No prominent trends dominates the 58th edition of the Salone: increasingly stronger presence of wood and textiles, return to the ‘80s; black with primary colors are gradually prevailing over the unsaturated and pastel shades. And to celebrate the centenary of the Bauhaus great revival of the metal tube.

At home and in the office, the bookcase seems to be the flagship of 2019, often conceived as a system that can evolve into a micro-architecture for interiors.
The preferred materials are wood, especially light and with natural finishes, for a more domestic mood, or the rod (evocation of Scandinavian design) or metal tube; the celebration of the centenary of the Bauhaus inspired the use of tubular circular section.

However, the square section tubular is the real protagonist and takes us back to the 1980s (do you remember Alias ​​and Zeus of those years?). There are numerous re-editions or re-proposals of masterpieces of those years.

It is from that period also the black color, a decisive sign that returns with arrogance above all in the metal parts and in the structures of the tables, replacing the presence of aluminum, which in past years had the task of giving a technological connotation to the furnishings.

Now technology is acquired, so it is more appealing the classic style of modern design with its timeless elegance.

Along with black, white and primary colors also return: Mondrian-style geometries and orthogonality are designed to take the place of soft textures and unsaturated and dusty colors that are still present in furniture design.
Never seen so much pink and burgundy in upholstery, even for contract and office!

Even the now tedious palm trees and tropical decorations leave the scene and, in an increasingly biophilic-oriented approach, give way to real plants. 

For flat surfaces – stone, marble and artificial – a triumph of shades of gray, “ceppo stone” and the most decorative “terrazzo“. 

As already pointed out in the last Orgatec, the softness of the textile, often highly technological, high performance and sound absorbing, plays an important role. 

Unlike the German event where the ergonomic task chairs have a prominent role, sofa systems, lounge chairs and community chairs always prevail at the highest level of design at Milan Design Week. 

An increasingly refined design also for the outdoor, which often becomes a luxury space and extension of the interior. 

Unfortunately, in furniture design the focus on sustainability and the circular economy is still low; in some cases trumpeted more as a marketing tool than as a design philosophy. 

Many beautiful products, but no one that marks a new prominent trend and that can be remembered the remembered product of the year.

Upper photo: Moroso, Green Light table and shelving system, design Olafur Eliasson with  Gogan armchair by Patricia Urquiola.

Below photo: B&B, Jack bookcase, design Michael Anastassiades.