The 5 Biggest Trends at 2020 Global Design Events
Recent trends such as hygiene, comfort and multifunctionality gained fresh relevance in 2020
Houzz’s editorial teams cover design trade shows internationally, which gives us a chance to see the trends shaping the industry, new products and homes around the world. The big trends of 2020 seen at the year’s design events – held digitally, in many cases – seem relevant to the pandemic and could even play a role in helping us adapt to the crisis.
But trends don’t happen overnight. Here we look at this year’s global design trends – hygiene, comfort, multifunctionality, sustainability and biophilia – and show how they have developed over time.
But trends don’t happen overnight. Here we look at this year’s global design trends – hygiene, comfort, multifunctionality, sustainability and biophilia – and show how they have developed over time.
1. Hygiene and healthy homes
Hygiene and the healthy home is a topic that seems emblematic of 2020. At Milan Design City this fall, antibacterial UV lights, such as the Integralis from Artemide seen here, were a major highlight.
Hygiene was discussed in broader terms at the fall digital edition of Paris-based design fair Maison et Objet, in a workshop by trend forecasters Fashion Snoops. Looking at search and consumer data, they identified sanitation as a core consumer need this year, and tracked an increase in interest in contactless options, antiviral finishes and hygiene technology such as sanitation wardrobes.
Another panel, at the London-based Designscape, noted that consumers are becoming increasingly aware of toxicity in materials and the cleanliness of the air they breathe. Several panels at the digital edition of London’s Decorex show this fall looked at the dangers of air pollution inside the home and how air-purifying technology can help.
Emerging Design Trends From Milan Design City
Hygiene and the healthy home is a topic that seems emblematic of 2020. At Milan Design City this fall, antibacterial UV lights, such as the Integralis from Artemide seen here, were a major highlight.
Hygiene was discussed in broader terms at the fall digital edition of Paris-based design fair Maison et Objet, in a workshop by trend forecasters Fashion Snoops. Looking at search and consumer data, they identified sanitation as a core consumer need this year, and tracked an increase in interest in contactless options, antiviral finishes and hygiene technology such as sanitation wardrobes.
Another panel, at the London-based Designscape, noted that consumers are becoming increasingly aware of toxicity in materials and the cleanliness of the air they breathe. Several panels at the digital edition of London’s Decorex show this fall looked at the dangers of air pollution inside the home and how air-purifying technology can help.
Emerging Design Trends From Milan Design City
Casalgrande Padana’s Limpha tiles, which use photocatalysis to break down pollutants in the air, at Cersaie 2019
We’ve seen this trend gaining traction over the last few years. Last year, chemical- and VOC-free materials were highlighted at the London Design Festival, while tiles that use photocatalysis to actively break down pollutants in the air were a hit at Cersaie in Milan.
At the 2019 Kitchen & Bath Industry Show in Las Vegas and at Cersaie 2017, we saw cutting-edge fixtures with hygienic features such as antibacterial, air-filtering or VOC-free surfaces, and toilets with no-touch opening and rimless or self-cleaning bowls, including through UV disinfection.
We’ve seen this trend gaining traction over the last few years. Last year, chemical- and VOC-free materials were highlighted at the London Design Festival, while tiles that use photocatalysis to actively break down pollutants in the air were a hit at Cersaie in Milan.
At the 2019 Kitchen & Bath Industry Show in Las Vegas and at Cersaie 2017, we saw cutting-edge fixtures with hygienic features such as antibacterial, air-filtering or VOC-free surfaces, and toilets with no-touch opening and rimless or self-cleaning bowls, including through UV disinfection.
Libeco Belgian towel at Maison et Objet 2020
2. Cosiness and wellness
As forecaster Jaye Anna Mize of Fashion Snoops put it at Maison et Objet, “We are no doubt in a comfort movement” as people retreat — willingly or not — to the safety of their homes. Mize cited the bedroom specifically as a place of pampering, with extra-cozy decor and bedding and practical solutions like soundproofing to create a sense of calm.
