5 interior surface trends for 2023 that we love  

With so many new design goodies released each year, staying top of what is happening in surfaces might just be the biggest challenge to trying what’s new (don’t worry, read on for another great insider tip that makes this a doddle).  

The most important takeaway is that pricing isn’t nearly as much of a barrier to magazine-worthy design as you may think. The latest interior surface trends aren’t necessarily more expensive than well-known aspirational products. Take Keim Mineral Paints as an example. They’re more affordable than Farrow & Ball.  

As for the best way to stay on top of the latest interior surfaces trends in UK and Europe? Look no further than the Surface Design Show. Every year they compile a list of manufacturers debuting the latest surface design products set to make the design news.  

It can be difficult to pick favourites from what’s on the market right now, but your Exceptional Homes Team has chosen five surfaces we feel you should try this year.  

If you see something you love, feel free to contact the suppliers for samples. They’re always happy to answer questions and are on hand to give installation tips to you or your decorator.  

Keim Mineral Paints are one of the most beautiful, yet underpublicised, paint brands around. A lot of the reason for this may be to do with the brand’s distribution strategy. It foregoes swanky showrooms in posh areas and, instead, passes the savings on to the consumer – as we mentioned, the paint is a fraction of the price of Farrow & Ball.   

Seeing the minerals the company uses before mixing them into paint is revelation. Who knew minerals come out of the Earth in such a dizzying array of colours?   

The paint’s composition is guided solely by what the planet yields, and the brand’s consultant, who we met to discuss the paint, is quick to point out that for large projects, making an order from a single batch is key to getting a matching finish.   

We were flabbergasted to see the brilliant metallic finishes that are possible with these chemical-free formulas.  

A highlight of Keim is their use of surface paint techniques.  They are happy to whip up a sponged sample for you to have a look. We particularly love their sponged paint effect achieved by using colour 9019 and gold 1001 (the brand is admittedly not the go-to for exotic-sounding paint colour names).  

The consultant shared a top tip to achieve this effect at home: use a sea sponge for dabbing – the result is out of this world.  

• Read more about Keim Mineral Paints.  

Jamie Moore at Recclesia Stained Glass recently showed us a sample of glass that had been moulded around shells and other seaside flotsam and these were now imprinted in the glass. That technical achievement in glass instantly catapulted Recclesia into our favourite interior surface trends list.  

But the real wow factor surface we discovered was the magical and spectacular folding screen with hand-drawn sunflowers which we were humbled to find out was made of tiny shards of glass. The panel was a custom job and retailed for £60,000.  

If that price tag feels out of reach, don’t despair.  

The wonderful upside is that Recclesia Stained Glass also creates works that are a bit easier on the pocket. These handmade pieces offer a spectacular impact in any home – modern or traditional.  

Our choice for a more budget–friendly pick is their glass panels, which they mount in frames. We’ve seen for ourselves how divine they look when backlit. Moore said these are a particular favourite.  

For that heirloom accent for your home that will stand the test of time, an innovative stained-glass creation takes some beating. We can imagine these works taking pride of place in a family’s art collection and being lovingly displayed for generations.  

• Discover more about Recclesia Stained Glass.  

To say that the founder and lead artist behind Red Dog Glass Design is a fascinating woman is an understatement. Before training as an artist in her more mature years, Sally Coulden had been through 11 career transformations – ranging from midwife to sexologist to researcher of tropical diseases in Africa and Asia.  

But art, she says, is what she will be creating for the rest of her life. 

Not satisfied to rest on her laurels and copy what she sees around her, Coulden is making a mark as an interiors surface trendsetter to watch.  

Her speciality is original one-of-a-kind abstract art glass, splashback, tiles and panels.  

For three years clients have come to her for commissions, and she has cornered a market in the bespoke interior glass business that has seen her company featured in publications such as Grand Designs Magazine.  

Her glass installations – which come in small to large scale sizes, are pitch-perfect for kitchens and bathrooms. The splashbacks are impervious to water and can be wiped down with ease.  

The opportunity to work directly with your artist to create a surface that you treasure always makes the process extra special. With Coulden on board as your artist, you are bound to be well entertained during your art commissioning adventure too.  

Read more about Red Dog Glass Design.  

Sometimes it can feel that in the UK, at least, tile material trends began and ended with Victorian encaustic.   

Which is why we are delighted to be able to include the brand Ranieri Lava Stone in this roundup. Not only do they make intriguing tile patterns, but they have a unique heritage.  

The company’s fascinating story of sustainability is linked to one of the world’s most famous volcanoes, which has made its way into legend.  

The story begins in Naples, Italy, with Mount Vesuvius looming large in the city’s background.  

The Ranieri family realised the beautiful potential inherent in the 400-year–old lava, and have been using it as a raw material to create surfaces for generations.  

As a completely natural product, lava stone has a huge ecological edge on synthetic materials. For example, it is 100% recyclable.   

Another advantage is that with volcanic stone, strict surface size is less of a consideration, so you have greater freedom of use than you would with other naturally occurring stones like marble.  

What is most surprising is that natural lava creates such a wide variety of sophisticated looks and finishes.  

Colour customisation adds another layer of design potential – with the pigmented finishes creating something between refined and rugged.   

• Read more about Ranieri Lava Stone.  

There can be advantages to having stoneware look like wallpaper. For one thing, it can be tempting to think of hardwearing areas like the bathroom as a strictly utilitarian space. But with the right surface, any bathroom can be as decorative as a charming living room.   

What’s more, with porcelain stoneware, you can decorate with the full knowledge that the product is both sustainable and hygienic.  

Mirage is an Italian brand that wants you to get creative in your bathroom – they make large-scale porcelain slabs that would allow you to do just that. For example, their porcelain collection ‘Papier’ lets you play with patterns as easily as you would with wallpaper.  

Seamless stoneware walls in bathrooms, without grout lines, are striking and makes for one of the top up to the minute interior surface trends. Extend the decorative effect to the basin for a look that is nothing short of spectacular.  

• Learn more about the Mirage ‘Papier’ collection.