Highlights From the Maison & Objet Design Fair 2025
Exhibitors at the recent show embraced the surrealism theme with playful, rule-breaking designs
The latest edition of the Maison & Objet fair, held recently at the Paris Nord Villepinte exhibition center (Jan. 16-20), explored the line between real and imaginary through its bold theme, Sur/Reality. The joyous celebration of a century of surrealism welcomed unbridled creativity inspired by the fundamental principles of the movement born under the influence of André Breton in the 1920s. Here are ways designers explored the theme to create contemporary products that were bold, playful and confident.
What’s New in Hospitality by Julien Sebban. Photo by Felix Dol Maillot
Maximalist Vision
The What’s New in Hospitality space by Julien Sebban of Uchronia, photographed here with Mélanie Leroy, managing director of the show, was another highlight. The designs reinvented the rules of hospitality with unexpected shapes and playful creations, including this chandelier, made in collaboration with Murano glassware, and a round bed made in partnership with Tréca.
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Maximalist Vision
The What’s New in Hospitality space by Julien Sebban of Uchronia, photographed here with Mélanie Leroy, managing director of the show, was another highlight. The designs reinvented the rules of hospitality with unexpected shapes and playful creations, including this chandelier, made in collaboration with Murano glassware, and a round bed made in partnership with Tréca.
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Vases, Fluid Market. Photo by Anne-Emmanuelle Thion
Delicious Decor
Meanwhile, François Delclaux transformed the What’s New in Retail space into an avant-garde concept store where merchandising became art. The bright and colorful displays unveiled some of 2025’s key trends for our interiors: confectionery transformed into decorative objects and designs inspired by the culinary world, including Fluid Market’s collection of whimsical vases, seen here.
Delicious Decor
Meanwhile, François Delclaux transformed the What’s New in Retail space into an avant-garde concept store where merchandising became art. The bright and colorful displays unveiled some of 2025’s key trends for our interiors: confectionery transformed into decorative objects and designs inspired by the culinary world, including Fluid Market’s collection of whimsical vases, seen here.
Curatio space by Thomas Haarmann. Photo by Anne-Emmanuelle Thion
Surrealism on Display
Exhibitors at the event aced the surrealist theme with lots of enchanting designs.
“The guiding principle for this show is an utterly wild and colorful theme that encourages us to break the rules,” said interior architect Harmonie Henrio during a Formae/Archistorm discussion. “It makes me think of the mood of Poor Things with Emma Stone and also the images created using [AI design tool] Midjourney. You see a mix and match of objects and environments, as Thomas Haarmann did by bringing together different artists, materials, scales and eras in his Curatio space (pictured) and making them interact, which also invites us to free ourselves from established conventions.”
Surrealism on Display
Exhibitors at the event aced the surrealist theme with lots of enchanting designs.
“The guiding principle for this show is an utterly wild and colorful theme that encourages us to break the rules,” said interior architect Harmonie Henrio during a Formae/Archistorm discussion. “It makes me think of the mood of Poor Things with Emma Stone and also the images created using [AI design tool] Midjourney. You see a mix and match of objects and environments, as Thomas Haarmann did by bringing together different artists, materials, scales and eras in his Curatio space (pictured) and making them interact, which also invites us to free ourselves from established conventions.”
Mirror, PolsPotten
Imaginative Mirrors
Surrealist mirror designs were a prevalent feature at the show — many creating a hypnotic confusion between the real and the imaginary. The star attraction, a collection of “melting” mirrors by PolsPotten (pictured) that resemble Dalí’s melting clocks, rubbed shoulders with distorted reflecting surfaces by Homa.
Imaginative Mirrors
Surrealist mirror designs were a prevalent feature at the show — many creating a hypnotic confusion between the real and the imaginary. The star attraction, a collection of “melting” mirrors by PolsPotten (pictured) that resemble Dalí’s melting clocks, rubbed shoulders with distorted reflecting surfaces by Homa.
Table, Malabar
Deception and Distortion
Galerie B’s wavy striped carpet, as well as a black-and-white table by Malabar (pictured), toyed with our senses. And the black-and-white checkerboard pattern, a historic signature of the Surrealist movement, has made a comeback in many collections.
Deception and Distortion
Galerie B’s wavy striped carpet, as well as a black-and-white table by Malabar (pictured), toyed with our senses. And the black-and-white checkerboard pattern, a historic signature of the Surrealist movement, has made a comeback in many collections.
Home Studyo booth. Photo by Matthieu Coin
Innovation Meets Illusion
Innovation shines through in the unexpected processing of materials. Home Studyo disrupts our points of reference with its ceramic vases and mirrors that echo the inflatable plastic of buoys.
Effects of Scale
Scale is another cherished surrealist principle that featured strongly in the show. Oversized pendant lamps and monumental installations punctuated the space.
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Innovation Meets Illusion
Innovation shines through in the unexpected processing of materials. Home Studyo disrupts our points of reference with its ceramic vases and mirrors that echo the inflatable plastic of buoys.
Effects of Scale
Scale is another cherished surrealist principle that featured strongly in the show. Oversized pendant lamps and monumental installations punctuated the space.