At a seminar at Designscape, neuroscientist Dr. Ash Ranpura likewise discussed the need for comforting surroundings and how our environments influence our choices, noting that safety is essential to well-being. Decorex featured a panel titled Designing for True Well-Being at Home.
What We Need From Our Homes in the Age of COVID-19
2. Cosiness and wellness
As forecaster Jaye Anna Mize of Fashion Snoops put it at Maison et Objet, “We are no doubt in a comfort movement” as people retreat — willingly or not — to the safety of their homes. Mize cited the bedroom specifically as a place of pampering, with extra-cozy decor and bedding and practical solutions like soundproofing to create a sense of calm.
At a seminar at Designscape, neuroscientist Dr. Ash Ranpura likewise discussed the need for comforting surroundings and how our environments influence our choices, noting that safety is essential to well-being. Decorex featured a panel titled Designing for True Well-Being at Home.
What We Need From Our Homes in the Age of COVID-19
Worlds Away Filmore pouf at the Summer Las Vegas Market 2020
We’ve seen products respond to this trend as well. Milan Design Week showcased light fixtures that double as soundproofing. Upholstery made of soft, cushy sheepskin and other cozy real or imitation animal skins were a hit at both the 3 Days of Design event in Copenhagen, Denmark, this fall and the Summer Las Vegas Market.
We’ve seen products respond to this trend as well. Milan Design Week showcased light fixtures that double as soundproofing. Upholstery made of soft, cushy sheepskin and other cozy real or imitation animal skins were a hit at both the 3 Days of Design event in Copenhagen, Denmark, this fall and the Summer Las Vegas Market.
The Pack sofa, designed by Francesco Binfaré for Edra, at Salone del Mobile 2018
In January, before COVID-19 had reached pandemic status, trend spotter Vincent Gregoire told us that our “home sweet home” was increasingly becoming part of our professional activities and, above all, the place where we let go.
Indeed, the concept of hygge, the Danish approach to coziness, has been talked about for several years, reaching its peak of popularity in 2016 and 2017. We’ve also been seeing innovative approaches to soundproofing at fairs in both Europe and North America for at least the last four years.
However, what we view as comforting has shifted. Velvet was the cozy fabric of choice at fairs of recent years, along with oversize sofas and padded, squishy furniture. This year the conversation shifted away from a luxury aesthetic.
The role of wellness in decor has been discussed for years. At last year’s Formland fair in Denmark, Louise Byg Kongsholm talked about prioritising sleep and mental health, while trends researcher Mads Arlien-Søborg predicted in 2017 at 3 Days of Design that JOMO – the joy of missing out – was a trend to watch for. This year wellness has become something of a buzzword in interior design.
5 Elements That Support Wellness at Home
In January, before COVID-19 had reached pandemic status, trend spotter Vincent Gregoire told us that our “home sweet home” was increasingly becoming part of our professional activities and, above all, the place where we let go.
Indeed, the concept of hygge, the Danish approach to coziness, has been talked about for several years, reaching its peak of popularity in 2016 and 2017. We’ve also been seeing innovative approaches to soundproofing at fairs in both Europe and North America for at least the last four years.
However, what we view as comforting has shifted. Velvet was the cozy fabric of choice at fairs of recent years, along with oversize sofas and padded, squishy furniture. This year the conversation shifted away from a luxury aesthetic.
The role of wellness in decor has been discussed for years. At last year’s Formland fair in Denmark, Louise Byg Kongsholm talked about prioritising sleep and mental health, while trends researcher Mads Arlien-Søborg predicted in 2017 at 3 Days of Design that JOMO – the joy of missing out – was a trend to watch for. This year wellness has become something of a buzzword in interior design.
