At Salone del Mobile 2025, it’s not just what we see—it’s what we feel.
As we traversed the corridors of Fiera Milano, one message became clear: materials are speaking louder than ever.
This year, texture, tactility, and tradition converge in a narrative driven by material honesty, emotional comfort, and a rekindled appreciation for craft.
The Return of Bouclé and Woolly Textiles
Leading the material conversation this year is the wide resurgence of bouclé-style upholstery—a soft, looped fabric with a cozy, sheep-like texture.
Reinterpreted in muted tones of greige, taupe, and pastel ash, this material evokes warmth, softness, and familiarity.
The use of bouclé, originally popularized in the 1940s and resurging in high-end furniture around 2021, now dominates the 2025 scene.
Brands like Minotti, Poliform, and Ligne Roset showcase entire seating systems draped in these tactile textiles. It’s not just aesthetic—it’s emotional design in fabric form.
The Rise of Fluted and Textured Glass
In lighting and partitions, ribbed and fluted glass is omnipresent. Whether as translucent dividers or glowing lamp shades, this material brings a layered softness to spaces while diffusing light in poetic ways.
Designers such as Sebastian Herkner and Kristina Dam Studio incorporate this glass not merely for decoration, but to enhance spatial intimacy and dimensionality.
The color tones of the glass frequently mirror those of the bouclé—dusty greens, terracotta, and soft blush—creating chromatic harmony across surfaces and volumes.
Italian Leather and the Power of Craft
No Salone would be complete without a tribute to Italian leather. What’s notable this year is a return to raw finishes: full-grain leathers with visible imperfections, matte treatments, and earthy tones dominate.
Companies like Poltrona Frau and De Sede embrace natural textures, presenting leather not as a luxury commodity, but as a canvas of craftsmanship. Stitching is celebrated, grain is exposed, and patina is honored.
Wood: Refined Yet Restrained
Wood remains central to the Salone aesthetic—but with restraint. Manufacturers have leaned into simplified forms and muted finishes, showcasing woods like ash, walnut, and oak with ultra-matte sealants or smoked treatments.
Interestingly, there’s a growing sense that cost-efficiency is subtly shaping design: complex joinery and rare woods take a backseat to flat planes, minimal curves, and modularity.
Yet, instead of cheapening the look, this shift suggests a new design pragmatism—one that values accessibility without compromising on beauty.
Cohesion or Conformity?
A pattern emerges: across brands and booths, the materials and palettes are consistent. The same bouclé, similar ribbed glass, near-identical tones. Is this creative alignment or strategic conformity? Are fabric mills, material labs, and global trend agencies pre-shaping what designers can access and explore?
While the homogeny is palpable, each designer still stamps their own identity through proportion, silhouette, and context. But make no mistake—2025 is about collective tactility.
What ArchUp Will Continue to Explore?
Interviews with fabric and glass producers
The role of supply chains in trend shaping
Comparative studies between independent studios and large manufacturers
Material translations in the Middle East: what works, what adapts, and what inspires
In the end, materials in 2025 aren’t just finishes—they’re philosophies. At ArchUp, we’re here to decode what they’re saying.
