Milan Design Week 2025｜My Personal Trend Summary

Milan Design Week 2025 trends were once again in the spotlight this year, with the event held from April 7 to 13. Brands, manufacturers, and design studios from all over the world showcased their latest interiors and spatial concepts. This article shares my personal highlights and design inspirations from the fair — giving you a look at the key directions shaping interiors today.

For a basic guide, see:▶︎My Personal Strategy for Milan Design Week 2024

Some of these brands are also available in Singapore, but experiencing them at the original Milan venue offers deeper insight into the design context and vision.

△ Cassina flagship store in Milan

Here, I’d like to share some of the interior trends I personally found noteworthy at Milan, from the forefront of what I experienced. This is, of course, my personal perspective, but I hope you enjoy it!

Trend 1: Retro Revival of the 60s–70s

The retro boom that started last year is still going strong, with many brands reinterpreting 60s and 70s designs through a modern lens.

A standout example was Minotti, which presented one of the largest booths at the Salone. Their 2025 showcase embraced a full 1970s theme, featuring five new sofas inspired by California and Brazil — an impressive number for a single launch. Among them, the “Bézier” sofa stood out in a space styled as 1960s California, complete with an African oak wooden wall as the backdrop.

The floor lamp used in that space was a 1960s piece by Guzzini. Coincidentally, I found the same lamp in an antique shop in Como. Using real vintage items added depth and authenticity to the space’s atmosphere.

I also visited two of the three installations by the famous Italian design studio Dimorestudio. Both embraced a direct retro style, offering a delightful balance of nostalgia and modernity.

△ Dimorestudio

△ Loro Piana x Dimorestudio

I believe there are three main reasons why this “retro revival” has become a trend:

①Comfort in a rapidly changing world

People today seek solace in the good old days. In places like Singapore, full of new buildings, it’s natural to long for time spent appreciating antiques.

△ Venetian etching art from the early 1900s purchased at an antique shop in Como. Not expensive, but modern people love collecting such story-rich vintage pieces.

②“Newness” for younger generations

For Gen Z, retro = new. Similar to fashion revivals, vintage and retro carry the appeal of being “trendy and stylish.”

③Reaction against minimalism

The minimal spaces popular in recent years, especially during the pandemic, may have led to fatigue. A wave of maximalism, celebrating decorative elements, is returning—perfectly aligning with 60s–70s design.

Trend 2: Mirror Chrome Materials

In response to the retro revival, mirror chrome surfaces were also frequently seen this year. Brass (gold) had been a staple accent since around 2015, but chrome (silver) seems to be making a comeback.

For example, Molteni & C’s new dining tables feature bold chrome on the legs and sides of the tabletop, enhancing the retro feel.

△ New sofa and coffee table

Flexform revived an 80s sofa designed by chief designer Antonio Citterio with mirror chrome legs, clearly reflecting his design direction.

This trend is also evident in lighting, with major brand Flos using chrome extensively in their new products.

Trend 3: Striking Use of Glass and Acrylic

This is an observation of mine: this year, glass presence was particularly strong. Broadly, two trends emerged.

1. Clear glass and acrylic lighting

Clear materials, once avoided due to glare, are now used to soften the light while still showing the source. Flos’s designs exemplified this beautifully.

Davide Groppi’s lighting cleverly hides the light source using acrylic “blind spots,” a very unique approach. (At Molteni & C, the pendants were slightly dazzling personally.)

2. Revival of Murano Glass

Traditional Murano glass from the small island near Venice was used extensively in furniture, accessories, and lighting. Visiting Murano myself may have influenced my observation, but I noticed more usage overall.

△ Murano glass workshop and town view

For example, Baxter’s lighting boldly used Murano glass, with bubbles and organic shapes creating retro warmth.

△ Murano glass floor lamp

△ Baxter Como display, new pendant lights made with Murano glass

At Cassina, glass coffee tables, vases, and mirror-lights integrated with glass were on display, leaving a strong impression.

Summary

I’ve presented Milan Design Week from my personal perspective.

The free monthly newsletter, scheduled for the morning of Wednesday, April 30, 2025, will include a link to an album with additional photos.

If interested, you can sign up here.

The trend from 2024 to 2025 seems to be moving toward more maximalist, colorful, and playful interiors, enveloped in the comfort and nostalgia of retro.

Of course, there’s no need to adopt these trends exactly. None of my clients has ever asked me to implement the “latest trend.”

Trends are just one source of inspiration. What matters is how you translate them into your daily life and create a space that truly reflects you.

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