Milan Design Week 2025

It’s that electric time of year again — Milano Design Week is about to light up the design world with style, innovation and unapologetic flair! For lovers of interiors, furniture, and all things beautifully crafted, there’s truly nothing quite like it. The anticipation is palpable — designers, decorators, retailers and design enthusiasts from across the globe gather to unveil their newest creations… and, let’s be honest, to see what everyone else has been working on too!

I won't be going this year. I make the pilgrimage every second year, perfectly timed to catch the biannual focus on Kitchen and Bathroom Design — one of my absolute favourite work-travel experiences. In 2025 the focus will be on Lighting and Office furniture... Since its beginnings in 1961, the fair (Salone Del Mobile) has grown to become the most prestigious international design event on the calendar, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors and setting the stage for trends that ripple across the globe.

What’s truly thrilling is how the event spills out of the convention halls and into the city itself. From hidden courtyards to grand palazzos, Milan transforms into a living gallery. Each district comes alive with installations, pop-up showrooms and vibrant celebrations of design — and this year promises to be no exception.

HERE is a quick report on my 2024 visit to Milano Design Week and below is a video we shot there last year, which you will find interesting whether you've been to there already or not... whilst HERE is a list of suggestions I have put together in the past, to help those that have never been to Milano before.

Whether it's your first time or you're a seasoned Salone visitor, I'm certain you’ll be swept up in the energy of it all — that unmistakable buzz of creativity and curiosity that pulses through Milan during Design Week. It's a rare opportunity to feel the heartbeat of global design, all in one place.

I hope you return brimming with inspiration, a suitcase full of ideas (and perhaps a few Italian delicacies), and a sharper eye for what’s truly relevant to our Australian market. Most of all, may you come back with a clearer sense of what’s a lasting design direction… and what might just be a passing fad shown off in fabulous lighting!

I'll see you there next year :)

James Treble is an ambassador for Planet Ark and firmly believes in sensible purchasing, recycling and creative re-purposing. James has three decades of accumulated experience in the Building Industry, Real Estate and Interior Design and regularly shares his knowledge and experience in adding value to properties through effective design & styling. Watch his free videos on YouTube, and follow him on Facebook and Instagram for more free information. More of James' knowledge is now accessible via Practical Design downloadable material.