Salone del Mobile.Milano 2026: Trends and highlights from the Milan Furniture Fair
The 2026 edition of the Milan Furniture Fair welcomed 316,342 visitors from 167 countries. Photo: Salone del Mobile.Milano 2026
SALONE DEL MOBILE offers a unique window into the international trends shaping the world of interiors. As you make your way through the vast exhibition halls, one thing quickly becomes clear: while there is truly something for everyone and multiple styles coexist side by side, certain themes and moods continue to surface from one stand to the next.
Here’s a selection of highlights, impressions and trends spotted at the Milan Furniture Fair.
Refined hotel elegance and sophisticated salon-style living
Hotel-inspired interiors have been gaining popularity in private homes for some time now, particularly in bedroom spaces. A calm, harmonious aesthetic, high-quality textiles and carefully finished wood surfaces create the perfect setting for rest, relaxation and a moment of escape from everyday life.
At the stand of Japanese brand Karimoku Case, hospitality-inspired design took center stage under the theme “A Thoughtful Stay.” Drawing from the atmosphere of a boutique hotel, the space was divided into areas resembling a reception, lounge and hotel suite complete with a bed and separate dressing areas. The bedroom furniture itself was still at the prototype stage, but hopefully it will enter production after the fair.
Karimoku Case’s stand carried the hospitality-inspired theme “A Thoughtful Stay.” Photos: Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen & Karl Tranberg Knudsen
The serene stand was designed by Norm Architects.
Karimoku Case is a Japanese design brand.
Karimoku Case’s stand was one of the highlights of the Milan Furniture Fair.
The stand was built around a hospitality-inspired hotel aesthetic.
Danish brand Audo Copenhagen, meanwhile, drew inspiration from the elegant salons and social gathering spaces of Milan. Titled “The Grand Café,” the stand featured a timeless architectural setting divided into a lobby, café and restaurant. Moving forward, the company plans to focus even more strongly on furniture and lighting, with a particular emphasis on creating customizable product families.
The exhibition concept demonstrated how seamlessly Audo Copenhagen’s pieces adapt to a wide range of settings, including hospitality interiors. Both the Karimoku Case and Audo Copenhagen stands were designed by Norm Architects.
Audo Copenhagen’s vision for hospitality interiors.
Hospitality was one of the defining trends at this year’s fair.
Audo Copenhagen’s stand was also designed by Norm Architects.
Holistic well-being
Wellness is a broad concept encompassing everything from health and exercise to choices and services that support overall well-being. The growing focus on wellness has also brought a welcome shift to the fitness industry: manufacturers have finally realized that exercise equipment should be visually appealing, too.
At the fair, Italian brand Technogym presented its sophisticated Sand Stone collection, designed to satisfy even the most discerning fitness enthusiast. Made largely from natural materials, the collection features a soft beige palette inspired by the landscapes of the Mediterranean.
Even the Nordic-style sauna received a refined new interpretation in Milan, as Italian brand Effe unveiled Baluar, a modular sauna and hammam collection designed in collaboration with Patricia Urquiola.
The forms of the collection draw inspiration from the bulwark, a medieval defensive structure used for protection and observation. Enclosed by curved walls, the space becomes intimate and sheltered, creating a calming setting for bathing and relaxation.
Effe and Patricia Urquiola’s vision of the modern sauna.
1970s influences, reimagined for today
The spirit of the 1970s remained a strong presence at the fair, visible in everything from color palettes to the silhouettes of the furniture. Sculptural forms inspired by nature also continue to hold their ground. Across the exhibition halls, sprawling modular sofas curved their way through the stands, forming oversized seating landscapes several meters in length. Coffee tables were often presented in groups – either as matching sets or as coordinated combinations placed side by side. Overall, sofas leaned toward a substantial, low-profile look, while slimmer silhouettes were notably absent.
Tacchini’s stand was designed by Studio Cameranesi-Pompili and Studio LYS.
Kartell presented its furniture alongside AI-generated artworks. Pictured is Patricia Urquiola’s Aaland sofa.
Rounded forms could be spotted throughout Mattiazzi’s furniture collection.
