Milan Design Week 2025: Inspiration For Your Next Project

Every year, the design world turns its attention to Milan for Salone del Mobile—the globe’s most influential interior design fair. This year’s event didn’t disappoint. Held in April, Milan Design Week 2025 was a celebration of craftsmanship, innovation, and soulful living.

We observed this year’s event from afar but with keen interest, not just to admire what’s beautiful—but to understand what’s meaningful. Here’s what we’re excited to share from this incredible event:

1. Dressing Tables are Back - And Bolder Than Ever

No longer relegated to pure function, dressers were recast as high-design centrepieces. Several designers showcased integrated lighting, floating stone plinths, and bold material contrasts — leather-wrapped drawers, translucent resin sinks, or statement hardware in sculptural forms.

Design cue for your projects: A statement dressing table invites us to slow down and bring intention to daily rituals — turning moments of routine into moments of beauty. Consider how materials, lighting, and form can transform a purely functional zone into a space that feels personal, poetic, and quietly luxurious.

2. Mocha Mousse - A Modern Neutral

Warm, sophisticated, and surprisingly versatile, Mocha Mousse was everywhere — from velvet sofas and ceramic tiles to feature walls and even exterior cladding. What makes this tone special is its adaptability: it grounds more experimental palettes, yet feels fresh compared to dated greige or taupe. It works especially well layered with camel, ecru, and ivory for an earthy, tonal look that feels elevated but unforced.

Tip for clients: Pair Mocha Mousse with soft brushed brass, tactile boucle, or milky travertine for a palette that whispers rather than shouts.

3. Colour Moves Beyond Beige

While neutrals still had their moment, bold earthy hues made their debut: think olive green, spiced ochre, terracotta, and a gentle lavender-grey that surprised us with its softness. These tones were applied with restraint—used in upholstery, tilework, and cabinetry to bring personality without overwhelming the senses.

Design Tip: A painted ceiling or a coloured bathroom vanity is a low-risk way to dip your toe into this palette.

Aline Asmar d'Amman

4. Sustainable at the Core

Cork, long underrated, was used in elevated forms — sculptural sideboards, acoustic wall cladding, and curved bench seating. Designers praised its sustainability, softness, and sound-dampening qualities. Cane and woven leather returned in updated forms — from wide-weave chairs with powder-coated steel frames to hand-woven pendants with exaggerated scale. The blend of hand-crafted tactility with crisp modernity felt especially relevant for Australian interiors, where indoor-outdoor flow is key.

Look for: Cork coffee tables, rattan cabinetry inserts, or even cork flooring in refined patterns.

Rockwell Group

5. Metallics with Depth: Brushed, Burnished, and Bronze

Forget gleaming gold — 2025 metallics are nuanced. Brushed bronze, copper, and even pewter appeared on everything from kitchen rangehoods to lighting and bathroom fixtures. These finishes bring a sense of permanence and patina — aged, textural, and quietly luxurious.

Design Tip: These finishes pair beautifully with sandstone, native timbers, and travertine — key materials for modern Australian architecture.

PH Filippo Pincolini

6. A Twist on Tradition: Craft Meets Contemporary

One of the most talked-about collaborations at Milan Design Week was between Dutch designer Richard Hutten and Jaipur Rugs. Their collection of nine large-scale carpets was a masterclass in reinterpreting traditional craftsmanship through a contemporary lens. Hutten’s signature geometric minimalism met the intricate artistry of Indian weaving, resulting in bold, sculptural forms rendered in soft, tactile textures. The carpets didn’t just sit quietly underfoot — they commanded attention, acting as art pieces that challenge our expectations of what a rug should be.

What it signals: A growing design appetite for heritage techniques with modern expression. Expect to see more artisanal craft reimagined for contemporary interiors — think oversized scale, abstract patterns, and unexpected colour pairings.

Bananas - Richard Hutton x Jaipur Rugs

7. Let There Be (Statement) Light

Lighting at Milan Design Week 2025 was anything but functional filler. Designers embraced lighting as sculpture — expressive, oversized, and atmospheric. We saw sinuous floor lamps that mimicked the movement of water, cascading pendant clusters that blurred the line between installation art and illumination, and asymmetrical wall sconces in hand-painted metal or carved stone.

Why it matters: Lighting is no longer just a finishing touch — it’s the focal point. For interior designers and stylists, this shift invites a rethinking of composition and scale. Sculptural lighting has become the new jewellery of the home, setting tone and texture before the furniture even arrives.

Lasvit

8. The Glass Renaissance

Glass made a striking return at Salone del Mobile 2025 — but not in the minimalist, barely-there way we’ve seen in years past. This year’s interpretations embraced thickness, tint, and texture. Designers used ribbed, bubbled, smoked, and sandblasted finishes to create depth and intrigue, turning glass into a feature material, not just a functional one. From ombré glass dining tables to curved, jewel-toned panels that segmented open spaces, glass was celebrated for its ability to reflect, distort, and soften architectural lines.

What this means for styling: Expect to see glass used in larger forms and bolder tones — not just in mirrors or pendant lights, but in joinery, furniture, and even flooring. It’s the new way to introduce lightness without losing presence.

Matteo Zorzenoni

Finally, the 2025 Milan Design Week wasn't about chasing trends — it was about creating spaces that feel thoughtful, tactile, and emotionally resonant. Whether you're styling a new build or looking to update your existing home, this year’s key message is clear: be bold with colour, intentional with texture, and make space for beauty in the everyday. And of course, we are here to guide you through your home transformation!