8 Color Trends From the 2025 Maison & Objet Show
Neptune lamp, Mullan
Collage Reinvented
The art of collage was popular with surrealists, and Irish brand Mullan used the craft in its innovative wall lamp, with geometric layers in primary colors.
Klaus Dupont went even further with designs that explore the three-dimensionality of collage.
Collage Reinvented
The art of collage was popular with surrealists, and Irish brand Mullan used the craft in its innovative wall lamp, with geometric layers in primary colors.
Klaus Dupont went even further with designs that explore the three-dimensionality of collage.
Plates, Bitossi
Fantasy World
Tableware by Bitossi (pictured) was reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland.
Fantasy World
Tableware by Bitossi (pictured) was reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland.
Ceramics, Studio Berg
Berlin collective Studio Berg displayed modular ceramics that resemble fairy tale castles, including the ones arranged on the table seen here.
Berlin collective Studio Berg displayed modular ceramics that resemble fairy tale castles, including the ones arranged on the table seen here.
Hands, Lladro
The Human Body
Representation of the human body was a recurring theme at this year’s show. We came across outstretched hands, joints in protective symbols, and watchful eyes inspired by hamsa, a Mediterranean tradition, as well as stylish lips.
The high point was the remarkable re-release of the Shiva vase — an iconic work by Ettore Sottsass dating back to 1973 — thanks to a collaboration between Capsule magazine/book and BD Barcelona. These anatomical representations echo the pieces by surrealist greats such as Hans Bellmer, Man Ray or Salvador Dalí, who saw the fragmented body and desire as vectors for expression and freedom.
The Human Body
Representation of the human body was a recurring theme at this year’s show. We came across outstretched hands, joints in protective symbols, and watchful eyes inspired by hamsa, a Mediterranean tradition, as well as stylish lips.
The high point was the remarkable re-release of the Shiva vase — an iconic work by Ettore Sottsass dating back to 1973 — thanks to a collaboration between Capsule magazine/book and BD Barcelona. These anatomical representations echo the pieces by surrealist greats such as Hans Bellmer, Man Ray or Salvador Dalí, who saw the fragmented body and desire as vectors for expression and freedom.
Vases, PolsPotten
Bold Chromatic Color Scheme
The surrealist influence vividly appeared in the choice of colors and materials across the show. Designers were experimenting with textures and layering transparency and reflection effects to create striking optical illusions.
These iridescent side tables by PolsPotten (pictured) perfectly illustrate this quest for hypnotic, changing surfaces.
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Bold Chromatic Color Scheme
The surrealist influence vividly appeared in the choice of colors and materials across the show. Designers were experimenting with textures and layering transparency and reflection effects to create striking optical illusions.
These iridescent side tables by PolsPotten (pictured) perfectly illustrate this quest for hypnotic, changing surfaces.
Top Design Trends From the Fall 2024 Maison & Objet
Seletti booth. Photo by Matthieu Coin
The intense Majorelle blue chosen by Mazharia for its vase collection (not pictured), presented on an electric yellow base, interacted with the colorful and eccentric realm of Italian brand Seletti. The booth (pictured), decorated in primary colors, served as a chromatic manifesto. These adventurous combinations break the traditional rules of interior design, introducing new energy into the collections.
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The intense Majorelle blue chosen by Mazharia for its vase collection (not pictured), presented on an electric yellow base, interacted with the colorful and eccentric realm of Italian brand Seletti. The booth (pictured), decorated in primary colors, served as a chromatic manifesto. These adventurous combinations break the traditional rules of interior design, introducing new energy into the collections.
10 Paint Colors Set to Define 2025
What’s New in Decor by Elizabeth Leriche. Photo by Anne-Emmanuelle Thion
A Shift Toward More Emotional Design
At a time when modern interiors predominantly feature light tones, often verging on monotony, a new trend is emerging: quirky, flamboyant and colorful pieces. These pieces have made their mark in our interiors as sources of joy and emotion beyond their basic use.
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A Shift Toward More Emotional Design
At a time when modern interiors predominantly feature light tones, often verging on monotony, a new trend is emerging: quirky, flamboyant and colorful pieces. These pieces have made their mark in our interiors as sources of joy and emotion beyond their basic use.
34 Home Design Trends That Will Define 2025
Mambo Factory
Limited-edition collections and capsules flourished on the show floor, signaling the rise of accessible “collectible design.” It’s an approach where the unnecessary becomes desirable, and fantasy becomes part of our daily lives without breaking the bank.
This rise in accessible emotional design is perhaps the beginning of a new era in the interior design world that’s more playful and uninhibited.
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Limited-edition collections and capsules flourished on the show floor, signaling the rise of accessible “collectible design.” It’s an approach where the unnecessary becomes desirable, and fantasy becomes part of our daily lives without breaking the bank.
This rise in accessible emotional design is perhaps the beginning of a new era in the interior design world that’s more playful and uninhibited.
More on Houzz
Read more industry show and fair recaps
Find design and remodeling professionals
Shop for home products
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Hypnosis and Illusion
The What’s New in Decor space, curated by trend forecaster Elizabeth Leriche, was an immersive exhibition space with a surrealist feel and drew inspiration from artists such as Dalí and Magritte. There were plenty of hypnotic patterns, including this wall-to-wall carpeting by Galerie B paired with a blanket from Mapoésie.
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