Maison & Objet: 10 Unmissable Trends for 2019
Values, colours, 'transgenerationality' and more: Here's what we learned at the latest edition of the international fair
Agnès Carpentier
12 September 2018
Held twice a year in Paris, France, Maison & Objet is one of the biggest annual international fairs for professionals working in lifestyle, interior decor and design. On September 7–11, 2018, the fall edition of the fair did its best to amaze visitors with a completely revamped layout that underscored its twin thematic pillars: the house (la maison) and the object (l’objet). September’s edition attracted 3,000 brands and over 90,000 buyers, half of whom were international. Of course, Houzz editors were on the scene, scouting the aisles for trends to watch for in the coming year.
1. An event held in the name of virtue
We produce too much, and too many disposable objects in particular. Our environment is polluted, and the well-being of people and animals is not always respected. Is capitalism capable of offering us security and comfort in the future? Faced with such pressing concerns, which are shared by so many people around the world, it is important to sound the alarm about our futures and how we produce and consume.
Each year, Maison & Objet selects an expert to present his or her view of consumer trends at the fair’s Inspirational Forum. This year they chose Vincent Grégoire, trend-spotter at the innovation and creativity agency Nelly Rodi, who drew our attention to the theme “virtuous.” His exhibit featured a “village” made up of six “houses,” each of which introduces the viewer to a different theme: materials, child labor, the human involvement in production, recycling, veganism and responsibility.
“It’s up to each of us to do good, to be involved in a virtuous cycle in order to get others to join, rather than to impose change on them,” Grégoire says. “With this theme, ‘virtuous,’ I sowed small seeds and would like to see them grow. I’m sure these values will bring generations together.”
We produce too much, and too many disposable objects in particular. Our environment is polluted, and the well-being of people and animals is not always respected. Is capitalism capable of offering us security and comfort in the future? Faced with such pressing concerns, which are shared by so many people around the world, it is important to sound the alarm about our futures and how we produce and consume.
Each year, Maison & Objet selects an expert to present his or her view of consumer trends at the fair’s Inspirational Forum. This year they chose Vincent Grégoire, trend-spotter at the innovation and creativity agency Nelly Rodi, who drew our attention to the theme “virtuous.” His exhibit featured a “village” made up of six “houses,” each of which introduces the viewer to a different theme: materials, child labor, the human involvement in production, recycling, veganism and responsibility.
“It’s up to each of us to do good, to be involved in a virtuous cycle in order to get others to join, rather than to impose change on them,” Grégoire says. “With this theme, ‘virtuous,’ I sowed small seeds and would like to see them grow. I’m sure these values will bring generations together.”
2. The colours of nature
This year more than ever, the trade show’s palette was colourful and all about nature, centred on muted shades of green, beige, salmon and tawny yellow-orange hues.
“Does colour govern our senses?” was the central question of one of the fair’s panel discussions. The speakers answered unanimously in the affirmative. For chef Thierry Marx, “colour is a source of seduction.” Abigail Bruce of the Pantone Institute says, “the Colour of the Year we select reflects an emotion and a world aspiration.” According to Mathilde de l’Ecotais, reporter and culinary arts enthusiast, “nature inspires us and we do nothing but try to reproduce its colours over and over.”
This year more than ever, the trade show’s palette was colourful and all about nature, centred on muted shades of green, beige, salmon and tawny yellow-orange hues.
“Does colour govern our senses?” was the central question of one of the fair’s panel discussions. The speakers answered unanimously in the affirmative. For chef Thierry Marx, “colour is a source of seduction.” Abigail Bruce of the Pantone Institute says, “the Colour of the Year we select reflects an emotion and a world aspiration.” According to Mathilde de l’Ecotais, reporter and culinary arts enthusiast, “nature inspires us and we do nothing but try to reproduce its colours over and over.”
3. Updated tableware
Tableware also seemed to be highly influenced by this search for colour. In 2019, we will hold back on the ubiquitous white plates and take the risk of “provoking emotion and giving a memory to the ephemeral,” in chef Marx’s words, by serving food on coloured dishes to enhance our cuisine. This follows Japanese tradition, where each food is placed in dialogue with the dish it is served in, like miso soup in its red lacquered bowl.
Tableware also seemed to be highly influenced by this search for colour. In 2019, we will hold back on the ubiquitous white plates and take the risk of “provoking emotion and giving a memory to the ephemeral,” in chef Marx’s words, by serving food on coloured dishes to enhance our cuisine. This follows Japanese tradition, where each food is placed in dialogue with the dish it is served in, like miso soup in its red lacquered bowl.