5 Elements That Support Wellness at Home
The Duriniquindici showroom at Milan Design Week 2020, with Load-It bookcase, Modern suspended desk and Romby armchair by Porro
3. Multifunctionality and modularity
Multifunctionality and modularity were major themes this year, with an emphasis on combining work and other functions in our spaces. At Milan Design City, some brands put multifunctionality into practice, with showrooms doubling as spaces for collaborative work. The event also showcased transformable furniture, especially for remote work. At the fall Designart Tokyo, the emphasis was on adapting standard office furniture to Japanese homes and lifestyles.
3. Multifunctionality and modularity
Multifunctionality and modularity were major themes this year, with an emphasis on combining work and other functions in our spaces. At Milan Design City, some brands put multifunctionality into practice, with showrooms doubling as spaces for collaborative work. The event also showcased transformable furniture, especially for remote work. At the fall Designart Tokyo, the emphasis was on adapting standard office furniture to Japanese homes and lifestyles.
This year’s digital San Francisco Decorator Showcase demonstrated what a multifunctional home-work space can look like, in this dining room-workspace-library-cocktail area designed by Kelly Hohla Interiors.
3 Days of Design brought us multifunctional and space-saving designs, such as the Angle stool from Danish brand Form & Refine (next photo), which folds up and comes with its own hook so it can be hung out of the way on a wall.
At a panel at Designscape, interior designer Susie Rumbold of Tessuto Interiors argued that multifunctional spaces are here to stay, possibly leading to more emphasis on zoning, physical barriers such as doors that close off areas for certain functions, and flexible storage that allows spaces to easily shift between uses.
3 Days of Design brought us multifunctional and space-saving designs, such as the Angle stool from Danish brand Form & Refine (next photo), which folds up and comes with its own hook so it can be hung out of the way on a wall.
At a panel at Designscape, interior designer Susie Rumbold of Tessuto Interiors argued that multifunctional spaces are here to stay, possibly leading to more emphasis on zoning, physical barriers such as doors that close off areas for certain functions, and flexible storage that allows spaces to easily shift between uses.
Multifunctionality and the changing face of work are topics that have been discussed for a while now, but today the conversation is being shaped by different circumstances.
Work was one of the official themes of Maison et Objet 2019. And Clerkenwell Design Week in the U.K. that year featured spaces that create opportunities for collaborative encounters. There has been interest in coworking spaces that incorporate physical and social openness. But this year, given that physical encounters aren’t safe at the moment, zoning and multiuse live-work spaces have been a focus instead.
Work was one of the official themes of Maison et Objet 2019. And Clerkenwell Design Week in the U.K. that year featured spaces that create opportunities for collaborative encounters. There has been interest in coworking spaces that incorporate physical and social openness. But this year, given that physical encounters aren’t safe at the moment, zoning and multiuse live-work spaces have been a focus instead.
Cucinotta by Fabita
How we talk about multifunctionality also has changed. Before 2018 or so, much of the conversation centered on leisure space and time, as well as fitting comfort into small spaces. At Dwell on Design 2012 in Los Angeles, the cool multifunctional feature was a solution to small-space living: a wall unit with a built-in sleeper sofa and shelving. Multifunctionality was a big theme at the Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair in 2017, in pieces like the Otto mirror from Asplund that doubled as a shelf and candle holder.
Lately we’ve seen even more of these kinds of hardworking pieces — for example, the movable, foldable, convertible kitchens at EuroCucina 2018 in Milan and a home with flexible spaces for combining work and family life modeled at Salone del Mobile 2019 in Milan.
How we talk about multifunctionality also has changed. Before 2018 or so, much of the conversation centered on leisure space and time, as well as fitting comfort into small spaces. At Dwell on Design 2012 in Los Angeles, the cool multifunctional feature was a solution to small-space living: a wall unit with a built-in sleeper sofa and shelving. Multifunctionality was a big theme at the Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair in 2017, in pieces like the Otto mirror from Asplund that doubled as a shelf and candle holder.
