I sidste uge blev der sat punktum for årets første Maison & Objet, der traditionen tro blev afholdt i Paris Nord Villepinte. Besøg eller genbesøg den franske designmesse i selskab med den svenske trendekspert Trendstefan.
La vie en rose. January’s Maison&Objet fair, together with the city’s Off Deco programme, opened the year with a sense of promise: busy aisles, healthy footfall and more than a few noteworthy discoveries. Nearly 2,300 exhibitors and just over 67,000 visitors filled the halls. Yet, when compared with my notes from last year, the numbers reveal a slight dip. Nothing dramatic—but certainly not growth.
The design industry, unsurprisingly, is still feeling the long shadow of recent years of recession. This tension manifests itself in two parallel impulses: an almost exaggerated optimism, and a noticeable hesitation to take real risks. The result? A collective retreat into the comfort of the familiar. Retro, in particular, is taking the center stage.
Remember back five or six years ago, when everything was raw, wobbly, earthy—steeped in Japandi restraint and handmade imperfection. Today, the mood has shifted. Pink and pastels, ceramics all over, and cheerful declarations such as “I love my life” smile out from every surface. A reassuring aesthetic, perhaps—but one that says as much about the times as it does about our appetite for bold new ideas.
In conclusion I give M&O a four out of five. It is good. It is relevant. It is one of the big ones. Now over to the actual trends.
Who needs something new?
There are some major installations and exhibitions at the fair to inspire the visitor towards a new retail future. And I feel a bit puzzled by this installation by “Designer of the Year” – Harry Nuriev – at M&O. I love it. I really do. I think Harry Nuriev is pushing boundaries in the design world.
But what is this?
A room spraypainted in silver and covered in aluminum foil?? It leaves you with more questions than guidance. But perhaps this is what we need? I wish we had more text to read, explaining this. But sure. It is in a culture where we don’t want to buy anything new. Get it at a thrift store and spraypaint it.
Taste queen Elisabeth Leriche has made proper trend installations previous years. Not sure about this either. Ancient mosaic floors with odd shaped furniture…
It’s a retro, retro world
Looking at these pictures it is of course easy to say that this is kitsch and camp. And it is. But it is also accessible and a bit fun. Compared to the grey seriousness of five year’s ago, this could be likeable.
However. This is such a dominant and fast growing trend that I think we will soon be tired of it. I am sure this will sell summer of 2026. A lot. But for how long?
And all these “hello” and “amour”… We will be done with this. Remember in the 90s when we had tableware with names of objects on the ceramics. A bowl that said “sallad” and another one that said “popcorn”. Where are they now?? These will soon join for the space at the end of the cupboard.
Oh, and authenticity??? The plate with the Portuguese expression “Bom Dia, Bonita” is actually from Turkey.
Pink glass
Time to look at trend themes found at Maison&Objet. And in no particular order. First out pink glass.
Here at &Klevering. This kind of pink glass stood out especially since it has a colder shade compared to the retro pink we have seen. Feels fresh and new.
Halle Mardahl
This throw with grey, blue and pink holds the same kind of cool pink.
Of course you saw the combination of pink, ochre and a bit of yellow/green. And I have that for my colour trends coming years, but I really must say that this “cold pink” was new and interesting.
Tubes
It feels like a memory from 2015-2016. At that time we made everything tubular. And I feel it is coming back. Pretty recently we we experimented with wooden rods in the same shape. Now it is metal or even glass/ceramics.
Above Valerie Objets that found inspiration from the subway rods.
I don’t know if we are heading into a “subway trend”, but fabrics brand Dedar also found the same colours and shapes but in textile. And inspirered by subway maps.
Plates
I am sure we will see clearer and more examples of this at Ambiente – but I think that we soon will see a reaction to the Mediterranean ceramics. Perhaps whiter and more distinct patterns. Here Serax.
Jonathan Adler
House of Capricorn
Bitossi Home.
This is new from Gien in the city.
I felt this strict pattern at Giobagnara kind of had the same aesthetics.
Chunky, ceramic flowers – and shoes?
There is something very appealling with these folklore flowers. Of course part of this Mediterranean trend. But lovely. Here at House of Capricorn.
Bitossi Home again.
Candle holders as flowers.
Above from &Klevering.
Similar flowers as &Klevering but at Bloomingville.
And just a note… Will this be a trend?? I saw a few ceramic shoes to put on display. Strange.
