From collectible design to intelligent ecosystems: Milan Design Week 2026 outlines trends for the next decade Cattelan Italia - photo Temenouzhka Zaharieva Milan Design Week is the most important moment of the year for the world of design – it is here that professionals and enthusiasts gather not only to discover new products, but also to exchange knowledge, to be informed and, ultimately, to do business. It turns every corner of the city into a stage for bold ideas, surprising installations and projects that shape the direction of interior design for the coming months. The event is so vast that even seven days are not enough to cover everything – from the main fair, the Salone del Mobile at Rho Fiera, to the Fuorisalone – the dozens of exhibitions and installations scattered throughout the city. Milan Design Week is not really “about furniture”. It is a fascinating cultural phenomenon that uses furniture as its medium and predicts how we will live, work and connect in the next de...
The long-awaited Milan Design Week 2021 finally took place live last September under the name Supersalone. And it not only showed the direction in which the world design exhibitions are likely to develop, but also the main trends in interior design for the coming years.
Well-being, sustainability, safety and restarting are the most used words before, during and after the design week in Milan 2021.
Sustainability is the main long-term trend and it was demonstrated both in the organization of the fair itself and in the selection of materials and furniture design.
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| Sustainability is the macro-trend photo T. Zaharieva |
Two examples of how brands and designers perceive these macro trends from the most famous names in the field of furniture design - Patricia Urquiola and Philip Stark: Patricia Urquiola's Nuez Lounge Bio for Andreu World is made of biodegradable plastic shell and covered with recyclable textiles, and has a carbon footprint equal to that of wood. Named the world's first 100 percent durable lounge chair, the Nuez Lounge Bio can be easily detached from its base when its life expires.
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| Nuez Lounge Bio by Patricia Urquiola forAndreu World |
And Philippe Starck's new collection of wooden chairs Adela Rex for Andreu World is made entirely of plywood and is part of the project for 100% pure wood. It is made only from selected wood from afforestation of the company's own land. All components are easily separated and recycled at the end of their useful life, and the design perfectly combines three parts without fittings, screws or additional materials.
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| Philippe Starck - Adela Rex for Andreu World photo T. Zaharieva |
Surfaces that stimulate our senses are increasingly preferred and we strive for interiors that bring us closer to nature and improve our sense of well-being. Neuroarchitecture and the so-called "hunger for touch" caused by the constraints of the pandemic are accelerating this trend. We see a lot of textured wood, quilted fabrics and boucle in the upholstery.
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| MATTONI photo T. Zaharieva |
Interest in products made of universal, durable and noble materials of steel, aluminum, copper and brass continues to grow because they are infinitely recyclable. Lots of color, combining different materials, lots of natural stone and wood, different metals.
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| De Castelli photo T. Zaharieva |
And another big trend that came with the constraints of the pandemic - organizing the home for many more activities. It is easier to relax at home if everything is fine and you do not see your desk or untidy kitchen, for example. For this reason, as well as for integrating many functions into a limited space, we saw several ideas for a more flexible organization of space. Close the sliding doors and the kitchen is no longer visible, leaving a seemingly separate living area. Pull the curtain and the smart work area disappears. Close the doors and the core of the kitchen with its appliances becomes an elegant and compact furniture integrated into the living room furniture.
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| Poly collection by Patrick Norguet for Natuzzi - Inu table, the Nanà chair, the Node acoustic screens and Milo module photo Salone |
In short, these are just the most pronounced trends from the special edition of Salone del Mobile in Milan - Supersalone, which successfully presented the essence of what is happening in the field of design and where the emphasis was mostly on sustainability. And its satellite event, the Fuorisalone design festival with many exhibits and events scattered throughout the city, showed even more color, innovation and interesting ideas, which did not lack the brilliance known from previous editions.
* This is a translation of my article in More for the House magazine.
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