market | milan design week 2026: the trends that matter

Aug 12

2 min read

PLEASE NOTE: This will be my last newsletter shared through my website. Please follow along at https://notaninteriordesigner.substack.com/. I’ll be bringing together content previously shared here, including trends and market insights, along with a more in-depth look at what it’s like to be a product designer (not an interior designer).

For my final Journal post, I’m sharing a selection of the trends from Milan Design Week 2026 that I see shaping interiors in 2027 and beyond.

Proof of humanity continues to matter. Visible handwork is showing up across categories and materials, from hand-carved wood to interwoven and braided details, textured glass, and bulbous forms that are difficult to replicate industrially.

At the same time, there is a return to opulence, expressed through carved marble, lustrous fabrics, reflective silver finishes, and vivid, saturated color.

The visuals below tell the rest of the story.

I also shared my Milan Design Week experience with Annie O. Waterman, including market insights and what surprised me most at Salone del Mobile and Fuorisalone. Here’s a preview:

AOW: As a designer and consultant, what market insights did you walk away with? What was the pulse of the market, from a design and consumer standpoint?

HS: The overall mood felt optimistic and energetic.

What stood out to me was that Milan places a greater emphasis on connection, engagement, and inspiration than many other trade shows I’ve attended. Of course, business is happening, particularly at Salone del Mobile, but the approach often feels relationship-first rather than sales-first. For brands, that’s an important takeaway. The people representing your company should be able to speak deeply about process, materials, and design decisions. Storytelling matters, but it has to be authentic and supported by expertise.

From a product perspective, I left feeling encouraged to embrace collaboration as a catalyst for creativity and innovation, experiment with materials in unexpected ways, be confident with color, and invest in visual merchandising and presentation.

The full interview can be found at AOW Insider.