware, yes textured! Absolutely gorgeous and will make a real statement in your bathroom or kitchen. Tapware is very much the jewellery of your room and will have a great impact on the overall design and selections of your space.
A lot of people are choosing traditional chrome colour over any other metallic colour for their tapware, because they are afraid that the plating might chip or scratch. Suppliers are improving the manufacturing process so the coloured plating is of great quality.
A lot of tapware manufacturers are now including handles into their ranges. The reason being is that metallic colours from supplier to supplier might differ in colour. This makes shopping easier and avoids the headache of the question if your metallic colours will match.
I really loved the pull-out kitchen taps which will make a great functional addition to any kitchen space. The spray function can be used to wash vegetables and the pull-out function makes cleaning your sink much easier. If you are a wine drinker I can definitely see this function to be super useful regarding washing your wine glasses as they are so delicate.
Oh and not to mention the tap with a sensor. Easy to install and it’s run with a battery which will last for up to 12 months. I would love that as a second tap in my kitchen. When I have dirty hands from preparing food I could wash my hands without having to touch my tap or could easily wash my vegetables.
Pull-Out Kitchen Tapware, a functional feature to add for easy cleaning. The spray function is ideal for washing vegetable.
Sensor tapware a practical addition for bathrooms, powder rooms and kitchens.
Beautiful textured and coloured tapware to add decorative elements to your kitchen and bathroom.
Trend 2: Tile Trends
There are some exciting tile trends coming and continuing this and next year. The beautiful ‘kit-kat tiles’ are to stay and I’m thrilled to share that they are becoming popular in bold colours and new shapes. This amazing feature tile is perfect for creating curves in your bathroom.
There is a big push coming from Europe for thick glazed tiles with patterns and texture. The Bologna fair has shown us that strong accent colours from the 70s are coming through again. We are going to see a revived version of the 70s.
Terrazzo is very much on trend again and is bringing back memories from the 70s. Regarding tile trends the bigger and chunkier the look and feel of the speckles the better.
National Tiles – Norr 2.0 Hav Structured Tile; 600x600mm
Signorino – Medley Rock Dark Grey; various sizes smallest 298x598mm – largest 598×5989.5mm
Signorino – Kerlite Pietra d’Iseo Ceppo; various sizes smallest 600x600mm – largest 1200x2600mm
Don’t look those tiles grandiose? Grand and luxe feel is a strong trend going forward. Natural stone look tiles evoke a luxurious feel to any space as well as large format porcelain tiles and slabs. Designs with striking large decorative porcelain is a trend growing strong over the next year. Even though the veining can be quite bold but it definitely brings a sophisticated, luxurious feel to the space. Here are some examples of porcelain.
Image Credit from left to right: Porcelain Superstore
Trend 3: Innovative Products
An innovative product I saw and was really impressed by is made by a company called Lapitec. The benchtop material consists of pure minerals and represents a silica free product. Silica is currently highly debated within the interior design industry. But this is an entire article in itself.
This innovative benchtop material can be an induction cooktop which allows for a seamless and integrated look. I have seen this in action at the fair during a cooking demonstration. The food was absolutely superb. How it works.
There is a specific induction cooktop sitting underneath the benchtop which Lapitec has a patent for. A rubber mat activates the cooking fields. The temperature controller and the on/ off buttons are engraved into the benchtop as visual indicators.
This beautiful material is very versatile and provides exciting design opportunities. Because the solid material is coloured through it can be cut and engraved achieving striking scallops and flutes for an outstanding design. The material comes in a few solid colours and recently introduced a new collection called Musa which features veining. The veining runs the whole way through each slab. Another highlight of this product is that it is resistant, making it perfect for outdoor kitchen work areas and BBQ areas. A revolutionary luxurious finish to up level the design of your kitchen.
Image Courtesy: Lapitec, Project: Black House
Design Show Melbourne: Cooking Demo with UNOX Casa and Lapitec. The benchtop and the cooking surface is Lapitec’s innovative material.
Image Courtesy: Lapitec, Project: Rael Kitchen
Trend 4: Sustainability
A lot of manufactures focus on recycling materials. Either reusing their own raw materials or finding a way to use landfill rubbish material to make their products. What stood out to me was carpet manufacturers using fishing net to make their nylon for their carpets. EC Carpets is a South Australian carpet manufacturer in Adelaide and their sustainable range is called ECONYL®.
ECONYL® is a solution dyed nylon and made from a 100% recycled materials, such as old carpets, fabric scraps and fishing nets. And the best part it can be recycled an infinite amount of times.
Another manufacturer that stood out is Faucet Strommen. These products are almost entirely made from brass. This offers infinite recyclable opportunities providing significant environmental advantages. Every shaving that falls and every off-cut gets collected and recycled.
Image Courtesy: EC Carpets
Faucet Strommen at Design Show Melbourne – stunning product range available in a variety of colours; brass shaving that is reused
Trend 5: Smart Homes
The last trend I’m introducing is Smart Home Technology. It is more a functionality feature than a design trend and due to developing technologies anything but temporary. What are some of the smart home features?
Lighting control is usually one of the first features that captures peoples interest. Other features are Security Systems, Access Control and automating Blinds and Curtains. The central hub can be small or as large as it requires it’s own small room. What I have learned is if you are after a more complex system getting in touch with a ‘Smart Home Integrator’ is key on this journey. Integrators work together with general home contractors to ensure the wiring, hardware, and smart devices are installed at the right time, work to their fullest potential, and fit your design aesthetics during the build and installation process.
