2023 Trendiest Interior Design Styles on Google: Japandi Tops the List for Second Year in a Row

Japandi claims the top position as the fastest-rising interior design trend for two years in a row—with a 108% increase in Google searches compared to the previous year. The second and third trendiest styles are dark academia and maximalism. Rustic, contemporary, and industrial see the sharpest declines in popularity.

Interior design is a complex, ever-changing field that allows you to create the space in which you feel best in your home. Various new trends rise and fall on the internet every year, in a loop of virality and popularity.

One newcomer that’s proving to have a lasting quality is Japandi, a minimalist style blending Japanese simplicity and Scandinavian hygge. The style was the top trending design style in 2022 and it appears to stick around in 2023, as more and more people are adopting it, according to our analysis of Google search data.

Here’s what we found:

Top trending styles of 2023: simplicity & mystery maintain domination, abundance joins the game

 

1. Japandi

• Tranquil, zen, harmonic
• One-year change in search volume: 108%
• Average monthly search volume: 7,850

The #1 trendiest design style of 2023, Japandi maintains its position as the trendiest design, seeing an increase of 108% in search volume compared to last year. When looking at the net numbers, Japandi has made an impressive climb up the ranking in the past two years, starting out as the second least popular design style in 2020, and making it to the top 15 this year, overtaking well-known trends such as maximalism or shabby chic, and showing potential to soon rival hugely popular styles such as mid-century modern and Scandinavian, if it stays on this track.

This style responds to the needs of people who want their homes to feel both serene and cozy, combining minimalism with more individualized and nature-inspired touches that complement and complete the design. With soft color schemes and luxe materials, it encompasses both the concepts of Zen and hygge.

2. Dark Academia

• Gloomy, mysterious, dramatic
• One-year change in search volume: 72%
• Average monthly search volume: 3,480

The mysterious and bookwormish style of Dark Academia has been on the rise in recent years, and it’s maintained its upward trajectory with a 72% increase in searches compared to last year. With this change, Dark Academia secured the second-trendiest design style for the second year in a row.

Cozy and moody, this style is a favorite on social media, as well. And, with its dark color palette and romantic touches, Dark Academia is the perfect style for a study, home office or creative room. Add statues and high art to elevate the decor and create inspiration for your projects.

3. Maximalism

• Abundant, loud, eclectic
• One-year change in search volume: 63%
• Average monthly search volume: 5,780

Maximalism’s abundant and cluttered look seems to have sparked interest again this year: It saw an increase of 63% in Google searches, landing in the third spot in our ranking for 2023 — up two positions compared to last year. In fact, the eclectic style that counters minimalism had been predicted by many designers to rise and take over our homes — and it certainly seems to interest many people who prefer a more exuberant look.

Bold accent pieces and many contrasting layers lend this style an eclectic feel that loads any room. However, maximalism allows not only clutter, but also meaningful chaos, thereby creating an opportunity for people to display trinkets and knickknacks and truly showcase their personality through their home.

4. Modern Victorian

• Ornate, luxe, affluent
• One-year change in search volume: 41%
• Average monthly search volume: 3,320

Modern Victorian is a style for nostalgic lovers of luxury. Another newcomer in our top five trendiest designs, Modern Victorian saw an increase of 41% in Google searches compared to last year. This design is all about ornaments, luxe materials, and high-end textures.

To implement this style, think of velvet furniture pieces, ornate chandeliers, fringe galore, and large-scale mirrors. Additionally, decor pieces include artwork and statues, as well as loud wallpapers or carpets that ground this look. To bring this style into the modern era, try to balance it out with tamer elements, and pick and choose where you want to overload, as well as where you can create contrast.

5. Transitional

• Clean, textured, intersectional
• One-year change in search volume: 24%
• Average monthly search volume: 8,310

A newcomer in the top five, transitional design is reemerging in popularity: Searches for transitional design increased by 24% this year to reach the fourth position on our list of the trendiest design styles for 2023. This is a style that lies at the intersection of traditional and modern design, combining the best of both worlds. In particular, transitional design offers an alternative to those who are unsure of what they want in their homes as it allows for individuality, while also encompassing function.

