Salone del Mobile Milano, also known as Milan Furniture Fair, is a globally renowned event that holds great significance for designers worldwide — including me. It’s one of the most prestigious and internationally recognized events in the design industry. Designers, from all over the world, converge in Milan to showcase their work, making it a global platform for exposure and networking opportunities. Yes, I’m an interior designer and a design enthusiast, so when I recently attended Salone del Mobile again after a decade, it was a dream come true.
Attending Salone is like having a crystal ball, focused on design. The event is a hub of the latest trends and innovations in furniture and all things related to interior design. The European market usually has trends surface about a decade ahead of the US, so it’s like a peek at the future. By attending Salone del Mobile, I feel like you can gain valuable insights into emerging styles, materials, colors, and design concepts that will be shaping the industry for years to come. Here are five fascinating trends that I saw, loved, and expect to shape the US market in the coming years.
Design for Wellness:
Wellness-oriented design remains a big trend — I noticed it everywhere and incorporated into every product offering. I think that within 10 years home spas — think saunas, steam rooms, cryo-therapy, dry-cryotherapy, float spas — will be as common as the home office is today. This tells me that wellness will continue to be a prominent aspect of residential design in the near future.
Sustainability Matters:
When you think of sustainability, you might think of organic materials and yes, designers showcased products made from natural leather without metals, organic fibers, and natural woods. But sustainable energy consumption was a bigger story: This emphasis on eco-friendly energy reflects the industry’s commitment to environmentally conscious design in every way that it can be implemented.
Sustainability also comes in the form of better-quality products. European manufacturers emphasized the longevity of their products and that replacing furnishings infrequently is also a sustainable practice.
Bold and Bright Colors:
I saw highly saturated colors in solids and bold patterns everywhere — the concept of dopamine dressing is hitting home. The use of saturated shades added vibrancy and energy to the showcased designs, indicating a departure from the muted oatmeal and beige color schemes of the past couple of years. Be prepared for a return to eye-catching palettes and patterns that will bring a smile to your face.
70’s Retro Colors:
Think avocado green, marigold orange, sunny yellow, and earthy browns. These vibrant hues were showcased by various designers, setting the tone. These retro hues embrace enduring appeal with a touch of healthy nostalgia, but there’s nothing old-fashioned about it.
Contemporary Styling with a Modern Twist:
Salone del Mobile also highlighted a fusion of contemporary styling with mid-century inspiration, Scandinavian with a Japanese aesthetic, coined: Japandi, and complete abandon of Indoor vs. Outdoor furniture. Most of the furniture I view was a mash-up of a traditional craft with a modern influence for 2023 and beyond. Today’s contemporary is a balance of design aesthetics from various points in time as well as various regions of the globe. Designers reimagined and reinvented elements from the past to create fresh aesthetics with a clean, timeless feel. They are also fully embracing a blurring of the line between indoor and outdoor living, great design knows no boundaries.
Salone del Mobile has undergone significant changes and advancements since my last visit a decade ago. The event now spans an impressive 1.5 million square feet of display space, showcasing the vast scale and growing importance of the market. Let me put it in perspective: I walked a staggering 123,006 steps there in 5.5 days; the equivalent of about 61.5 miles.
After touring the million and a half square feet of display space, here are a couple of my favorite exhibitors and vendors:
- Arte Veneziana: A 59-year-old company known for its exceptional attention to detail, offering custom-designed and crafted products, including full wall paneling, doors, and furniture.
- Gessi: An Italian plumbing manufacturer that impressed me with its haute couture fixtures, featuring a wide range of materials such as blown Murano glass, cut crystal, onyx, and marble. Gessi’s advanced kitchen sink faucet, allowing various water types, left a lasting impression.
- Minotti: A forever favorite, Minotti showcased contemporary designs and captivated me with its exceptional craftsmanship, rivaling my infatuation with Holly Hunt.
Since launching in Milan in 1961, Salone del Mobile has stood as the pinnacle for the furnishing and design sector. It’s the benchmark for design events, thanks to the unique and invaluable experience it offers. My recent visit shows why. It has grown and evolved over the years, becoming an expansive platform that showcases design on a grand, global scale. Salone del Mobile continues to inspire and influence me — and the industry as a whole — making it an essential event for designers seeking trends, networking opportunities, and insights into the future of design.