Milan Design Week has returned in full force to the city this year. The world’s leading interior design, architecture, and fashion luminaries gathered for a sneak peek at everything new and noteworthy. The Via Brera district was crowded with people, while foot traffic at the Salone del Mobile outside the city skyrocketed. It’s always about good design, but 2023 is Milan Design Week’s first year to be held in April, as scheduled in 2019.

We scoured Milan for the most popular trends, from the new designers at Alcova and the showrooms lining the streets of Via Durini. These trends will soon be seen in living rooms near you…

Squish is the new Blob

The theme of this year’s Milan Design Week was to get comfortable and stay for a bit. This oversized, plump chair that is too comfortable to sit in has been seen everywhere. It signals a continuing push towards inviting silhouettes. The new Macaron Armchairs from Nilufar Gallery is soft and voluptuous, embodying the plush lines that this trend is known for. Cassina also prioritized the look of its Moncloud Sofa by Patricia Urquiola. Its soft-as-a-cloud cushions are made from recycled PET. Fendi Casa has unveiled its soft seats in its flagship store. Most notably, the Blow Up Modular Sofa by Controvento. Comfort will always be king.

Outdoor Just Got Technicolor

If 2020 was the year everyone adopted outdoor living, 2023 would be the year they painted the outdoors in blue, yellow, and pink. And just about any other technicolor color between. Neutral colors and pops of green for years have dominated outdoor furniture. Now, it’s finally taking on pastels and vibrant colors. The best example was at Roche Bobois, where artist Joana Vasconcelos revealed a new indoor/outdoor version of her famous BomBom chair. Vasconcelos, inspired by sunsets from her native Portugal, transformed the brand’s Via Durini showroom into a veritable Candyland with kaleidoscopic colors. She paired colorful rugs and sofas with a topsy-turvy fabric artwork that hung above. Flexform also added pastels to their outdoor lounge chairs at the fairgrounds. Dedon has delved even deeper into the worlds of color with a new color-shifting fabric for its lounge seating and sofas that combine contrasting colors like purple and orange.

Moss-Core

This trend is familiar to those who watched The Last of Usseries. It sees the design taking cues from nature. (Hello, mushrooms craze!) The mossy post-apocalyptic architecture from the hit HBO series is an excellent example of this trend. Buccellati exhibited its jewelry in a bed filled with carnivorous plant life, curated by Lily Kwong. Venus flytraps, pitcher plants, and Rosso Maraviglia vase were combined in an impressive show that brought the beauty and power of nature to the forefront. The moments were repeated at Alcova, where Forma Rosa combined its ceramics and IRL flora with Rinck’s designs. This trend is an excellent choice for textiles, rugs, and soft furnishings.

Lighting To-Go

The Salone del Mobile welcomed Euroluce to its biennial lighting show this year. The fair showcases everything new and noteworthy about illumination. What was our most significant takeaway from the Salone de Mobile? Many brands want you to carry your lamps around rather than leave them on a table or desk. Ginori 1735 is one of our favorites, as the designer Luca Nichetto worked with glassblowers Barovier & Toso on a portable lamp that resembles a collection of stylish perfume bottles. A British designer, Tom Dixon, also created miniature versions of his Melt and Bell silhouettes. Porada, an Italian design house, also got into the act with Ekero Move. This small wood lamp can be paired with the matching Ekero Night bedside table. What is driving this trend? This trend is likely a result of the growing popularity of indoor/outdoor living. Portable lamps are easy to carry inside or outside, and their playful designs offer much more versatility.

Aluminum is the new material

Last week, steel’s lighter cousin appeared everywhere, from joints to jambs and even full-blown furniture. Aluminum was prominent in the table and stools designed by Arthur Vandergucht, a Belgian designer. His octagonal table was reminiscent of something from the Wachowski sister’s Zion. The only adornment was that which function necessitated–grommets along the edges of each leg and the sides of the table. The minimal set was completed by each stool, which was a small table. Kiki Goti also unveiled her collection of objects, including sconces and candlesticks, mirrors, pendants, and a table. All were made from aluminum. Her design’s modular mirrors can be hung from the wall and can expand due to hooks on top and bottom. The design is made playful by the green and blue foam-coated appendages. The sconces are also animated, like abstract masks with a bright interiors. A Korean interior design company presented its first functional collection offsite at Ordet Gallery Ledongil Workshop. Aluminum plates with glass fiber coating were placed on top of stainless steel tables. The result was a look that resembled a lightweight plastic.

Trompe-l’oeil Touches

Last week, deception was given a chic touch in Milan. In presentations across the city, brands used trompe-l’oeil materials to draw you in with a visual trick. Rinck is a French cabinetmaker known for his exceptional work in almost everything. He presented a collection of precious objects with subtly marbling surfaces. For example, the multifunctional console and umbrella stand looked carved from the rarest slabs. These items were not made of marble. These items were instead made from a lightweight composite material that still looked magnificent.

Touch Wood is a Japanese and Dutch duo that has given terrazzo a fresh twist. Sho Ota, a Japanese designer, and Yuma Kano, a Dutch designer, developed a terrazzo that uses wood chips instead of stone flecks. The material is used to create beautiful stools, tables, and shelves. N/A is another collaboration between Natalia Triantafylli and Andrew Scott, and 3D-printed ceramic mirrors, vessels, and light fixtures, all based on scans from the IRL objects. The result? Works that retain the clay look but have a digital shine.