Our Favorite TikTok Home Aesthetics of 2023 (and What to Look Forward to In 2024)

This year, TikTok saw no shortage of fresh interior design trends, ranging from pop culture-inspired to just plain innovative. Barbiecore seemed to have led the pack once again, carrying over from its debut in 2022 and spawning a whole new world of pretty-in-pink design styles.

Movies and television—like The Summer I Turned Pretty, Wonka, and Scott Pilgrim—stole the show, spurring designers to emulate the big screen. And people returned to maximalism in a big way, favoring the personalized and collected over the sleek and store bought.

Many of the trends that took off on social media this year made lasting impressions on interior designers and the industry. But when the trends move so quickly (and the videos only last a couple minutes), the cycle of design inspiration can start to feel overwhelming.

That’s why we're here to reflect on our favorite TikTok design trends of 2023, along with some expert predictions for what's to come this year. So get scrolling—you’ll want to be prepared for all that’s to come to the TikTok design world.

2023 TikTok Decor Trends

All Things Pretty and Pink

We have a soft spot for many of the micro-aesthetics that came out of Barbiecore—the trend that got its start in 2022 but really took off with the live-action movie’s release this year. Floral, feminine, and frilly aesthetics popped up in every room of the house, from the coquette aesthetic, to rom-com core, to lovecore, and beyond. And while pink was the name of the game, other candy-toned, light-hearted hues fell in with the trend as well.

While the Barbiecore spinoffs probably won’t outlive the Barbie hype in their all-out iterations, there’s a lot to love about the concept—and elements to take into the new year. The playful color palettes, plush accessories, and happiness-forward decorating really made these trends great, and hopefully won’t be going anywhere in the new year.

Eclectic and Collected

This year, people got creative with incorporating vintage finds, generational keepsakes, and patchwork accessories into their home decor. While there were a fair share of high-end, luxury trends, many of the most successful looks reflected homeowners and their personalities. And this collected in all its iterations also proved to be popular among designers.

“Homes are the ultimate form of self-expression,” says Arianna Barone, color marketing manager at Benjamin Moore. “We are seeing people be more intentional and particular when it comes to choosing decor for their home. Whether that means items collected through travels, passed down family heirlooms or even choosing something handmade, people are looking for unique and personalized design elements. This resonated with us because these types of items can be the perfect inspiration and starting point for choosing a paint color for a space.”

Cottagecore stuck around in 2023, featuring quaint patterns and antiques, and craftcore came up quickly, boasting all things handmade and meaningful. The museum gift shop look gave homeowners the opportunity to showcase their favorite keepsakes and collections, and newstalgia decor seamlessly blended the old with the new.

And, of course, the coastal grandma and grandpa chic design schemes made a real impact with their sophisticated, unique atmospheres—in fact, these proved to be some designers’ favorites. These aesthetics offer homeowners the opportunity to build out their decor themselves, rather than curate a more by-the-book look.

Overall, nostalgia seemed to dominate 2023, with homeowners and designers leaning toward traditional designs once again. While it’s easy to go overboard while layering collected items, maximalist-minded trends, and periods of time, the right balance creates a personalized and perfect interior.

Caroline Brackett, principal designer and owner of Caroline Brackett Studio of Design, says that some of this year’s trends went a bit over the top when it came to mixing patterns and textures. But when layering is done right, she’s all for the eclectic look.

“We love the cozy, warm and layered look, really an ‘Englishcore’ vibe, and we feel that these traditional styles are resonating with more audiences,” Brackett says. “It is a nice juxtaposition to the colder, modern decor that often has high-contrast extremes ... Always a fan of mixing in antiques with more modern elements to create this comfortably inviting, yet polished and refined, environment.”

High Contrast

High-contrast design schemes also had their moment this year, with whimsigoth and Scotlandcore inspiring people to paint and decorate with impactful, bold colors and accessories. Whimsigoth mixed gothic elements and lighter touches for an ethereal look, while Scotlandcore channeled the country’s historic and stormy components.

