Once a year, Milan sets the pace. The Salone del Mobile 2026 drew over 316,342 visitors from 167 countries. Milan sets trends and at the same time reflects what we as a society are looking for in the way we live. A fair like this often tells us more about the spirit of the times than any survey. This year's theme was "A Matter of Salone". The focus shifts from pure imagery towards materials, tactility and the process of making. Design should feel tangible again, and demonstrate ecological responsibility through longevity. This attitude ran through the entire fair – visible in the return to craft and texture, in natural materials with visible structure, and in objects that tell a story. EuroCucina and the bathroom exhibition emerged as the true centrepieces: spaces where smart, resource-conscious technology meets a high standard of comfort. In terms of colour, warm earth tones and deep mineral hues dominated, displacing the cool restraint of recent years.
What remains after this week? The sense that we know more clearly how we want to live. More quietly, more authentically, and with greater meaning in the things that surround us. Less spectacle, more substance – and that holds true for excellent design just as much as for sound property decisions.