The new year started in January and with that – the fairs. Here is my first report on Heimtextil.
The Frankfurt fair is usually the first of the season and a good indicator for how the interior design industry could be. And it looks like it could be ok. Being a trend expert, and keeping track on statistics, I am pretty sure that the interior design industry will be luke warm 2025. So, with this in mind, I would say that Heimtextil did as expected. Officially the organisers said that there was an increase of exhibitors of 6% from last year. I wonder if the REVENUE is also matching that number. But regardless, apparently more brands are willing to meet up at a fair like Heimtextil. And that is good. Of course a big fair with focus on carpets and floor like Domotex took a break from the fair agenda this year. And IMM is on a pause. So perhaps some of the exhibitors from these fairs ended up at Heimtextil.
Enough of speculation. Numbers were pretty ok. Over 3 000 exhibitors and over 50 000 visitors.
Heimtextil also tried something new. Normally they have the most impressive trend installation in the industry. Focus on colours, patterns, innovation and sustainability. Super important and inspiring. This year they asked Milano based studio Alcova (yes, the ones from Milan Design Week) to do a new take. And it was terrible. It was so bad. So, so, so bad. Someone said that they felt the installation was like an insult. Oh, yes, that was apparently me…
And this trend installation done by Alcova was so bad, so whenever I met anyone – this was the only thing we could talk about.
The installation had no curation or selection. Every colour was represented. Nothing explained or put in context. So, so bad.
A lot of attention was brought to a unique installation done by Patricia Urquiola. You see it in the pictures below.
A lot of the people I talked to really like this installation. I am not really sure I understand it. I think it is an approach to talk about AI, machine-made things and robots. Not sure.
This is what the organisers write about this:
“visitors gained fresh insights into global design trends and local market needs. Designer and architect Patricia Urquiola showcased pioneering textile design through her immersive installation among-us: The atmospheric, textile meeting space followed a functional design approach, demonstrating decision-makers in hospitality and retail the vast potential of textile-based solutions in architecture and interior design. among-us thus brought innovative room concepts for future living environments to life.”
Whaaaaaaaat??? Not getting any insights on global and local trends. Not seeing how this help people in hospitality work more with textiles.
Enough of me. A majority of the people I talked to, liked it.
Trends – an introduction
With plenty of exhibitors at Heimtextil, there are of course a lot of various expressions. One of the thing I noted was that beds are getting more ruffles. We have seen it for pillows, so I am not really surprised that we see it on bedstreads.
Grandma-core?
Another thing was to see how AI pattern are now moving into these “canvases”. We have seen photographic images on sheets before, but these are obviously made with AI.
Trend orange folklore
When I talk about my colour trends for 2026, I include this colour scheme. I love the folklore aestethics and especially the orange hue.
Above wallpaper from Mushaboom Design.
Again, the folklore and homemade aspect of creativity is key.
Trend moody colours
Another of my trend palettes is based on what we can call “lingerie colours”. It is based on a grey and beige colour but with a hint of pastel. In this palette you will also find “colour of the year” and other depressed colours.
Trend updated chartreuse
Last year we saw colour chartreuse happen everywhere. This year it is not so “icky” and more mature. But still a colour that wants to be seen and noticed. Nothing for the shy.
Trend flowers
Maybe flowers aren’t trending, but actually a constant. We always love flowers. But I felt something optimistic and nice when looking at these flower patterns. It’s like it is a reaction to everything hyped we have seen over the last years. Skip strange patterns and focus on something longlasting – like flowers. I like flowers.