Lately we’ve seen even more of these kinds of hardworking pieces — for example, the movable, foldable, convertible kitchens at EuroCucina 2018 in Milan and a home with flexible spaces for combining work and family life modeled at Salone del Mobile 2019 in Milan.
SPOTT for Heimtextil 2020, Messe Frankfurt. Photo by Andreas Houmann
Textile Trends Look to a More Sustainable Future
Textile Trends Look to a More Sustainable Future
4. Sustainability, durability and repurposing
Conscientious, sustainable design was highlighted at most of the fairs we covered this year, often with a focus on reuse, inherited pieces and cradle-to-cradle design.
In Copenhagen, 3 Days of Design looked at how antiques can be incorporated into modern schemes, with an exhibit, seen here, coproduced by the brand &Tradition and auction house Bruun Rasmussen. At a preview of next May’s Heimtextil fair in Frankfurt, Germany, there was a lot of talk about how materials can be recombined or “sampled” in patchwork designs. At Maison et Objet, a seminar exploring the NeoVintage movement looked at the popularity of vintage and used items, especially among millennial and Gen Z shoppers in France.
Maison & Objet 2020: Highlights From the Recent Design Fair
Conscientious, sustainable design was highlighted at most of the fairs we covered this year, often with a focus on reuse, inherited pieces and cradle-to-cradle design.
In Copenhagen, 3 Days of Design looked at how antiques can be incorporated into modern schemes, with an exhibit, seen here, coproduced by the brand &Tradition and auction house Bruun Rasmussen. At a preview of next May’s Heimtextil fair in Frankfurt, Germany, there was a lot of talk about how materials can be recombined or “sampled” in patchwork designs. At Maison et Objet, a seminar exploring the NeoVintage movement looked at the popularity of vintage and used items, especially among millennial and Gen Z shoppers in France.
Maison & Objet 2020: Highlights From the Recent Design Fair
A panel at Decorex discussed product longevity, citing life-cycle planning — for example, whether a piece can be fully disassembled to reuse or recycle its materials — as a key factor in sustainable decor. Waste was promoted as a resource for future design, with landfills hailed as “the mines of the future” by speaker Sean Sutcliffe of Benchmark Furniture.
And the Heimtextil preview heralded a seismic shift in consumerism: “Now is the time for a new perception of new itself,” Danish trend expert Anja Bisgaard Gaede said. That mentality was embraced at 3 Days of Design by audio electronics company Bang & Olufsen, whose exhibit focused on a project to buy back, refurbish and resell some of its most iconic pieces, starting with the Beogram 4000 series turntables, seen here.
How to Plan a Home’s Design Around People and the Planet
And the Heimtextil preview heralded a seismic shift in consumerism: “Now is the time for a new perception of new itself,” Danish trend expert Anja Bisgaard Gaede said. That mentality was embraced at 3 Days of Design by audio electronics company Bang & Olufsen, whose exhibit focused on a project to buy back, refurbish and resell some of its most iconic pieces, starting with the Beogram 4000 series turntables, seen here.
How to Plan a Home’s Design Around People and the Planet
SPOTT for Heimtextil 2020, Messe Frankfurt. Photo by Andreas Houmann
We’ve also seen a focus on craftsmanship, with Bisgaard Gaede predicting a new emphasis on process over product. Well-crafted decor with fine art influences appeared at many fairs. At Milan Design City, “the knowledge of local master craftsmen,” as the press release of brand Salvatori put it, was on full display. At Maison et Objet, Francois Delclaux, founder of style agency Un Nouvel Air, cited “production at a hyper-local scale, which respects an environmental ethic.”
The emphasis on lasting products, at least in theory, will mean less waste and a smaller carbon footprint, while producing locally will minimize the carbon costs of transportation.
We’ve also seen a focus on craftsmanship, with Bisgaard Gaede predicting a new emphasis on process over product. Well-crafted decor with fine art influences appeared at many fairs. At Milan Design City, “the knowledge of local master craftsmen,” as the press release of brand Salvatori put it, was on full display. At Maison et Objet, Francois Delclaux, founder of style agency Un Nouvel Air, cited “production at a hyper-local scale, which respects an environmental ethic.”
