Refresh Your Home With Trending Design Tips From Etsy's Decor Pros

Etsy’s design mavens know what we’re searching for right now and how to make this season’s hottest trends complement any style and space. Ready for a mini-makeover? Read on.

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Etsy Predicts the Trends That Will Define Our Rooms

Etsy’s resident trend expert Dayna Isom Johnson has the inside scoop on our hearts’ desires. She’s watched users comb through the marketplace’s handmade and vintage wares for more than a decade, and she has stats on what searches are spiking now. With all that experience and intel, one thing is very clear.

“People are ready to emerge like butterflies in the most beautiful, colorful way,” she says. “They’re integrating joy into their spaces and integrating things that are true representations of their personalities.” This spring and summer is all about “being in a space that’s a lived-in space — that looks like you, that feels like you.” From "it" items to the latest so-and-so-core, she’s here to reveal how Etsy’s must-haves can help you find your one-of-a-kind happy place.

SEE MORE: Colorful & Exuberant Family Home Features Eye-Catching Design at Every Turn

From: Abbe Fenimore

Vintage Botanical Patterns Are the Latest Thing

Our interest in nature isn’t just evergreen, it’s branching out. Searches for nature-inspired decor in the first three months of 2023 grew to 218% of what they were over the same period a year ago. “I just love how we continue to see these iterations of nature continue to be sources of inspiration,” Dayna says. What’s budding now? Old-school takes on flora and fauna. “I love botanical-inspired wallpapers with vintage floral patterns,” she says.

BUY IT: (clockwise from top left) Chintz throw pillow; toile napkin set; chinoiserie table runner; toile cushion cover; floral poster set; vintage landscape wallpaper

Toile Has a New Face — and New Fans

Up 32% in searches since last year, toile art is bringing an air of sophistication and refinement to contemporary spaces. That said, today’s toile features colorways and motifs that situate them firmly in the 21st century. Consider this fierce fuchsia Brooklyn Toile designer Dana Schwartz used in her own Washington, DC, powder room. Paired with playful, monogrammed hand towels, it tweaks tradition in a way that acknowledges the past and looks forward at the same time.

SEE MORE: This DC Interior Designer's Bold Home is All About Taking Risks

We’re Picking Unfussy Florals

Searches for floral items are up 118% this year as Virginia-based designer Jennifer Stoner demonstrates in this bedroom with a blossom-covered love seat and a ceiling papered with even more blooms. Well-chosen petals can give new builds complexity and character. The key to making prints like these feel fresh is to play with scale and placement. The oversized pattern she chose for the upholstery is a whimsical delight, as are the unexpected flowers overhead.

SEE MORE: Eclectic Home Full of Playful Patterns and Jewel-Bright Tones

From: Jennifer Stoner Interiors

Traditional Wallpaper Has Contemporary Punch

Dayna’s team reports a 162% jump in searches for vintage wallpaper since last year. We’re loving how designers are using classic motifs — like the elegant, long-handled vase print designer Cecilia Casagrande chose for this feature wall — to anchor maximalist masterpieces. (Bonus points for the traditional-with-a-twist thistle-print Timorous Beasties fabric Cecilia deployed on the dining chairs.)

SEE MORE: Luxe Family Home With a Treasure Chest of Jewel Tones

From: Casagrande Studio

Embroidered Botanical Pieces Reign Supreme

Get ready to crash your local sewing circle: The biggest headline of all when it comes to vintage patterns is the rise of botanical embroidery, which has exploded in popularity by 1,041% since the first months of 2022. What’s all the fuss about? Dayna notes that nature-inspired handiwork both evokes the outdoors and contributes a sense of congeniality. “During the pandemic we were spending so much time in our homes, [and] that started the first emphasis on, ‘OK, I need to create a space that I actually love, and I need to create a space that’s a sanctuary,’” she explains. “Whereas now we’re continuing with that thought process but also adding in layers of more comfort, more ease and just a sense of feeling cozy. Nature-inspired details really add that to any space.” Take the trend for a spin with subtle, tone-on-tone needlework, as with the gauzy embroidered curtains designer Jennifer Walter chose for this Baltimore row house.