Barone says that Benjamin Moore customers gravitated toward deeper, darker hues this year, a testament to the impact of these moody, slightly spooky design styles.

“We were happy to see consumers gravitating towards bolder, more saturated colors in their homes,” she says. “Although off-whites, grays and neutrals are still popular, people are no longer defaulting to them for every surface. We are also seeing consumers become more comfortable with creating contrast in a space. This includes soft black and deep forest green paint colors being used for a bold accent. Whether it’s through pairing warm and cool colors, light and dark or pastels and moody hues, consumers are becoming more confident with creating balance and depth when choosing a color palette for a space.”

Quiet Luxury

Quiet luxury provided minimalists with an updated and elevated take on the classics, using high-quality textures and colors in every room of the house. Returning to the basics allowed homeowners to showcase high-end furniture and accessories alongside understated colors and lush fabrics. Chrissie Rucker, founder of The White Company, says that these pared back looks really impressed this year.

“Quiet luxury, cottagecore, forestcore: there are elements here we have always believed in—making the most of life's simple pleasures,” she says. “It’s the little things that matter. Precious moments of uncomplicated happiness are our constant inspiration, and it is with these in mind that we create collections that are built to last and become an intimate part of our everyday lives.”

Bringing the Outdoors In

A push toward sustainable materials and natural influences informed many of this year’s TikTok design trends. Forestcore encouraged people to bring the outdoors in, and cottagecore fostered this mindset as well.

Beyond just houseplants, people brought in organic materials and textures, earthy color palettes, and other outdoorsy accessories in every room. Barone says that these trends coincided with a shift toward warmer neutrals, rather than cooler grays and whites.

“People are opting for cozy, comforting taupes and sandy hues,” says Barone. “These warmer colors have a natural and organic feeling to them, and provide the perfect backdrop for a cozy and inviting home.”

And Brackett says that this shift will apply specifically to kitchen designs as a result, predicting that all-white kitchens will be left in the past.

“We will see more ashy or natural and even dark wood grains coming back for cabinets or painted an actual color,” she says. “Also using more interesting stones for countertops like a leather quartzite.”

Ultimately, a focus on natural elements and bringing the outdoors in took over the social media site, and users were excited to find comfort, warmth, and freshness in their indoor spaces. Being at home and at peace was the driver for many of these trends.

“I’m always excited to get cozy again and to focus on the details and rituals of comfort and warmth,” Rucker says.

In 2024: Making Yourself at Home

With so many aesthetics to choose from, it’s hard to know what 2024 will bring. But designers say that the new year will see more interior design trends that center conscious, collected, maximalist and nostalgic thinking—sounds like coastal grandma and forestcore are here to stay.

“Conscious in not only how things are made, but also the type of decor people are looking to bring into their home and being particular about it,” Barone says. “This could mean more handmade or natural items, or something that feels personalized to the consumer. When it comes to consumers designing their homes, I think personalization and customization will continue to be a key requirement.”

With an eye for sustainability and a new energy for sourcing antiques and vintage items—even if they come from within your own family—designers will continue creating these curated looks in the new year. Plus, Barone says, the deeper colors seen in this year’s whimsigoth and Scotlandcore trends will continue to dominate social media.

“These colors are bold but intriguing; they make a statement, but don’t shout at you,” she says. “Our Color Trends 2024 palette features several of these types of colors, including our Color of the Year 2024 Blue Nova 825.”

Otherwise, Brackett says that design styles for secondary or tertiary spaces—think dens, studies, and offices—will go up in popularity in the new year as well, as people continue to work from home and crave a bit of work-life separation.

From nostalgia and collected items to quiet luxury and beyond, we’re sure that whatever TikTok brings in the new year will be creative, cool, and fresh as ever—it’s given us nothing but inspiration so far.