Liz and Leah were lucky enough to visit Maison & Objet 2022 a couple of weeks ago, with the fairly spectacular design show back for the first time since 2020. Maison is the best play to see new and upcoming trends in interiors. They focussed on halls 6 and 7, showcasing interiors of the regular, luxe, and over-the-top variety. After spending the day there, key trends became clear – read on for detail on what we can expect to see in design…
Warm, pastel colours
While there was much anticipation about what design trends we would have to look forward to following the pandemic – with some predictions being of the ‘everything slightly mad and over the top’ variety – the colour palette was surprisingly subdued. Pastel colours were the biggest trend, largely in rich, warm, comfortable tones – pinks, oranges, soft terracotta, and a lot of lilac. There were also some soft blues and blue-greens to balance out the warmth. It was inviting and lovely, reflective perhaps of a nostalgia-filled retro throwback we’re experiencing- perfect for spring and beyond.
Fun shapes + patterns, furniture + lighting especially
There were strong elements of fun and joy at Maison, and a sense of playfulness, as seen in the somewhat unique shapes used to make up furniture and lighting. Seating with circle or triangle legs, upholstery patterned with abstract designs, and light fixtures that were truly a feature. Candle-holders, vases and other decorative items were especially unique, being somewhat organic in form, though also beautiful. This was perhaps the biggest marker of an industry coming back to life, following a pandemic – pure joy, whimsy, and a strong sense of fun.
Lots of organic
As seems to increase more and more each design show we attend recently, this years’ Maison showed a marked display of the organic + biophilic – curved, rounded shapes, and a real embracing of nature, whether that be through use of organic materials, or through pattern inspired by flora and fauna. Think cork furniture and soundproofing/wall cladding, wool and alpaca upholstered soft furnishings, mix-material rugs, and tables made from various raw mineral formations. There was lots of timber and natural stone, linen and wool, and plenty of greenery throughout.
A change in lifestyle
A key marker of the pandemic was seen in the sway towards adapting our homes to a new way of life. Beautiful working spaces, extremely inviting outdoor furniture, and multi-use furniture were seen a lot – think modular desks with fittings for indoor plants, luxurious garden teepee’s, soft garden armchairs and outdoor beds, hanging chairs, and fit-on wall hanging storage – useful for a variety of items. There was also some truly beautiful exercise equipment – stunning cylinder timber weight and hanging rings, and rigid inflatable yoga-like balls for making the work space more ergonomic. We didn’t think we’d ever get excited about exercise, but it was hard not to with stunning equipment!
Sustainability
It was clear that suppliers are making sustainable design a key focus. Furniture and décor made from building waste, mattresses made completely with sustainable sourced materials, and a push towards less metal/plastic, and more organic. Items being designed to last many years was also seen, such as in the Vitra x Tom Dixon stand, where the bathroom fittings from the Liquid range are made to be incredible long-lasting, versatile, minimalist, and hygienic.
We also loved Noma – a company who not only make items purely out of waste, but have designed their fabrication methods to be sustainable too. They had a beautiful console that was made completely from terrazzo offcuts, created using a special vacuum compression technique designed to create the piece of furniture perfectly, without resulting in any waste during the process.
