If I could choose any superpower, I imagine I’d go for the ability to accurately predict the future.

Let’s face it, it would make my current job far easier. At a magazine like ELLE Decoration, at the forefront of cutting-edge design and interiors, myself and my team are constantly looking to record what we feel will be the new and the next. With an ear to the ground, and in close consultation with our network of tastemakers and style soothsayers, we seek to lead the creative agenda rather than slavishly following what has already been done.

That said, it would be wrong to totally disregard what has gone before. At a recent talk I hosted to celebrate the launch of designer Lee Broom’s book Fashioning Design, we discussed his many influences, including his use of historical references as a starting point for his work. He has always had an innate ability to reinvent what is familiar to create newness.

This concept of looking backwards to move forwards held particular resonance as we worked on this, our first issue of 2023. It contains many ideas and inspirations, grouped under the banner of ‘future heritage’, that either link to the past in a contemporary way, look far into the future or straddle both.

You’ll find disruptive new ways to buy vintage Scandinavian furniture sat alongside Victorian crafts reimagined for the 21st century and vibrant modern paint schemes inspired by some of the greatest artists in history. Not only that, there’s a series of beautiful homes that herald a game-changing era of exuberant and eclectic interior design, packed with punch, colour and confidence. And that spirit of exciting innovation is set to continue. We asked forecasters WGSN to look at the trends that will shape our homes in 2023 and beyond – their predictions speak to a coming age of comfort and positivity.

Finally, as we’re currently in the depths of mid-winter, there’s a focus on the one space we’ll all be spending much more of our time in: the living room. As we head into a new year, that’s where you’ll find me, relaxing on the sofa under a throw – this season’s most essential accessory (see p26) – contemplating the year ahead. I hope it will be a good one for all of us.