SEE MORE: Smart Interior Design Transformed This Row House Without Renovation

Jewelry for the Home Is Making a Statement

“This trend specifically is all about the details, and it’s all about surprise and delight — not only for yourself but for your guests when they come over. It’s an ooh-ah moment that’s totally unexpected,” Dayna says. If you’re looking to make subtle upgrades to pieces you already love, gather ‘round: This year’s buzziest hardware, decorative accents and luxuries-in-miniature are high-impact and budget-friendly.

BUY IT: (clockwise from top left) Lucite drawer pulls; sea glass knob; stained glass suncatcher; blue prism suncatcher; brass bar handles; curtain tie backs; pressed flower handles

We’re Catching Some Rays With Suncatcher Prisms

The site’s 50% increase in searches for suncatcher prisms was no surprise to Dayna, who purchased one from Sol Proaño, “one of my favorite Etsy sellers.” Tapping into this trend couldn’t be simpler. “You just pop a beautiful sun catcher in a window, and every day at three o’clock in my apartment there is a ray of rainbows that just takes over my living room. It brings me so much joy and so much happiness! It’s the smallest little prism that just dangles daintily in my window, but it just adds so much to my space,” she says.

Can’t get enough of this look? Spring for light fixtures with linear prisms like the glamorous pendant designer Lauren Clement chose for this principal bath; an installation that both sparkles in the sun and twinkles after dark is two glows for the price of one.

SEE MORE: 20 Simply Stunning Stained Glass Windows

From: Lauren Clement

Now We’re Cooking With Brass

Whether you’re a midcentury-modern-loving gourmet, a contemporary entertainer or a grandmillennial, swapping in brass hardware is a solid (ahem) way to add aesthetic and literal heft to your existing kitchen cabinetry. (Exhibit A: This sleek California kitchen by designer Erica Bryen.) The Etsy team logged a 13% bump in searches for brass kitchen hardware this year, and we expect those slow and steady numbers to keep right on climbing.

SEE MORE: Elegant + Eclectic Modern Home

From: Erica Bryen Design

Shoppers Are Hung Up on Quirky Hooks

Utilitarian coat racks and forgettable mud rooms are giving way to functional art, as evidenced by a 46% increase in searches for unique wall hooks. Skip the hardware store and look to craftspeople and antique dealers for upgrades of your own. And if you’re feeling especially inventive, let your design finds inspire a wall treatment, as the fanciful ceramic hands did for vintage maven Kate Pearce in her own New York entryway.

SEE MORE: Tour a 1910 Long Island Home Decked Out With Vintage Art

Unabashed Bling Is King

When we talk about jewelry for the home, it doesn’t get more literal — or more fun — than the current craving for gemstone décor, up a whopping 139% in this year’s searches. If you’re extra-committed, consider the more-is-more, zillion-carat wallpaper Texas designer Laura Umansky used to frame this gleaming gold etagere. If you want to start smaller, try faceted tabletop accents or a glamorous frame.

SEE MORE: Pattern + Texture: Apartment Infused With Modern Art

From: Laura U Design Collective

Mermaidcore Is This Summer’s Tidal-Wave Trend

When Dayna came to Etsy 11 years ago, images of mermaids themselves were all the rage. This time around, shoppers are gravitating toward the finishes and motifs those mythical figures evoke. Circa 2023, mermaidcore is “more ethereal and more whimsical, with a level of sophistication that we haven’t seen before. I think that allows [the trend] to speak to several audiences, whether that’s for an adult space or whether that’s for a kid’s room,” she explains.