Clean lines, textures and sleek finishes make the transitional design feel modern, while larger-scale furniture pieces — especially beds and sofas — lend it that cozy, traditional feel. A style that’s quintessentially about balance, transitional design is a perfect choice for those who are just entering the world of interior design.

Trends declining in popularity: rustic & contemporary are the designs fading the fastest

Our analysis of Google search data also uncovered the interior design styles that lost the public’s interest. These are the design styles that saw the largest decrease in search volume in one year.

1. Rustic

• Natural, earthy, rugged
• One-year change in search volume: -21%
• Average monthly search volume: 13,760

Continuing its decrease from last year, rustic design lost 21% of searches. With around 13,700 monthly average searches, it is still a popular style, landing the 6^th place by net searches in this year’s ranking. However, people appear to lose interest in this style and turn away from the earthier, more rugged designs in favor of modern and sleek ones.

2. Contemporary

• Elegant, subtle, deliberate
• One-year change in search volume: -15%
• Average monthly search volume: 14,370

Dropping 15 percentage points in search volume, the contemporary design style is slowly moving aside and making way for other favorites. Although a blend of many elements we find in every home, this style incorporates strong contrasts with dark accents. Cool tones and defined structures make the contemporary style more imposing and overpowering than the current favorites.

3. Industrial

• Raw, open, minimalist
• One-year change in search volume: -14%
• Average monthly search volume: 10,320

Although a friend of natural materials and minimalism, the industrial style embraces bare, raw materials, bearing within it a reminder of industrial halls and factories. Designed around an open space, this style incorporates exposed bricks, pipes, lightbulbs, as well as concrete and untreated wooden furniture. As such, industrial design is gradually falling out of use as we move towards a cozier aesthetic for our homes.

Most popular designs: Modern farmhouse, mid-century modern & Scandinavian are the most searched

Wherever we turn, the big names of interior design are still present. Having gained traction over time, these design styles have stood the test of time and maintained their popularity, ascending the fleeting nature of virality: Modern farmhouse, mid-century modern and Scandinavian kept the same positions as last year, proving that they’re truly timeless.

1. Mid-Century Modern

• Practical, organic, textured
• One-year change in search volume: 5%
• Average monthly search volume: 25,830

The mid-century modern style lands the number one spot on our list of the most-searched-for interior designs. A true classic, mid-century modern is the combination of functionality and convenience, dismissing clutter and abundant styles, while also being no-nonsense overall. Although it’s not overly trendy, this style is a convenient option for many — which is why it remains quite popular.

2. Modern Farmhouse

• Charming, cozy, traditional
• One-year change in search volume: -4%
• Average monthly search volume: 24,700

Maintaining a rather steady number of searches compared to last year, modern farmhouse occupies the second place among the most popular design trends of the year, according to average monthly Google searches. Cozy and warm, yet modern and uncluttered, this style takes the best parts of the classic farmhouse look and updates them to today’s standards, resulting in an elegant and homey look.

3. Scandinavian

• Simple, layered, balanced
• One-year change in search volume: -4%
• Average monthly search volume: 21,300

The third-most popular design style was Scandinavian. It also maintained the same position as last year, with a very slight decline in search volume. Similar to minimalism and the trendier Japandi, the Scandinavian design is all about reducing clutter and creating a cozy background for comfortable living by embracing soft and natural textures, subtle colors and an intentional aesthetic.

Methodology

RentCafe.com is a nationwide apartment search website that enables renters to easily find apartments and houses for rent throughout the U.S.

Ranking is based on the year-over-year percentage increase in the number of average monthly Google searches for 35 of the most popular interior design styles.

The ranking is based on the percentage increase in Google search volumes. The increase was calculated by comparing the average monthly search volumes on Google between January and October 2022 to searches between January and October 2021 using Google’s Keyword Planner. For each style, we used a combination of six relevant keywords to reach the total monthly volume.

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