I thought it was just me craving more simplicity, more slow, more quality and less quantity. When I started my journey of slow living, I knew that I was on a level of burnout I hadn’t been before and thought, this will help me heal. Maybe it will even help my find happiness again.
It did. But it did so much more for me. I realized that it wasn’t just slow living I was looking for, it was the divine feminine–the characteristics and instincts I’ve been told to ignore my entire life. I was craving more than just the ability to do less work and move more slowly. I also wanted creativity, quality, boundaries, personal strength, autonomy, and to be able to really be in my body and accept all that I was.
In many ways, I’ve felt the divine feminine in 2022. She was the center of my first art show The Silent Generations. She was the theme for most of my yoga classes. And she was front and center as I learned about Human Design and tracking the phases of the moon (all things to embrace the art of slow living too.)
But it isn’t just me that’s craving the feminine which is why I’m seeing her in all the design trends for 2023. More ways to embrace our feminine sides both in our homes and in ourselves.
Design Trend: Romance
Think Aphrodite in the terms of design–sensuality, beauty, details. Feminine design embraces the use of curves, arches, and organic shapes. (Thank god, because I’m still loving arches in all design, including my family room wall!) Like the curves of a female body you’ll be seeing this in your home, in graphic design, and the products you’re buying.
You’ll also see the classic use of gold coming back into play. This might not be gold fixtures on everything (although I do love brushed gold), but could be gold accents in your wallpaper or fabrics. It could be gold leaf in your wall art or gold frames on your walls. An accent of gold in light fixtures, knobs, artwork, dishes, candle stick holders, and so much more. Just a dusting. Just a little reminder of the divine shining in your home.
In 2023 we’re bringing florals back into our homes with old school floral patterns in our pillows, drapes, and even wallpapers. But you don’t have to make it feel like your grandma’s home (although that’s coming back in style this year too) you can take the ode to florals in a whole new direction with modern feeling floral wallpapers or works of art that bring nature into your home.
Design Trends: Nature
Did nature actually ever go out of style? As I said above, florals are top of the list for design trends. Which isn’t a surprise since they’re timeless. But how you choose to use them–big, small, in bold colors or calm colors, as wallpaper or accent pillows–is how you’ll make your own trends this year.
Aside from florals though, we’re looking at a lot of natural textures-Wood, linen, cotton, stone. I love having woven baskets in a room to create a softness or natural fiber blankets on every couch and chair to easily wrap up at any moment. The divine feminine is inviting us to come back to our true selves and that means coming back to the natural world. No more manufactured fibers, but the things that come from the earth herself and last forever.
On that note, what could be more nature focused and lasting than wood? And this year the trends for woods are leaning dark and moody (which flows into the next design trend too!) Mixing woods will be big this year as many already have light woods tones in their homes (not something I can relate to). But any new pieces being added, or floors being installed, will most likely be rich and warm creating a lavish mood. How else would you describe a goddess lifestyle?
Design Trend: Rich and Moody
While many think of feminine colors as being light and pastel (The goddess Estre, where we get the word Easter) I actually think of them as dark, romantic, and sensual. Aphrodite might have been the goddess of beauty, but she was also the goddess of sexuality and the design trends of 2023 are rich in that.
While Scandinavian white and gray have been popular for years now, we’re starting to see those tides turn. More and more rich tones will be making into homes and decor this year. Again, you don’t have to live in a dark cave but embrace accents of these rich hues as statement walls, accent pillows, curtains, or even in your wall art. 2023 is not the year to be afraid of color, after all the pantone color of the year is “Viva Magenta.” It’s time to go bold, make a statement, and not be afraid to express yourself with color.
Keep in mind that rich and moody tones can still be calm and soothing. In color theory, it all comes back to how much saturation is in a color. Keeping colors a little gray but deep will help in creating calm energy in your home.
2023 Design Trends
While design trends are fun, the greatest thing the divine feminine has to teach us is the art of timelessness. Creating a home with lasting features and design elements, not things that just go with the trends. So while it’s great to know what’s growing in style and see where energies are aligning, it’s also important to know your own style and to base all your decisions on that. Whether it’s wallpaper, art, or anything else.
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