The emphasis on lasting products, at least in theory, will mean less waste and a smaller carbon footprint, while producing locally will minimize the carbon costs of transportation.
Nyami printed sheet set by Miimi + Jiinda, a brand founded by Australian Indigenous mother-daughter duo Lauren Jarrett and Melissa Greenwood, who are taking local Indigenous motifs to mainstream retailers (in this case Adairs), at Decor + Design 2020. Photo from Adairs
Though sustainable brands have been appearing at fairs for a decade, the concept of sustainability has become more mainstream.
Some may remember the upcycling trend of 2013 and 2014, which has steadily become more visible. A big part of the discussion has centered on innovation in materials, especially in bioplastics and recycled materials. At last year’s Salone del Mobile, Kartell showcased its Bio-On series made of bioplastics.
This year, it’s the sheer scale of the sustainability conversation that’s noteworthy.
Though sustainable brands have been appearing at fairs for a decade, the concept of sustainability has become more mainstream.
Some may remember the upcycling trend of 2013 and 2014, which has steadily become more visible. A big part of the discussion has centered on innovation in materials, especially in bioplastics and recycled materials. At last year’s Salone del Mobile, Kartell showcased its Bio-On series made of bioplastics.
This year, it’s the sheer scale of the sustainability conversation that’s noteworthy.
The Plissé line by Michele de Lucchi for Alessi at Milan Design Week 2020
Interest in craftsmanship and handmade products has also been evident over the last decade. However, much of the attention has been on international crafts and influences. You may remember the popularity of Beni Ourain Moroccan rugs a few years ago. Now we’re seeing more of a local emphasis.
The idea that classic or quality design is sustainable because it will have ongoing relevance and will last long enough to be passed on to future generations has been a key philosophy in Scandinavia for some time. There, iconic brands like Fritz Hansen have been drawing on their archives for decades and manufacturers have cited quality as a badge of sustainability. This year projects like Bang & Olufsen’s turntable refurbishment project are showing that decades-old pieces can have new market value.
Interest in craftsmanship and handmade products has also been evident over the last decade. However, much of the attention has been on international crafts and influences. You may remember the popularity of Beni Ourain Moroccan rugs a few years ago. Now we’re seeing more of a local emphasis.
The idea that classic or quality design is sustainable because it will have ongoing relevance and will last long enough to be passed on to future generations has been a key philosophy in Scandinavia for some time. There, iconic brands like Fritz Hansen have been drawing on their archives for decades and manufacturers have cited quality as a badge of sustainability. This year projects like Bang & Olufsen’s turntable refurbishment project are showing that decades-old pieces can have new market value.
Toucan Paradise wallpaper by La Touche Originale at Maison et Objet 2020
5. Raw, beautiful nature
Lockdown has left us obsessed with all things natural. The indoor plant trend is still going strong, and biophilic design is showing up at many fairs. It was one of the main trends at this year’s Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market. At London’s Designscape, psychologist Karen Haller emphasised the enduring power of biophilic design as we reevaluate our relationship with nature, while at Decorex, a panel titled Back to Nature Is the Future explored how designers can incorporate biophilic design.
What We Need and Want From Our Homes Today
5. Raw, beautiful nature
Lockdown has left us obsessed with all things natural. The indoor plant trend is still going strong, and biophilic design is showing up at many fairs. It was one of the main trends at this year’s Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market. At London’s Designscape, psychologist Karen Haller emphasised the enduring power of biophilic design as we reevaluate our relationship with nature, while at Decorex, a panel titled Back to Nature Is the Future explored how designers can incorporate biophilic design.
What We Need and Want From Our Homes Today
Utopia accent table by Currey & Co.
