Trends spotted during the Milan Design Week 2024

The Milan Design Week took place from 15 to 21 April 2024. The international design event coincides as usual with the renowned furniture fair Salone del Mobile, attracting hundreds of thousand visitors from all around the world every year. For one week, Milan formed the beating heart of design, and the European fashion capital was buzzing with creativity and the newest innovations. Our team traveled to Milan to be immersed in the newest trends and returned full of inspiration. Look with is in the fascinating world of design trends that stood out to us the most during the Milan Design Week 2024.

COLOR, COLOR AND MORE COLOR

Who was in Milan could not miss it: color clearly is back. And how! Mainly fresh and bright, vivid colors dominated the view. We saw yellow, purple (mainly lilac), fresh shades of green, cobalt blue and orange. Also, deep shades of dark red like burgundy and maroon stood out. Here and there, the neon accents popped towards you. Also still present, but more on the background, were calmer color pallets in nude/pink/terra, cream/beige/sand or soft pastels. Color gradients were also favorite. In the brighter colors, they created an energetic and striking effect, in the calmer tones a warm harmonious whole.

MATERIALS, SHAPES AND STRUCTURES

Remarkable in the use of materials was the use of ceramic like porcelain and lots of (tainted) glass. Also, high gloss/shiny materials stood out (lots of mirrors!). In this end, metal surfaces and objects also seemed to form a trend, mostly executed in silver. Especially aluminum appeared popular, due to its environmentally friendly properties and excellent recyclability. Furthermore, marble is a material to stay, often extensive in execution to be a true eyecatcher in for example table tops and striking furniture pieces or accessories. There also were interesting combinations of materials to be seen, like fabric with leather on coaches and beds or ceramic combined with glass in lighting. In terms of shapes, organic and soft curves still set the tone. What returned a lot were grids in designs and the application of openwork (thread) structures. Also remarkable were the ‘hairy’ surfaces and the use of threads and fringes. Furthermore, rough structures and roughly shaped, unfinished looking – as presentedby nature – objects stood out. In the field of carpet and textile we saw amongst others high-low structures, embossing and the use of glossy threads make a regular return. The reuse of materials was an important topic; one of the most special materials in this regard must have been the use of human hair.

FURNITURE, LIGHTING AND ACCESSORIES

Innovative shapes and sculptural silhouettes were central in the field of furniture design, whereby furniture sometimes was elevated to art. Striking pieces had flowing curves, geometrical precision, and excessive dimension. Chunky XL armchairs and couches in the shape of colossal, modular seating arrangements attracted the attention. Lighting fixtures sometimes looked like true pieces of art, in renewed executions and often with additional decorations attached to them. There was a lot of play with colored light and remarkable was the lighting in the shape of light strips. Furthermore, lighting was used in many presentations to create a feeling of relaxation and calm. This new function of lighting with a focus on well-being we will see come back more and more in our interiors. Interior accessories were playful, with a lot of color and texture. In addition, there were many items with organic shapes and natural structures.

SUSTAINABLE AND SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE DESIGN

While the worldwide conscious in terms of the environment and social matters keeps increasing, at the Milan Design Week 2024 there was a lot of attention for sustainability and social responsibility. Designers embraced circular design principles and have priority in their designs to sustainability, recyclability, reuse, biobased materials and a minimal impact on the environment and society. Therefore, inclusivity and design with a social message or purpose passed by frequently. 

In short, the Milan Design Week 2024 was a model of the limitless creativity and progressiveness of the design world. From vivid colors and outstanding designs to innovative materials and socially responsible principles, the trends revealed during this event reflect a profound move to a more conscious approach of design. Would you like to incorporate the newest trends of the Milan Design Week into your interior designs and are you curious how to translate them towards the floor? Contact us and share your ideas, we are happy to think along with you!