4. An abundance of plants
It will surprise no one that greenery has always held a special place in decor, in terms of colour as already noted, but also in the inclusion of indoor plants, bouquets of dried flowers and large frescos and murals. Exotic plants have enjoyed a place of honour in recent years, but now more local vegetation, like bouquets of hydrangeas, is coming to the fore to assuage our busy lives.
It will surprise no one that greenery has always held a special place in decor, in terms of colour as already noted, but also in the inclusion of indoor plants, bouquets of dried flowers and large frescos and murals. Exotic plants have enjoyed a place of honour in recent years, but now more local vegetation, like bouquets of hydrangeas, is coming to the fore to assuage our busy lives.
5. Comfort!
“Comfort” was selected as the main theme for the previous edition of the fair, and it was by no means abandoned at this event. In this edition, the theme was developed further in couch design: We saw a lot of large, enveloping padded cushions as well as ultra-soft velvets to warm us up in the coming winter.
“Comfort” was selected as the main theme for the previous edition of the fair, and it was by no means abandoned at this event. In this edition, the theme was developed further in couch design: We saw a lot of large, enveloping padded cushions as well as ultra-soft velvets to warm us up in the coming winter.
6. International touches
While it is important to maintain local traditions and know-how and encourage local production, we still dream about distant lands. South American woven wool, charpoy seats from India, handicrafts from the Senufo peoples of West Africa, quatrefoil designs from Islamic traditions and creased lamps inspired by Japanese origami will be valued interior pieces in 2019. Let’s keep away from standardised design and instead purchase fair-trade products.
While it is important to maintain local traditions and know-how and encourage local production, we still dream about distant lands. South American woven wool, charpoy seats from India, handicrafts from the Senufo peoples of West Africa, quatrefoil designs from Islamic traditions and creased lamps inspired by Japanese origami will be valued interior pieces in 2019. Let’s keep away from standardised design and instead purchase fair-trade products.
7. Authenticity
Handmade products are popular and make it possible to both accessorise and customise. Those who do not really have a knack for DIY should focus on handcrafted objects that value know-how, bring a touch of originality and, above all, convey an extra degree of authenticity. This year, textiles have a hand-woven look, bottles appear hand-blown and pottery looks wheel-turned.
Handmade products are popular and make it possible to both accessorise and customise. Those who do not really have a knack for DIY should focus on handcrafted objects that value know-how, bring a touch of originality and, above all, convey an extra degree of authenticity. This year, textiles have a hand-woven look, bottles appear hand-blown and pottery looks wheel-turned.
8. Tributes to the past
Some complain that design won’t stop looking backwards in search of inspiration. Pieces from the 1950s and Art Deco motifs still take centrestage and flood contemporary interiors through wallpaper, armchairs and sideboards and other storage units. But shouldn’t we instead look at this as a tribute to older generations and a desire to build ties rather than break them?
Some complain that design won’t stop looking backwards in search of inspiration. Pieces from the 1950s and Art Deco motifs still take centrestage and flood contemporary interiors through wallpaper, armchairs and sideboards and other storage units. But shouldn’t we instead look at this as a tribute to older generations and a desire to build ties rather than break them?
9. Sophisticated touches
Velvet stools on brass pedestals and green-marble coffee tables with extra-thin legs are in vogue this year, adding a touch of sophistication to our interiors. These are good examples of how new-generation design can innovate on materials and forms inspired by the past. Long live “transgenerationality!”
Velvet stools on brass pedestals and green-marble coffee tables with extra-thin legs are in vogue this year, adding a touch of sophistication to our interiors. These are good examples of how new-generation design can innovate on materials and forms inspired by the past. Long live “transgenerationality!”
10. And if we had to choose just one object as the takeaway from this year’s fair?
It would be something that is practical, well-designed, easy to live with and reminiscent of school chairs from our childhoods. It exhibits the colour palette of the year and it can be used both indoors and out: In short, it is good in every way. One unmissable presence at this year’s fair was a metal chair with horizontal metal bands and thin cylindrical legs. Several companies, like Adico and Petite Friture, exhibited versions of this object of the moment.
It would be something that is practical, well-designed, easy to live with and reminiscent of school chairs from our childhoods. It exhibits the colour palette of the year and it can be used both indoors and out: In short, it is good in every way. One unmissable presence at this year’s fair was a metal chair with horizontal metal bands and thin cylindrical legs. Several companies, like Adico and Petite Friture, exhibited versions of this object of the moment.
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I agree that appreciating the qualities of a piece from the past as in Wabi Sabi is so important for the future health of our planet. Consumerism still has a benefit to me however when I can collect value items off the pavement at Council Clean up times! Especially in high end property areas. My home is all pre and present loved!
Being “virtuous” would surely include not having something shipped from the other side of the plantet. Keep it local & keep it simple.
Cool trends and hope some of them will stay. Especially being "virtuous" in reducing carbon footprint products and source locally instead.