If this vibe feels fishy to you, take a closer look. “Sometimes interpreting a trend quite literally doesn’t really work for me, but when I think about the microtrends within mermaidcore — like iridescent colorways or scalloped edging — I like that,” Dayna says. “I just got a beautiful vintage vase that has those iridescent tones and scalloped edging around the top. I like to take things that may be trending on a larger scale and look at the micro trends to figure out what works best for me.”

BUY IT: (clockwise from top left) Glazed container candle; bubble chandelier; scallop candlestick holders; handheld shell mirror; conch planter; aura prism mug; scalloped blue placemat; pearl terrazzo tray

SEE MORE: Mermaidcore Will Transform Your Home Into an Underwater Fantasy

Oyster Shells Are Coming Ashore as Decor

Etsy’s analysts have clocked a 30% increase in searches for oyster shell ring dishes, pieces that combine the look of classic beachcombers’ baubles and delicate decoupage. We also love the look of larger-scale compositions like this shell-framed mirror designer Brian Patrick Flynn deployed in a principal bedroom. The oysters’ variegated tones channel a sense of coastal cool without feeling too precious.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

It’s Mother of Pearl’s Moment to Shine

Keep your eyes peeled for the glint of natural iridescence: Searches for mother of pearl trays are up 24%. Fancy the look of nacre and want to go all in? Consider this Miami bath suite, where designer Deborah Wecselman installed mother of pearl tiles to spectacular effect.

SEE MORE: Crisp, Contemporary Style Home in Miami Beach

From: Deborah Wecselman

We’re Expanding Our Bubbles With Lighting

You probably don’t need Team Etsy to tell you these glass globes are "it" fixtures; they’ve been rising to the ceiling in spaces of all kinds in recent years. And with a 22% increase since this time last year, the trend floats on. Clear, frosted and iridescent spheres are all popular, and from symmetrical arrangements to more casual clusters, there’s an iteration of this look for every interior. We love the lighter-than-air look of the bubble pendant Leanne Ford chose to add whimsy to this Pittsburgh home.

SEE MORE: 20 Living Room Chandeliers You’ll Love

From: Leanne Ford

Scalloped Borders Are Elevating Edges of All Kinds

Searches for this cabana-topping classic in scalloped-runner form are up 125%, and we’re seeing the shape frame mirrors, artwork, headboards, throws and pillow shams. From classic cottagecore furniture to more clean-cut, contemporary tablescapes, scalloping’s versatility as a dynamic finishing touch is tough to beat.

We’re Cultivating Coziness With Dark Wood

The pale wood look that has proved popular in recent years is giving way to deeper finishes. “We saw a 14% decrease in searches for light wood or raw wood,” Dayna says. “Shoppers are really interested in adding this sense of coziness and warmth — but I do think it’s all about balance. Dark wood can also [reflect] more classic style, so I think it’s about not being afraid to mix and match so that it doesn’t feel as dated.”

BUY IT: (clockwise from top left) Walnut dresser; coat rack; cutting board; wall hanging; magnetic knife holder; walnut bottle vase

We’re Working With Walnut

Might it be time to reconsider your home office? Dayna reports a 337% increase in searches for walnut desks and accessories, pieces that have visual weight and palpable presence. It’s a look that pairs beautifully with styles of all kinds. Why, this sleek nook shares a home with the gleaming mother-of-pearl Miami bath Deborah Wecselman outfitted just a few slides ago.

SEE MORE: 30 Home Office Design Ideas We Love

From: Deborah Wecselman

Brown Furniture Has a Seat at the Table

Walnut isn’t the only darker material enjoying a renaissance. Teak, mahogany and pieces stained to resemble them are on the radar once more as well. And searches for brown seating or furniture are up 28%. Martha Stewart, Etsy’s 2023 Collections Curator, has also noted the resurgence — and proclaims brown furniture “alive and well” (and that “what’s old is new again”).

