Décor, travel, sex, ’shrooms: it’s all happening in 2023

THE RETURN OF COLOUR

Though muted, earthy tones are still strong in interiors as we continue our search for calm in this over-stimulating world, the return of colour is a highlight this year in our need for optimism, positivity and humour. This time, its use is more considered. Think of colours and patterns as accents within more muted interior spaces, with wallpaper, accentuated ceilings and bold art and craft pieces creating a pop of interest. Warmer tones such as magenta, Pantone’s colour of the year, and cool, mossy greens, cobalt blues and pastels are trendy.

YOLO TRAVEL

Covid-19 devastated travel: long lockdowns segued into “travellers’ whiplash” as restrictions eased, tightened and eased again. Over the past few years, with fragmented reopenings and countries flip-flopping on confusing rules, we often didn’t know whether we were coming or going. This year comes with a renewed confidence that our foreign-holiday plans won’t be foiled again. Air passenger numbers are expected to surpass the 4-billion mark for the first time since 2019. This, with pent-up yearning for an epic getaway and new understanding that travel can't be taken for granted, means people are approaching it with a “seize the day” or “yolo" (you only live once) mindset.

The challenging economic climate matters little. According to a study by Booking.com, polling more than 24,000 travellers in 32 countries, nearly half said they'll be more indulgent in their holiday spending because the fulfilment they get from travel makes it worth it.

SET-JETTING 

Another post-Covid travel trend relates to the binge-watching most of us embraced to make it through the pandemic. Back then, we travelled vicariously to exotic places through films and TV shows. Now, those shows and their locations are having a huge influence on where we choose to go.

Netflix revealed that 70% of shows watched by a typical viewer were filmed in foreign settings which were often people’s favourite holiday spots.

Expedia spokesperson Natalie Allard told CNN that TV is taking over from Instagram as a key travel influencer.

"Two-thirds of global travellers have considered it and almost 40% have already booked trips after being inspired by their favourite show.”

Trending spots include Paris, thanks to Emily in Paris; and beachside resorts in Hawaii and Sicily, thanks to the wildly popular, Emmy-winning White Lotus. 

A FOCUS ON SEXUAL WELLNESS

According to Acumen Research and Consulting, a global provider of market research, reports and consulting services, the global sexual wellness market was valued at $80.1bn (about R1.4-trillion) in 2021 and is expected to grow to $121.6bn (about R2-trillion) by 2030.

The pandemic was a catalyst for sexual wellness, moving beyond promoting safe sex to focusing on sexual wellness as an important part of wellness in general.

This not only translates to a change in attitude, but also promotes inclusive and experimental attitudes towards sex.

As part of this shift, sex toys and accessories in the sexual wellness category are in for a boom. Expect more products, such as vibrators, in retail spaces.

MASTER CRAFTS

With so much mass manufacturing over the past decade, there is a strong return to craftsmanship and investing in handcrafted furniture and objects that offer a sense of soul, history and exclusivity. This trend is a reaction to the collective need to become more aware of sustainability and has seen a rise within the art, craft and design industry. As creatives return to basics while pursuing a more conscious and ethical approach to design and manufacturing that produces less product with more value and longevity, they’re putting out high-end products that serve more as investment pieces.

GENDER-NEUTRAL BEAUTY

As gender norms shift and society adapts, brands are following suit, prompting a shift to beauty brands embracing inclusivity and gender-neutrality.

This is particularly evident when it comes to skincare brands: not only do men and women share the same skin biology, but both are increasingly in search of skincare that is green, clean, effective — and not targeted at a particular gender.

Expect more brands to embrace marketing that’s no longer gendered, but focused on specific concerns, ingredients and products that are relevant, irrespective of one’s gender.

BRAINSTORMING WITH STRANGERS

A new study from behavioural researchers reveals that interacting with strangers can be a key tactic for developing new ideas. It shows that talking to strangers can make us feel more optimistic and positive, scale up our empathy, boost our belonging and gift us a sense of connection. Strangers can offer unfamiliar perspectives, which help prompt more flexible, creative thinking.

FITTING SMALL BOUTS OF EXERCISE INTO YOUR DAY

For many people, committing to hour-long gym sessions a few times a week has always been impractical. Instead, fitting exercise into your schedule by removing the time problem is the new way to move.

Micro workouts are short bursts of exercise scattered throughout your day,  making time for exercise easier. Think a short session of HIIT training in the morning; a set of push-ups, lunges or squats before lunch; or a one- to two-minute dance or fitness challenge before dinner on TikTok, one of the platforms on which micro workouts have proliferated.

