From coastal and country grandmother to whimsigoth and Y2K to dark academia - 2022 has seen social media popularise a variety of starkly contrasting aesthetics. But which design trend has been the most influential? And which ones will remain the biggest influence on our interiors in 2023?
Using a combination of Google, TikTok, and Instagram data, Piglet in Bed has scored and indexed the top interiors trends for 2022 - and has used this index to predict the top trends of 2023.
Why Y2K is here to stay
Y2K leads the way with a whopping 11.4 BILLION TikTok views, 2,092,020 Instagram posts, and 201,100 monthly Google searches. But why is Y2K so popular? The Y2K trend started with nodding back to our favorite fashion trends from the 2000s - comfy wide-leg pants, baby tees, bright colors, and retro prints. Y2K fashion feels quite nostalgic for many of us, reminding us of more youthful, simple times.
Similarly, in terms of interiors, Y2K is all about two key design traits: comfort and color. Both comfortable furniture and bright colors have become much more prevalent in our homes over the past year, and we see no signs of this trend dying down in 2023.
Rhiannon Johns, interior designer and Head of Brand at Piglet in Bed, comments:
“Y2K interiors are here to stay, and while the concept may sound a little daunting to those of us who stick to the more neutral, minimal aesthetics in our homes, it’s important to remember that there are lots of ways to incorporate design elements from the 2000s - while remaining true to your own style.
To nod to the Y2K aesthetic in your home, get adventurous with color and pattern. Pops of bright pinks, greens, and oranges can look really chic and fun - especially layered together against an otherwise neutral backdrop. Also, play around with pattern - fun floral, swirly lines, and animal prints are all very Y2K, but if those aren’t for you, look to layer more traditional stripes and florals for an understated effect.”
Above left: Blush Pink Bed Linen Bundle, from $363. Right: Raspberry Bed Linen Bundle, from $363.
2023 is all about being cozy
Searches for Cottagecore peaked a year ago, in May 2022, with 263,310 monthly searches. Searches for ‘Twee’ peaked around a year ago in January, with 201,190 monthly searches.
Cottagecore and Twee style have two things in common - coziness and nostalgia. Just like with Y2K, trends that make us feel nostalgic for the past are set to stick around for 2023 and beyond:
Jessica Hanley, Founder of Piglet in Bed, comments:
“I think that Cottagecore, twee, and all of those nostalgic variations of a cozy, more traditional sense of style are here to stay but will adapt into new forms which will be re-labeled on TikTok as the year goes on. The key to achieving this style is nodding back to the past with vintage touches, sticking to a warm, natural color palette, and layering up the natural textures - whether you’re designing your home or outfit.
When I think of these trends, I think of films like The Holiday, Bridget Jones, Little Women and 500 Days of Summer. Two of which aren’t even based in cottages - which shows how much the cottagecore trend transcends where you actually live.
Embrace the trend in your home with warm, low-level lighting, collecting vintage furniture and an abundance of warm wool throws and chunky knits. In the warmer months, wool is replaced by breathable materials such as linen and cotton, better still if they are patterned.
Above left: Botanical Green Gingham Linen Bundle, from $433. Right: Berry Gingham Linen Bundle, from $433. Moorland Woolen Blanket $149.
Embrace your dark side
Dark academia being close to the top of the list, with 90,500 searches a month and 3.2 billion views on TikTok, signifies a return to more gothic fashion, which has seen many comebacks in the last ten years.
Rhiannon Johns comments:
“With The Addams Family back on our screens (thanks to the new hit Netflix show, Wednesday) and dark academia amassing billions of TikTok views and tons of searches, we can see why gothic styling and dark colors are becoming increasingly popular - both in our clothes and homes.
To embrace this trend in your interiors, weave darker tones throughout your decor- I’d recommend experimenting by investing in some dark-colored bed linen before committing to full furniture sets or painting a room. If dark interiors are up your street, painting your walls deep charcoal can look striking and surprisingly inviting.
Accessorize with vintage candelabras and unusual ornaments and don’t be afraid to display your books. Touch on the academic side of the moody trend by keeping your bookshelf stacked - and ever so slightly disheveled.”
Above left: Midnight Stripe Linen Bedding, Warm Clay Linen Bedding, from $65. Deep Teal Housecoat. Right: Blueberry Pajama Pant Set $135
Bohemian and indie style is back in
With indie and bohemian style decor trending once more, with 3,600 monthly searches and 13.9 million TikTok views, we’re transported back to the days of Tumblr, Instagram filters, and band culture. Though some of the fashion trends we once swore by may now make us cringe, elements of bohemian and indie style can be re-introduced into your interiors in a sophisticated way to create a really warming effect.
Rhiannon Johns comments:
“Gone are the days when indie and bohemian style meant hanging dream-catchers and fairy lights over your bed. Bohemian decor is used in some of the finest hotels and restaurants all over the world to create a warm and inviting atmosphere - think Soho House.
To adopt a bohemian look in your own home, use warming rusty and golden tones, low-level light, and a variety of patterns and textures to create depth. Furniture made with warm-toned woods, rattan, and upholstered elements will help to tie the bohemian look together and provide the perfect backdrop. You can tie the look together with a mix of patterned and colored soft furnishings. For Bohemian style to look sophisticated, I’d recommend sourcing unique pieces of vintage furniture and decor to create an authentic, well-traveled look.”
Above left: Cafe au Lair Washed Cotton Percale Bundle, from $227. Right: Sage Green Linen Bundle, from $363.
Methodology
Piglet in Bed created a unique scoring system that took into consideration the average monthly US Google searches, TikTok # views, and Instagram posts with #s for each trend. This scoring system calculated the percentage for each result compared to the maximum number within each category for an accurate and representative ranking.