SEE MORE: 20 Gorgeous Ways to Style Stained Wood Furniture

Our Taste for Beige Is Waning

Etsy has registered a 29% decrease in searches for beige decor, as well as a 24% decrease in searches for Scandinavian decor; as Dayna notes, we’re looking to layer and deepen our spaces by moving from more monochromatic arrangements to mixes that suit our personal tastes. When it comes to introducing more saturated pieces, “I think it’s all about balance,” she says. “If you’re able to incorporate other colors and textures, it makes it so that the dark wood doesn’t feel as heavy.” Los Angeles designer Natalie Myers nails the mix in this airy-yet-grounded tableau.

SEE MORE: 20 Furniture Pieces That Never Go Out of Style

From: Natalie Myers

We’re Embracing Paper Lighting

At the other end of the materiality spectrum, paper lighting of all kinds is attracting shoppers’ attention. “You can go bold color, you can go tall, you can go tabletop — there are so many different options,” Dayna says. “The one thing that I love is that no matter the shape or the size, they all bring interest and character to a space because [paper is] so unexpected and each one of those [fixtures] is going to bring diffuse, warm light.”

BUY IT: (clockwise from top left) Origami lamp shade; mushroom lamp shade; origami pendant (similar); linen light shade; pendant light; blue wave lamp

Rice Paper Is Glowing Strong

A 61% increase in searches for rice paper lighting suggests that playful-yet-sophisticated pieces like this pendant — a brilliant DIY by artist Ryan Carlson — are taking center stage. When shopping for your own version, “start by deciding where this light fixture is going to live,” Dayna advises. “Is this a hanging fixture that you’re hanging from your ceiling? Is this a tabletop [light]? Is this a standing tall paper lantern? Once you’ve decided what you’re looking for, you can set Etsy filters both for price, for sizing and also for where you want to shop and whether you want it to be handmade or vintage.”

SEE MORE: Repurpose Old Lamp Parts and Found Objects Into New Light Fixtures

We’re Hung Up on Paper Pendants

Cozy outdoor living rooms like this space by landscape architect Mark Tessier come alive with clusters of gently glowing globes. Paper’s budget-friendliness is perfect for an aggregate effect like this one, and shoppers are following in Mark’s footsteps. There’s been an 85% bump in searches for hanging paper lanterns.

SEE MORE: Lighting Ideas for Outdoor Spaces

Paper Has Presence in Floor Lamps

For a midcentury modern take on the paper lighting trend, lean into the horizontality of a low-profile floor lamp, as Natalie Myers did in this California living room. Searches for paper floor lamps have risen 24%, and from design classics like Noguchi’s Akari lamps to contemporary sculptures, there’s a take on this trend for every style interior.

SEE MORE: How to Add Midcentury Modern Style to Your Living Room

From: Natalie Myers

Parisian Interiors Have That Je Ne Sais Quoi

Trendsetters are drawing inspiration from Europeans’ seemingly effortless use of antique style in contemporary settings — and the City of Light’s relaxed refinement leads the way. How can you translate that look to your space? “You can do that with oil paintings, you can do that with very ornate mirrors or throw pillows — these are all items with tremendous character that are easy to pop into a space so you don’t feel too overwhelmed with trying to capture the entire look,” Dayna says.

BUY IT: (clockwise from top left) Table mirror; stoneware tea jar; bronze chandelier; oil painting print; marble pedestal bowl; metal jardiniere; linen curtains; brass candlesticks

We’re Doubling Down on Mirrors

The curvaceous mirror in this landmarked San Francisco Victorian multiplies its view in a deeply satisfying way and adds a contemporary edge to contrast with its intricate, traditional molding. Etsy’s analysts have seen a 119% increase in searches for wall mirrors. Approach this eclectic look by aiming to counterbalance your style. Try a sleek addition to your more traditional space, or an ornate frame in a more contemporary one.

