From the expansive halls of the Fiera to immersive citywide installations, this year’s fair framed design as a tool for empathy, imagination, and deeper human connection.
The theme, Thinking for Humans, pushed designers and brands to look beyond innovation for its own sake. Instead, the focus was on how we move through rooms, how materials affect us, and how colour and form can shift our mood. The result? A quietly radical blend of beauty and meaning, with interiors designed to be felt as much as admired.
Designers embraced a more expressive approach, but with control. Whimsical forms, bold curves, and unexpected pairings brought lightness to both furniture and lighting. Sculptural shapes were everywhere, but they felt intentional, not indulgent.
This wasn’t nostalgia or a trend for trend’s sake. In an uncertain world, these softer, more joyful designs were a way to ease the emotional weight. Through visual lightness, interiors became more generous, more humane.
A reimagining of a 1970s classic, the ROVI bed by Alf DaFrè draws on the legacy of Rovilio Da Frè with sculptural clarity and softened boldness. Its expressive curves and unexpected material harmony reflect a deliberate lightness and using design as an antidote to uncertainty, offering comfort through joyful form and controlled whimsy.
Organic textures remained essential, but with a moodier, more architectural edge. Limed oak, honed travertine and raw ceramic were paired with deeper tones and sculptural profiles. Charred timber, in particular, emerged as a standout with its matte black surface adding depth and quiet drama across cabinetry, seating and wall panelling.
Far from feeling austere, these finishes brought balance and warmth, especially when grounded in soft stone, clay hues and tactile fabrics. The overall effect was elemental, but elevated, a return to nature, reinterpreted for 2025.
The FLATIRON Dining Table by Bonaldo blends sculpted travertine and rich timber for a look that feels both grounded and refined. Its bold form and moody palette bring a modern, elemental elegance to any space.
Marble returned in full force, but not in its usual understated forms. Verde Alpi, Rosso Levanto and Oyster White were just some of the stones that took the spotlight, turning tables, shelving and consoles into functional sculptures.
These materials did more than add luxury, they added narrative. With rich veining and historic character, each piece became an anchor for the room, signalling a shift toward bold, collectible surfaces that blur the line between utility and art.
The PALAZZO table by Bonaldo showcases Oyster White marble in all its dramatic beauty. Rich veining and a sculptural base turn this piece into a functional work of art. More than just a surface, it anchors the room with presence and character, capturing the shift toward bold, expressive materials that feel both timeless and collectible.
Earthy neutrals remained a foundation, but the palette expanded in new and nuanced ways. Burnt sienna, dusty sage, lavender grey and marine tones appeared in layered compositions across textiles, cabinetry and wall finishes.
Used with restraint, these colours weren’t meant to dominate. Instead, they created an atmosphere, applied through soft textures, curved forms and tone-on-tone pairings. This was colour not for impact, but for emotion.
ICARO by Rossini embraces a rich marine tone that adds quiet depth without overwhelming the space. Paired with soft texture and sculpted form, it captures a more emotive approach to colour which is inviting, layered and atmospheric rather than bold or dominant.
Texture was no longer a finishing touch; it was the design. Boucle, slubby linen, felted wool and matte velvets defined upholstery. Hard surfaces followed suit, with rippled glass, fluted timber, brushed brass and hand-glazed ceramics adding subtle dimension.
Lighting, too, leaned into the tactile. Fabric diffusers, parchment shades and frosted resins created a soft, sensory glow. This creates interiors that invite touch as much as sight and rooms that engage the full body, not just the eye.
NYX by Alf Italia stands out with its curved, upholstered headboard and refined timber frame. It reflects a shift where texture drives the design, bringing depth and quiet sophistication to the space.
BORGO by Cubo Rosso makes a confident statement with its generous proportions, deep seating and sculpted curves. Its low profile and wide arms ground the room with purpose, showing how strong forms can create both comfort and clarity in contemporary spaces.
Furniture took on new weight and presence. Sofas sat lower with deeper cushions and wider arms. Dining tables featured asymmetrical legs, oversized tops and organic shapes. Even shelving and storage embraced chunkier, more assertive silhouettes.
This wasn’t maximalism, it was about confidence. With fewer pieces needed to anchor a room, layouts felt more open and intentional. The message was clear: form can be functional, and function can be artful.
At Salone, the most powerful designs weren’t just beautiful, they were emotionally attuned. Pieces that comfort, connect and quietly support. An armchair that cradles. A table that draws people in. A lamp that softens the end of the day. This signals a deeper shift in design thinking - one rooted in empathy, not ego.
At Collage, we view this not as a trend but as a broader evolution. We’re curating with care, selecting pieces that bring emotional intelligence into the spaces we live and work in. Because great design doesn’t just catch the eye; it holds you. And in a world that asks more of our interiors, we’re proud to support the makers and thinkers creating work that feels as good as it looks.
Each April, Milan becomes the heart of the design world, and Salone del Mobile 2025 didn’t just unveil new products, it offered a clear vision of what’s next.
DOGMA by Bonaldo offeris a striking blend of contemporary design and practical storage solutions. This isn't just a bookcase; it's a sculptural element, a conversation starter, and a testament to modern ingenuity.
