Our homes are a reflection of our personal style. But it’s likely that sooner or later we turn to some aspect of the latest trends to see what others are up to for some inspiration. This may or may not be a mistake, since we know trends come & trends go, & ultimately the trends are set to keep us shopping for the next “thing”. However, some 2023 home decor forecasters are in tune with the fact that our budgets are leaner this year & that we are perhaps even more environmentally conscious, so here are three upcoming trends we can get excited about.

Sustainability continues to be a concern.

With all the changes in our climate & our hyper-awareness of it all, it’s not a big surprise that sustainability is still a top priority. We’re designing our homes with our own & our planet’s well-being in mind. We continue to create spaces that are comfortable; a home to relax & recharge in, a happy environment for respite. Knowing that we’ve helped our planet in the process of creating our homes drives some of that decision making. 

For 2023, we’ll mix things up by rearranging what we already have & building around it with vintage & antique decor. By engaging in the thrill of the vintage & antique hunt (think Facebook MarketPlace discoveries or local antique & vintage shops), more of us are finding better quality items with much more character & history. Being more environmentally conscious, people are choosing heirlooms over “fast furniture”. Essentially, the old will remain new. 

Art made by artists.

Art makes a room come alive & whether new, vintage, or antique, original artwork made by makers is what we’re craving. Handmade seems to evoke nostalgia for a different way of life, a time when we deeply appreciated the workmanship that goes into something made by craftsmen & women. 

As savvy consumers, we know items constructed by hand, including handmade rugs, are made with high quality materials and craftsmanship. If it’s handmade, the maker has the opportunity to carefully select the best materials and put in the extra time & effort to ensure that the finished product is something to be proud of. Again with respect to rugs, they were originally made for use in the maker’s own home or for specialized purposes such as a dowry. In other words, every ounce of the rug is meaningful. On the other hand, machine-made items (including rugs, of course) are mass produced, without the heart & soul that goes into handmade. No two hand knotted rugs are exactly the same; skilled artisans bring their own style & personality to each piece, making them that much more interesting & intriguing. Lastly, we’re aware that purchasing handmade items, especially directly from the maker, supports small businesses & independent artisans. When we buy handmade, we know the importance of supporting the makers & their craft & are intent on helping to keep the traditional craftsmanship alive. 

Say goodbye to Maximalism, but also say goodbye to Minimalism. 

Okay, this one’s a bit confusing, but looking at it more closely, it makes sense. According to Forbes.com, we’re favoring a less IS more attitude; “...the fewer objects there are in a room, the less there is to maintain”. And on the opposing side, the minimalist look without much texture, depth, & dimension is on the decline “...as people are craving more color and energy”. And so, we’ll have fewer surfaces to dust yet more vibrancy in our homes.

The case is made for hand-knotted rugs.

The upside of these three trends is that sustainability, art, & a happy mix of Maximalist & Minimalist decor readily applies to making hand knotted rugs a part of your home.

Hand knotted rugs add depth, texture, & vibrancy to your home. Whether you have a completely clean slate to work with or if you’re adding onto the furnishings you already have, there are enough style & color palette options to choose from to either start or finish designing your home.

Constructed on a loom, each hand knotted rug is made from natural fibers (sheep’s wool or cotton foundation) with a, predominantly, wool pile. The materials used for the foundation of the rugs are completely biodegradable & recyclable. Dyes for the beautiful colors we see in the pile are extracted from plants, roots, flowers, & even from insects. Synthetic dyes have been used in some handmade rugs (even those dating back to the late 1800’s when some of the labor intensive extraction was replaced by synthetic dyes), but dye-making has changed over time with better results. Additionally, a newer generation of weavers, in Afghanistan in particular, have returned to the use of natural dyes for their rugs. 

Made for utilitarian purposes originally, many antique & vintage rugs have been made by artisans whose craft has been passed down through generations. Not to be taken lightly, more of us are appreciative of craftsmanship, tradition, & history behind heirloom pieces, & hand knotted rugs fall into this category. 

Recap: 

Handmade rugs, made by craftsmen & women who pass the skills through generations & artisanal connections, even those made by apprentices, are something you can continue to incorporate into your own style.

• Handmade rugs come with their own stories & motifs, & your interpreted perspectives are even more powerful & meaningful.

• Made of natural fibers & often natural dyes, your handmade rug can take life’s messes & keep going long enough to be heritage pieces.

• Whatever your personal style may be, a handmade rug will fit with your aesthetics. The best part is that as your style changes, the rug is adaptable; it will go with anything!

Sources: HelenEdwardsWrites.com, Forbes.com, ArchitecturalDigest.com