Milan design week’s top Interior design trends 2025

And What They Mean for Australian Homes

There’s something undeniably magnetic about Milan in April. It’s not just the golden glow of the Duomo or the hint of spring in the air (although both help); it’s the palpable buzz that sweeps through the city during Milan Design Week. With more than 2,000 exhibitors at Salone del Mobile and over 1,000 events unfolding across the city as part of Fuorisalone, Milan becomes the epicentre of global design innovation and a magnet for design lovers from across the globe.

Despite returning for my 3rd year in a row, the atmosphere was as electric as ever as was my level of excitement. Fuelled by doppio macchiatos in the morning and negroni sbagliatos in the afternoon, I dove deep into a week that once again reminded me why great design so fundamentally matters - not just for how it looks, but, more importantly, how it makes us feel.

The year’s Fuorisalone theme, Connected Worlds, invited attendees to explore how design bridges nature, community, technology and time. The resulting themes and trends are not only intriguing and bold - they’re meaningful. And, they are already making their way into Australian interiors.

Here are six key interior design trends from Milan Design Week 2025 — and our interpretation of how they’ll shape the way we design and live in the coming years.

COOL REFLECTION

The Polished Comeback of Chrome and High Shine

Chrome is back - but not as we once knew it. This time it’s elevated, purposeful and decidedly chic. Alongside stainless steel and aluminium, chrome heralded the return of cool metals and acted as a reflective contrast to the matted, earthy finishes found elsewhere at the fair. But chrome didn’t shine alone. High-gloss, lacquered furniture and whimsically playful mirrors highlighted that reflectivity is having a renaissance and it’s here to be embraced.

Expect to see more Australian homes pairing warm timber, tactile fabrics and plush carpets with polished metal, high-gloss furniture and sculptural, metallic lighting. While our beloved brass and bronze aren’t going anywhere soon, chrome is no longer the poor cousin - it’s the unexpected hero in modern material mixes.

CHROMATIC ODYSSEY

Earthy Meets Electric in a Bold New Colour Palette

Colour seen at Milan this year was warm, nostalgic, and utterly joyful. Whites moved to buttery hues. Greens turned mossy. And the ‘Berries & Terries’ (as coined by Vogue Living- think bordeaux, terracotta and deep rust) continued to make a strong showing, often paired with cheeky pastel notes of peppermint, lilac and lemon. Bold hues, including cobalt blue, were also strong but often presented in translucent forms such as perspex and glass.

The era of grey-on-grey, such a strong fixture in Australian colour design over the past decade, is fading. Instead, we’ll be embracing warmer and more saturated colour while dipping our toes into the colour drenching movement - think walls, ceilings and trim all swathed in a single hue to reflect a room’s distinct spirit and personality. At The Space Within, we’ve long celebrated bold, expressive colour, and this palette shift feels like permission to go all in!

CURVACEOUS COMFORT

Soft Silhouettes and Sink-in Style

Upholstered pieces took on sculptural, biomorphic forms, offering not just function, but a visual warmth and playfulness. These aren’t just furniture pieces—they’re statement pieces designed to be admired, embraced and lounged in. Organic forms also made their way into tables of every size and shape, often juxtaposed with rectangular elements, creating a visual tension and excitement.

Curves have already made their mark on Australian design in the past few years as seen on curved joinery and arched doors and windows. Now, it’s furniture’s turn to play. These softer forms suit our relaxed way of living—inviting comfort, connection, and conversation.

FUTURE VINTAGE

Retro Nod with Modern Soul

Milan Design Week saw the 70s and 80s return to the spotlight. Iconic furniture & lighting designs from both eras are being reintroduced and reimagined using cutting-edge techniques and contemporary materials. While references to Art Deco also appeared strongly, nothing felt overtly “retro”—just timeless, playful and a little bit indulgent.

Australian design has a continuing love affair with mid-century modern. But this new wave feels more versatile, less thematic. Whether your home is period or contemporary, pieces inspired by this ‘future vintage’ aesthetic can bring a sense of style evolution rather than replication.

STRUCTURED GEOMETRY

Patterns Boast Precision and Playfulness

Clean, grid-like patterns showed up across textiles, rugs, lighting and furniture. Rather than feeling stark or industrial, these geometric forms were treated with freshness and whimsy—bringing order without imposing rigidity and creating the perfect foil for the curvaceous furniture pieces being shown.

Layered with texture or colour, these geometric touches can add rhythm to a space whether used sparingly or abundantly. Take a cue from the images below and imagine grids on everything from tiles to textiles.

RAW TACTILITY

Texture That Speaks to the Senses

Bouclé, mohair, cork, woven palm, and matt-finish timbers—natural materials were lovingly highlighted, with a clear reverence for the sense of touch. This tactility wasn’t confined to furniture either: rugs and textiles crept onto walls, lighting was enveloped with wool and woven fibre, and even tapware took on the look of leather and bamboo. These pieces often focused on sustainable resources and highlighted traditional craftsmanship.

This trend invites us to experience our spaces not just visually, but physically, and to connect to nature. In Australia, where we value relaxed luxury and embrace the beauty of outdoors, expect to see even more layering of natural fibres, handcrafted elements, and sustainable materials throughout our homes.

A Shift TOWards more personal interiors…

Collectively, these trends signal a broader move toward more deeply personal interiors—ironically, spaces that are less about trends and more about truth. Our homes of tomorrow are personally expressive, deeply intentional, and full of individual character, allowing us to feel comfort, security and happy in our homes.

Ready to design a home that reflects you?

If you're planning a renovation or new build and want to bring these global design insights into your everyday living, we’d love to help. At The Space Within, we create polished, practical, and imaginative interiors that are anything but ordinary.

Let’s bring your vision to life. Book a Design Debrief today using our calendar found here or email us at design@thespacewithin,com.au. We can’t wait to help you bring your vision to life.