Trendspotting: Highlights from Milan’s Salone del Mobile 2024

Salone del Mobile, the world’s largest furniture fair, is, in the words of its president, Maria Porro, about more than just products—it’s a cultural event. The entire city comes alive as a love letter to design, with take-your-breath-away installations in historic villas and stately courtyards—even streets and sidewalks become galleries. And, of course, there’s the fair itself: nearly 2,000 exhibitors from around the world showcase what’s to come in 2024 and 2025.  Here are a few trends we spotted at this year’s Salone.

The Colour: Bordeaux

Richer than red but softer than fuchsia, this warm burgundy was on everything from chair legs to sideboards and coffee tables (in Bordeaux marble, no less).

1. Petalo armchair from Molteni&C

 

2. Drake coffee table by Hannes Peer for Minotti

3. Tacito sideboard by Alessandro Stabile for Magis

4. Jason sideboard by Giampiero Tagliaferri for Minotti

5. Juliette sofa from Baxter

A New Dimension

We’re only leaning in further to cozy fabrics and textured, tactile surfaces: rattan accents, soft bouclés on sofas, even pony hair on chaises longues.

1. Trio chair by Minotti

2. Aaland armchair sofa and pouf by Patricia Urquiola for Kartell

3. Parka sofa by Poltrona Frau

4. Aura pouf by Baxter

5. Leplì stool by Poltrona Frau

Round the Corners

Even the modernists are softening their edges, and sofas are all about curves ahead, as are classic shapes like a lovely valet, rounded in the corners, or a modern chair design from Vancouverite Alan Hung (our 2023 Furniture Designer of the Year, launching his new piece in Milan this year).

1. Supermoon sofa by Minotti

2. Vale chandelier by A-N-D

3. Sinn chair by Alan Hung for Miyazaki

4. Weekend valet stand from Baxter

Supersize Me

Starring at this year’s Salone were sofas that look like they could hug you back—either pillow-like and less structured, or just bigger than big.

1. Big George double-seater sofa by Moooi

2. Perron Pillo sofa by Willo Perron for Knoll

3. Camelot sectional sofa by Flexform

Waste Not

Salone itself has spent the last two years shifting to get its ISO 20121 for sustainable event management (drywall was banned, for example), and manufacturers highlighted their own efforts—like furniture designs made from offcuts, as in Nendo’s new line for Paola Lenti, or Scavolini’s Poetica collection, made from recycled PET in a solar-powered factory.

1. Hana-arashi armchair by Nendo for Paola Lenti

2. Poetica furniture system from Scavolini

Biophilia

It’s a return to florals, some in micro patterns à la grandma chic, others in wallpaper-like repeats, as seen in Kartell’s collab with Liberty. And there’s no better time to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Marimekko’s Unikko pattern than in an era when blooms are back, baby.

1. Kiori armchair by Paola Lenti

2. Unikko espresso cup by Marimekko

3. Trix sofa by Liberty x Kartell

When in Milan

Book a tour of Fondazione Achille Castiglioni, celebrating the namesake Italian designer who gave us the Arco lamp and so many other modern design classics. His daughter will walk you through his archives (meticulous!), his inspiration and so many of his original designs; by the end, you’ll feel your own creative well overflowing.