At the same time, nature-inspired design, including floral prints, remains ascendant. At the San Francisco Decorator Showcase, natural motifs showed up in a number of creative forms, including a cow-print ceiling. At the Las Vegas Market, where metallics were trending this year, we saw gold- and silver-finished pieces in the shape of plants.
At the same time, nature-inspired design, including floral prints, remains ascendant. At the San Francisco Decorator Showcase, natural motifs showed up in a number of creative forms, including a cow-print ceiling. At the Las Vegas Market, where metallics were trending this year, we saw gold- and silver-finished pieces in the shape of plants.
Malai fabric, made by bacteria fed on coconut waste water, at Heimtextil 2020. Photo by Malai Design & Materials
At fairs around the world, we’ve seen a growing love affair with natural and raw materials: wood, caning, stone, linen, wool and animal skins.
We’re also seeing a preference for rawness, such as fabric with rough edges that looks “fallen from the loom and crudely cut,” as trend forecaster Francois Bernard put it at Maison et Objet. We saw a similar raw, “caveman” aesthetic at Decor + Design in Melbourne, Australia, this fall.
In line with the sustainability trend, we’re also increasingly turning to nature — specifically, local, native biospheres — as a source of inspiration and materials, for both innovative and traditional techniques. “We’re rediscovering all of these materials,” Bisgaard Gaede said at the Heimtextil preview.
At fairs around the world, we’ve seen a growing love affair with natural and raw materials: wood, caning, stone, linen, wool and animal skins.
We’re also seeing a preference for rawness, such as fabric with rough edges that looks “fallen from the loom and crudely cut,” as trend forecaster Francois Bernard put it at Maison et Objet. We saw a similar raw, “caveman” aesthetic at Decor + Design in Melbourne, Australia, this fall.
In line with the sustainability trend, we’re also increasingly turning to nature — specifically, local, native biospheres — as a source of inspiration and materials, for both innovative and traditional techniques. “We’re rediscovering all of these materials,” Bisgaard Gaede said at the Heimtextil preview.
Silver Grass by Abigail Ahern at Decor + Design 2020
The plant trend is quite possibly the defining trend of the last decade. It started with the jungle look, then went through cycles of different “it” florals — from fiddle-leaf figs to large, bold florals to more traditional, Liberty-style prints more recently.
Natural materials, especially wood and wool, have held enduring appeal, but while we preferred darker, more luxurious wood varnishes at the start of the decade, we’re now gravitating to more naturalistic forms. We’re also seeing a broader variety of natural textures.
And while biophilia isn’t completely new to the scene — it was one of the official themes of the 2016 London Design Fair, for example — it’s getting more attention than ever before.
The plant trend is quite possibly the defining trend of the last decade. It started with the jungle look, then went through cycles of different “it” florals — from fiddle-leaf figs to large, bold florals to more traditional, Liberty-style prints more recently.
Natural materials, especially wood and wool, have held enduring appeal, but while we preferred darker, more luxurious wood varnishes at the start of the decade, we’re now gravitating to more naturalistic forms. We’re also seeing a broader variety of natural textures.
And while biophilia isn’t completely new to the scene — it was one of the official themes of the 2016 London Design Fair, for example — it’s getting more attention than ever before.
Trends in a Time of Pandemic
During a discussion titled New Dynamics in the Home at the 2020 digital Vitra Summit in October, designer Ilse Crawford pointed out that the pandemic has accelerated trends — working from home, for example — that were already on the rise.
But at the same time, there’s no denying that the conversation around these trends has shifted, transforming them into responses and buffers to our world’s current crisis.
Tell us:
What do you think of these trends? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
During a discussion titled New Dynamics in the Home at the 2020 digital Vitra Summit in October, designer Ilse Crawford pointed out that the pandemic has accelerated trends — working from home, for example — that were already on the rise.
But at the same time, there’s no denying that the conversation around these trends has shifted, transforming them into responses and buffers to our world’s current crisis.
Tell us:
What do you think of these trends? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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