Then there’s incidental exercise. It’s as simple as taking the stairs instead of the lift or jogging on the spot while you’re waiting for the microwave to heat your food — small movements consciously added to your daily routine to add more movement to your day and promote a more active lifestyle.

HOME AS A SENSORY ESCAPE

With sustainability here to stay, we continue to see more tactile, handcrafted textiles and materials, such as wood, stone and a plethora of organic products in interiors and furniture design that naturally leans towards minimalistic and sculptural shapes and scapes. This movement is a strong indication of our need to escape the noise by including aspects of nature as an antidote. This need for serenity has influenced living spaces to retreat, to cocoon ourselves as protection for the fast-paced, tech-driven world outside.

THE HUNZA DIET

It may have taken a while, but we’ve finally started realising that unsustainable and fad diets are not conducive to wellness. Instead, people are turning to ways of eating that promote a healthy lifestyle. 

We’ve heard of the Mediterranean diet — now the Hunza diet is getting the attention.

The Hunza people, inhabitants of  the Hunza Valley, a mountainous region in the Himalayas in northern Pakistan, are said to live longer than most, dying of old age, not disease.

The Hunza diet is high in complex carbohydrates, low in protein — very little of which comes from meat — and rich in unprocessed foods. It mainly consists of whole grains, raw foods such as fresh vegetables, fruit, nuts and seeds, and beans. They also enjoy prebiotic-rich foods like kefir, yoghurt and fermented vegetables.

Meat is mostly reserved for special occasions and sugar and refined carbohydrates do not feature.

NETWORKING IN AN ICE BATH

According to a recent article in The New York Times, the hottest place to network is in an ice bath. Spending six minutes in ice-cold water and breathing through the pain of that makes our endorphins go crazy, meaning we feel good about ourselves and each other, and are more open to making connections. At many wellness clubs in New York and Los Angeles, members are encouraged to network while receiving treatments such as this, vitamin drips, lymphatic drainage massages, cryotherapy and hyperbaric chambers.

MUSHROOM STACKING

Studies have shown mushrooms to be little powerhouses that are rich in fibre, vitamins, minerals, protein and antioxidants that promote good health. Going forward, you can expect more mushroom supplements, extracts and boosters — and certainly stacks.

Medicinal or functional mushrooms such as shiitake, lion’s mane, reishi, cordyceps, turkey tail and chaga have been used in Eastern medicine for thousands of years, recently catching the limelight in the West.

Then, of course, there’s the magic type that's become a microdosing star. 

The growing interest in the benefits of mushrooms — medicinal and magical — has resulted in what mycologist Paul Stamets, of Netflix's Fantastic Fungi fame, has coined mushroom stacking, the latest buzzword in wellness. It refers to combining medicinal or functional mushrooms with the magic variety, adaptogens (herbal pharmaceuticals thought to have health benefits) or antioxidants to enhance health benefits.

FACE YOGA

Yoga always seems to dominate discussions of balance and wellness, and this year we’re expecting more talk of face yoga — the latest anti-ageing treatment.

According to the face yoga website, it’s a “non-invasive practice focusing on exercising the 57 muscles in your face and neck for up to 15 minutes a day”.

The targeted exercises and massages are believed to stimulate the face’s skin, muscles and lymphatic system, and promise all sorts of benefits, including an increase in circulation, reduction in puffiness and the smoothing of wrinkles and fine lines.

BUCCAL FAT REMOVAL 

It’s the new Brazilian butt lift, aka the newest cosmetic surgery procedure to take over social media, and refers to the removal of fat from the buccal fat pad, a mass of tissue located deep within the cheek.

Plastic surgeons say by removing fat from the cheeks, the procedure creates the appearance of more sculpted, defined cheekbones. Clients opting for buccal fat removal hope the surgical procedure will increase the sharpness of their cheekbones.

BUT FIRST, THE METAVERSE

Hotels and travel brands are getting in on the action of the metaverse, a virtual-reality world where it’s possible to explore without physically going very far. Crucially, virtual reality is not predicted to replace travel, but rather to embolden people to book a trip in real life after enjoying a taster in the metaverse.

It will be especially useful for those who might feel unsure about trying somewhere new, with 46% telling Booking.com they were more likely to travel to places they wouldn’t have previously considered if they had a positive experience in the metaverse. More than 40% said they would turn to virtual reality to help choose holidays.

Metaverse experiences will also be a good way for people to relive their favourite travel memories. As an example, check out https://www.msocial.com/merlion-in-metaverse, Singapore tourism’s virtual world called Decentraland, where you can explore several of its biggest tourist attractions.