SEE MORE: 25 Ways to Decorate With Mirrors

From: Loczi Design

Stone Sinks Are Swoon-Worthy

Introduce movement and timeless organic elegance to your space with a luxe stone basin, as Philadelphia designer Mindy O’Connor did in this chic bathroom. You’ll be firmly on-trend if you do. Etsy has seen a 96% increase in searches for marble sinks. A comparatively low-contrast slab like this Carrara marble complements graphic wall treatments. If you fancy a statement with an exclamation point, look for high-contrast pieces of Calacatta or Rosso Levanto marble.

One-of-a-Kind Oils Are Attracting Aesthetes

The French art de vivre (that is, the art of living well) is all about living artistically, of course. How better to commit to that lifestyle than to display original work in more-is-more frames? Etsy users’ interest in custom oil paintings has risen 67%, and this movement has just begun. We love the Francophilic look of this oil painting — mounted on Christian Lacroix wallpaper, no less! — in Douglas Hilton’s guest bathroom design.

Ruffles Have Returned

Once relegated to shabby chic spaces, boudoirs and children’s rooms, sculptural, indulgent ruffles are now making appearances as shower curtains, in window treatments and on duvet covers; searches for the later have increased by 44%. We love how the ruffles on the side table in this contemporary Tennessee sitting room turn an occasional piece into a full-fledged event.

From: Village Real Estate

Statement Rugs Are Anchoring Our Spaces

“I always say not every trend is for everybody and that’s OK, but I [for one] absolutely have a rug with personality,” Dayna says. “I have a printed rug in my living room that I’ve had for quite a while because I like interesting prints, so that’s always been a favorite of mine.” Finding a floor covering with personality has never been simpler or more satisfying.

BUY IT: (clockwise from top left) Pink Moroccan rug; tufted red kilim; abstract rug; orange and blue rug; botanical rug; cream Moroccan rug; handwoven striped rug; green bath mat

We’re Transforming Rooms With Rugs

“Now more than ever, people want to add fun into their lives,” Dayna says. “They want to inject color, and the easiest way and the most poppy way is to do it with a splash of color on your floor! You don’t have to change out your furniture, you don’t have to figure out a lot of things or answer any style questions. If you change the rug in your space, it can literally go from night to day, from drab to fab, all of the above — it is an instant makeover for any room.” Small wonder, then, that searches for colorful rugs are up 55%.

Handwoven Rugs Are Hot

As a market for makers, Etsy attracts shoppers interested in the people and stories behind its wares. Searches for handwoven rugs are up 401% so far this year. It seems that we long for a personal touch in our home goods. As it happens, there’s a tool for that. “Shoppers are becoming more conscious than ever about how they’re spending their money,” Dayna says. “If a shopper says, you know, ‘I grew up in Virginia so I want to make sure my money goes back to a small business in Virginia,’ they can set a search filter to only show them items that are made in the state of Virginia by a business that they want to support.”

Bespoke Pieces Are Booming

Shoppers are looking to tailor their purchases to their spaces, and searches for custom rugs are up 62%. There’s undeniable gratification in finding the perfect vintage piece to fit one’s space, but being able to commission an item that’s made just for your home might be even more exciting.

From: Tiffany Brooks

We Crave Color

Searches for colorful rugs are up 55%, and Dayna notes that the collections she and her colleagues have curated are an excellent place to begin your own shopping spree. “I think the editor’s picks pages are a great platform for users to discover the items that we’ve already curated, and then once they’re already in there, they’ll probably get additional ideas,” she explains.

SEE MORE: How to Create a Color Palette From a Rug

Wavy Rugs Are Cresting

Area rugs offer an excellent opportunity to introduce movement to one’s rooms, and Etsy users are making the most of it. Searches for wavy rugs are up 49%. This microtrend gets at the yearning for self-expression and play that Dayna sees in all kinds of traffic to the site. If a wavy rug speaks to you, go for it. “Stop taking things so seriously and start letting your individuality shine through — no need to copy and paste anymore!” she says. “Just freely be yourself and freely represent your personal style, whatever it may be.”

SEE MORE: Interior Design and Lifestyle Trends to Look Out for in 2023

From: White Arrow

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