Brown and other warm, toasted tones glowed throughout the exhibition stands. Orange appeared frequently in upholstery fabrics, alongside muted greens and ochre yellows. Stark black-and-white contrasts and cool shades of gray have largely faded from view for now, while bright, saturated colors have given way to softer, more nuanced hues. Naturally, these muted trend tones also extended to smaller objects, including Bitossi’s art ceramics.
Bitossi’s art ceramics with interesting shapes and colors.
Muted tones and touches of ochre yellow at Nanimarquina’s stand.
The appeal of tactile materials
Glass was everywhere at the Milan fair, and small side tables made entirely from colored glass seemed to emerge as one of the standout pieces of the moment, appearing in the collections of several brands. Alongside smooth surfaces, designers also experimented with a variety of textured finishes. Colored glass was especially visible in bathroom collections, particularly in compact countertop basins. Even glass bricks appeared throughout the fair, hinting at a possible comeback for the nostalgic material.
Metal and glass came together in Knoll’s D’Urso coffee tables.
Metal surfaces were treated in much the same way as glass, with designers introducing color and richly textured, three-dimensional finishes. Marble was used extensively both in furniture and across the exhibition spaces themselves, particularly in richly colored varieties such as brown, burgundy, gray, green and even blue. Blocks of stone had been crafted with remarkable skill into everything from decorative objects to furniture and lighting, and at Italian brand CITCO’s stand, even a sculptural ping pong table.
Italian brand CITCO is known for its expertise in marble craftsmanship and innovative use of stone.
Uniquely beautiful
While the spirit of the 1970s was visible throughout the fairgrounds, there was also a growing appreciation for individuality and natural materials.
At its beautifully curated stand, the Finnish brand Nikari presented, among other pieces, new round tables from Joanna Laajisto’s Centenniale collection, crafted from oak or ash that is more than a hundred years old. The wood has been intentionally left with its marks of age – cracks, knots and natural imperfections fully visible – making each table entirely one of a kind. According to the brand, the organic appearance drew plenty of admiration from visitors, as wood “imperfections” are typically removed during the manufacturing process. Nikari also introduced a new natural Shimber finish on its Biennale stool, giving the wood surface a refined tone and subtle sheen.
Joanna Laajisto’s Centenniale tables at Nikari’s stand.
This year, Knoll drew inspiration from alternative culture and disco aesthetics. Designed by Dozie Kanu, the fringe-trimmed tables occupied a space somewhere between art and furniture design. Bold colors and unexpected upholstery materials gave even the brand’s sophisticated classics a striking, almost rebellious edge.
Knoll introduced fringe-trimmed tables designed by Dozie Kanu.
Even more distinctive pieces could be found at the fair’s new curated section, Salone Raritas, where exhibitors presented rare vintage finds and unique one-off creations. Interestingly, the selection also included furniture designed by Ilmari Tapiovaara and produced by La Permanente Mobili Cantù. These Tapiovaara pieces are likely unknown even to many devoted design enthusiasts.
Rare Ilmari Tapiovaara pieces could be spotted at the Salone Raritas section.
Embracing comfort outdoors
Finally, outdoor living deserves a mention, as its role continues to grow in importance for both consumers and furniture brands alike. Product families are becoming increasingly versatile, and at Kartell’s stand, for example, outdoor furniture was given a remarkably prominent presence.
Outdoor settings are also beginning to resemble indoor living rooms more than ever before, with coordinated collections now extending to upholstered furniture, rugs and portable lighting. A more relaxed atmosphere is introduced through details such as striped fabrics and woven surfaces in a variety of textures.
Kartell placed a strong focus on outdoor furniture at this year’s fair.
At the Rho exhibition halls, outdoor furniture brands presented their collections in settings that felt strikingly lifelike, with some of the most elaborate stands featuring large trees, shrubs and perennial plantings brought indoors.
Still, the most memorable outdoor furniture presentations were found in central Milan during Fuorisalone. Hidden away in courtyard gardens across the city, visitors could test lounge chairs and sofas while enjoying the gentle warmth of the spring sun, an atmosphere no exhibition hall could quite replicate.
See also:
• Postcards from Milan Design Week 2026 >
• New arrivals at Finnish Design Shop >
Photos: Manufacturers, Salone del Mobile.Milano 2026 and Riikka Soini-Ferraguto
Published on 12 May, 2026
