Salone del Mobile 2026: A Return to Warmth, Texture, and Sculptural Living
Every year, Salone del Mobile offers a glimpse into where design is heading, but what I found most compelling in Milan this year was not a single trend. It was a feeling.
Across showrooms, exhibitions, and installations throughout the city, there was a clear shift toward interiors that feel softer, warmer, and more emotionally grounded. Spaces felt less rigid and minimal for the sake of minimalism, and more focused on atmosphere, comfort, craftsmanship, and materiality.
Palazzo Molteni
A Softer Approach to Contemporary Design
One of the strongest themes throughout Salone was the continued evolution of contemporary interiors toward something more tactile and layered.
Curved forms, sculptural seating, textured fabrics, smoked glass, natural stone, and warm woods appeared everywhere, but in a more restrained and architectural way than in previous years. The spaces felt refined without feeling cold.
There was also a noticeable balance between simplicity and comfort. Interiors embraced clean lines while still feeling deeply livable and inviting.
Molteni kitchen with rounded angles and rich details
Materials That Feel Natural and Honest
Materiality played a major role throughout many of the collections we visited.
Travertine, brushed oak, textured plaster finishes, woven materials, oxidized metals, and softly reflective surfaces created interiors with depth and warmth. Rather than relying on excess decoration, many spaces focused on the quiet richness of materials themselves.
I was especially drawn to the way lighting was integrated into architecture and millwork. Lighting felt softer and more atmospheric this year, often concealed or layered subtly into ceilings, shelving, and wall details to create a calm and immersive environment.
Modulnova showroom in Milan
The Return of Emotional Interiors
What stood out most to me was how many brands moved away from overly stark or ultra-minimal environments.
The most memorable spaces felt personal and emotionally resonant. They embraced texture, curves, imperfect natural materials, and a sense of ease. There was a clear focus on creating homes that support everyday living while still feeling elevated and intentional.
In many ways, the interiors felt more human.
Molteni bathtub
Highlights from Milan
Some of the showrooms and brands that left the strongest impression on me this year included:
Molteni&C
Poliform
Living Divani
Porro
Glas Italia
MDF Italia
Antonio Lupi
Zanotta
Each approached contemporary living differently, yet many shared a common language centered around craftsmanship, architectural simplicity, and thoughtful restraint.
Antonio Lupi, bathroom
Bringing Inspiration Home
One of the things I value most about visiting Salone del Mobile is seeing how design continues to evolve globally while still remaining deeply connected to how people want to live.
The ideas and inspiration gathered in Milan always influence the way I approach residential interiors, not by replicating trends directly, but by observing shifts in materials, proportions, lighting, and the emotional experience of space.
The goal is never to recreate a showroom. It’s to create homes that feel timeless, personal, and beautifully lived in.
Poliform, Cocktail Reception at Palazzo Clerici in Milan