The latest innovations in textile design have resulted in beautiful weatherproof fabrics that challenge your preconceived notions of what outdoor furniture can look like. These easy-care fabrics make it all the better for homeowners, who can fuss less with spilt drinks during a busy party, and for families who can own beautiful yet durable furniture that are comfortable for all ages.

This year in particular, boucle and woven textures reminiscent of those on elegant coats were recurring materials seen at the fair, applied to outdoor sofas and armchairs that make these seats just as stunning to use both inside and out of the house.

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After emerging from the at-home years during the Covid-19 pandemic, it’s easy to see why we seek comfort, and that is most instantly conveyed with cuddly seats. Driade, Acerbis, Sancal were among the brands that displayed such fuzzy seats. White and cream tones were among the more popular choices, looking akin to soft fur but without the maintenance woes with the use of synthetic fibres.

See also: How Singapore designers are using ChatGPT, 3D-printing and sustainable materials at Milan Design Week

Where once swivel chairs seem the realm of groovy Austin Powers-style interiors, this moveable function has transcended that retro look with more understated designs and in leather upholstery. These rotating seats are designed to invite conversation in the living room and help to create an amiable social space in your home.

Trends are cyclical and while the mid-century modern palette mix of the figures and sixties led the way in the last decade, furniture brands are easing into a groovier look by making a nod to the seventies and Memphis design with all its hippy hues and playful forms.

For its booth at the fair, Spanish brand Sancal celebrated its 50th anniversary in style with a rich ménage of tones and patterns that pay tribute to the seventies, a period of humble beginnings when the Spanish brand hawked its wares at the local market stalls. In particular, Studiopepe’s Bold table for Sancal takes a cue from the work of Memphis design icon Ettore Sottsass and features punchy shades to match the brand’s fun-filled selection.

Piping on sofas continues to be a much-wanted detail, taking a page from the look of tailored shirts. These typically come in a contrasting fabric or colour to accentuate the primary textile choice, as seen at the Minotti and Flexform stands.

The sartorial influences are also expressed more subtly through a rich layer of fabrics on soft furnishings. For instance, the Versace Home collections pair fabrics like velvet, jacquard and other textures that create a richly sumptuous look. And at Poliform, Flexform and Arflex, striped detailing on furnishings showed different ways to introduce pattern play into your interior.

Deep red tones reminiscent of cherries and Japanese lacquered wood were among the accent colours popularly applied to furnishings. Meridiani featured it on consoles and armchairs, Molteni&C offers the Matteo by Vincent Van Duysen in cherry red while Christopher Guy applied a fiery scarlet hue to its famed decorative mirrors and other accent pieces.

Blue is a shade associated with feelings of serenity and is also a versatile hue that pairs easily with many tones. From the vivid Yves Klein blue tones used at Desalto to teal blue at Lema and baby blue hues seen at Miniforms, these soothing tones help foster feelings of comfort and ease, while contributing to the elegant tableau.

This fun micro trend sees designers take influence from knots and ropes, creating curvaceous forms for accent chairs. Top examples include the GTV Mickey armchair and Loop dining chairs, both by India Mahdavi, as well as the Studio Pepe-designed Shibori chair for Visionnaire. The Apolline II chair from Christopher Guy is another high; it features a hand-carved high back formed from swirls of concentric and interlocking curves.

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