Interior Design Trends That Will Shape the Next Decade

For a few years now, everything from walls and ceilings to countertops needed to be bright white, acting as the canvas for statement pieces and design classics.  

But this is about to change. People will start cocooning and focus on creating visual interest and a relaxing atmosphere using colours and natural materials inviting nature inside. The growing awareness of sustainability, holistic design, and the need to reconnect with nature for well-being will be the key features of 2023.  

At Rockfon, we are about to walk the talk.  

In an interview with our Innovation Director, Christian Klinge, we figured out what will be trending in 2023 and what impact it has on Rockfon. He is the go-to person if you want to understand how these latest trends will influence customer needs and their choice of design.  

What will be the major trends dominating and influencing interior designs when we talk about well-being, sustainability, and innovation?  

I am convinced that nature-based design or biophilic design or anything that is linked to simple green living will be trending for not only 2023 but also the next coming years. This is based on the desire to act on the big environmental challenges we experience and respect nature as the foundation for life.  

Also, issues related to the global pandemic, the aspects of globalisation and over-population will steer us toward more simple and green living. A way of living that requires a better-balanced relationship with the natural world around us. Now’s the time to start taking responsibility also in the design industry.  

I would say that the days of futurism and materialism have passed when we talk about design. The whole concept of “use and waste” is not feasible any longer, and people are more informed about how their behaviour influences their surroundings. Even the expressions and methods applied in architecture, where specific computer-generated designs have been trending will change. 

I think that for the next coming years, people will want something warm, embracing, and unique. Things that they can touch and feel, something natural which is not posing a threat to our existence.  

This aspect of taking responsibility, in every sense, will be a dominating factor and a vast topic, perhaps the biggest, when it comes to design, architecture, production, and choice of materials.  

‘To me, sustainability is not a trend, it is imperative.’ - Christian Klinge, innovation Director   

Being as sustainable as possible arises from looking at aspects of circularity and the viable solutions available. The re-use, recycling and even upcycling of “waste to products” will be leading trends and we will see more solutions that have this at its core. It’s about not only focusing on one key element, but how slight changes on various parameters can have a significant impact on being sustainable.  

How do you see these trends affecting the end-user?  

Despite aiming for simplicity, I expect a more holistic approach to design. Solutions will become more complex and embracing complexity will be trending in the coming years. Designs will move away from the more linear single-use solutions and focus on solutions that embrace the full spectrum of people’s lives. Products and solutions that support well-being and help people connect with nature.  

I think we will see a movement towards nearness and a closer connection with the people close to you. Family and friends will become even more important. We will be looking into how to merge and combine spaces to benefit a shared life. We will be cocooning and protecting ourselves against the threat from the potentially catastrophic path we are on. 

I also believe we will see a lot more of “platform thinking.”  

It’s an aspect or way of thinking that we, at Rockfon, try to pursue in our design developments, where we aim to embrace and support complex functionality.  

When I refer to “platform thinking,” I believe that in past decades there has been a tendency to pursue the ready-made solution with predefined function and aesthetics. We will be looking at products and services that enable the user to shape or even impact the solution according to their specific needs.  

Designs will become more modular, flexible, and even capable of adapting to multiple accessories and technologies. Users will be able to reconfigure the designs to match their needs and facilitate various functionalities.  

The way of thinking that allows a design solution to be interpreted and connected to more functions will take precedence. So, modularity and personalisation will be something we will see in the coming years. 

How do you think these aspects will affect acoustic ceilings?  

If we talk about embracing aspects of ceilings, walls, and interiors, I don’t think we will look at it as just a ceiling or the one component. I think of it as a carrier of multiple technologies and functionalities, perhaps investigating the digital dimension or integrating other features used in the interior environment.  

I think we should not only see ceilings as one thing but as a surface or canvas that can adapt to various available technologies and accessories that the user wants. This could be various elements integrated into or hanging down from it to provide a more versatile expression and functionality.  

If it’s a wall system, it can be brackets or systems for attaching shelves or hanging plants to invite customisation and bring nature directly into the design. However, there can also be other components that you use in daily life to adapt and create a new dimension for the system.  

This constitutes a great challenge for the system designer today and requires a whole different mindset. You need to understand the diversity of aspects and dimensions which could be encountered when developing a new system or product – even ones you cannot imagine. The system designer should look at the broader picture and reach out to understand the context, where the solution will be implemented.  

It's important to think about what users want and need when designing something. You can ask yourself things like ‘What could go on here?’ or ‘What do they need to thrive?.’ You can also think about what the user might want to connect to our design in order to make it work better. 

It will be a thing to consider that what you as a brand offer is a platform that can be used in any way the user wants.  

‘Solutions that embrace the full spectrum of people’s lives.’ - Christian Klinge, Innovation Director

What is your opinion regarding how a pandemic as COVID-19 has an impact on interior design?

Do you think there will be a greater emphasis on hygienic building materials connected to public spaces like restaurants, retail, and leisure?  

There is a significant difference between the people who need to deal with how the changes are affecting our way of life, and the people who are living with the changes. In that sense, I mean how the changes post-pandemic will affect their behaviour and sense of protecting themselves.  

I would say that this specific mindset of the customers is intricately linked to the nature-based trend. In this nature-based trend, the attention is on moving away from the solutions that cause nature and environment harm and damage.  

Now we see that the earth is fighting back, and as human beings, we want to avoid causing more harm, but people don’t know what to do about it. So, they will start cocooning and make room for social and work-related activities that can be done and made from home.  

Do you think that the experiences we have faced during a pandemic will affect the design and reshaping of buildings in general?  

Concerning the professional segment, I think the focus will highlight more on the design and how to create more safe and healthy solutions. Designs will deal with disinfection issues, safe distance measures, cleaning and other factors related to hygiene and health. On the other hand, I also see that the whole hygienic focus could gradually diminish if the situation goes back to normal. But the whole biophilic trend will stay and become a more influential factor in future design.  

What are some interesting things that you feel confident our customers can look forward to in 2023, and how do they link to the trends that you mentioned before?  

At Rockfon, we're committed to delivering innovative solutions that enhance the quality of life and well-being for our customers. In 2022, we introduced a new brand identity that reflected our dedication to this mission. From now, our customers can expect to see a more holistic and modular approach to our design products, as well as the introduction of new materials in our portfolio.

In addition to launching new products, we also introduced new product categories. We took a significant step forward in our brand dimension, expanding our design scope and exploring new possibilities in innovation. We are now working to develop new generations of our design product selection and continue to support a more sustainable and nature-oriented way of living. 

Get ready to take another step-in innovation and explore new possibilities and elevate your design experience with us.