The Maison & Objet 2025 fair, held at the Paris Nord Villepinte exhibition center (January 16-20), embraced the surrealism theme with bold, playful, and rule-breaking designs.
Designers from around the world showcased creations that blurred the line between reality and imagination, celebrating surrealism in a modern context.
Here’s a look at the standout trends and designs from the fair that exemplified the surrealist movement and its influence on contemporary design.
Hypnosis and Illusion: Creating Immersive Experiences
A Surrealist Vibe in the What’s New in Decor Space
Curated by trend forecaster Elizabeth Leriche, the What’s New in Decor exhibition captured the essence of surrealism with hypnotic designs inspired by iconic artists like Dalí and Magritte.
Visitors were immersed in a space where familiar objects appeared distorted, like the striking wall-to-wall carpet by Galerie B, paired with a playful blanket from Mapoésie.
The installation invited attendees to experience design through a surrealist lens, transforming the space into a dream-like environment.
Maximalist Vision: Reinventing Hospitality Design
Unexpected Shapes and Playful Creations
In the What’s New in Hospitality exhibit, designed by Julien Sebban of Uchronia, the rules of hospitality were turned upside down.
This space featured daring shapes, whimsical chandeliers made in collaboration with Murano glassware, and even a round bed created in partnership with Tréca.
The playful nature of the designs perfectly embodied the spirit of surrealism, encouraging bold experimentation in hospitality interiors.
Delicious Decor: The Intersection of Art and Merchandising
A Culinary-Inspired Retail Experience
François Delclaux transformed the What’s New in Retail space into an avant-garde concept store, where the lines between art and commerce became indistinguishable.
Bright, colorful displays showcased surreal interpretations of everyday objects, with confectionery and culinary-inspired designs such as Fluid Market’s whimsical vases.
These pieces demonstrated how art and design can influence the way we experience and interact with retail spaces.
Surrealism on Display: Breaking Conventional Boundaries
A Wild, Colorful Celebration of Surrealist Principles
Exhibitors at the fair fully embraced surrealism, with many presenting designs that challenged conventional expectations.
Thomas Haarmann’s Curatio space, for example, combined diverse artists, materials, and scales to create an interactive environment that invited visitors to let go of established norms.
According to interior architect Harmonie Henrio, the fair encouraged a mix of objects and environments that freed designers from the constraints of traditional design.
Imaginative Mirrors: Confusing the Real and Imaginary
Surrealist-Inspired Mirror Designs
Mirrors were a central theme at the fair, with many designs inspired by surrealist works.
PolsPotten’s melting mirrors, which echoed Dalí’s iconic melting clocks, were among the most eye-catching pieces, creating a distorted reflection of reality.
Distorted mirror designs by Homa further blurred the lines between the real world and the dream-like quality of surrealism.
Deception and Distortion: Playing with Our Senses
Optical Illusions in Design
Designers at Maison & Objet played with optical illusions and distorted shapes to create a surreal experience for visitors.
Galerie B’s wavy striped carpet and Malabar’s black-and-white table were perfect examples of how simple patterns and shapes could trick the senses, creating a surreal atmosphere that made the familiar appear unfamiliar.
The re-emergence of the black-and-white checkerboard pattern, a hallmark of surrealist design, added an intriguing twist to many collections.
Innovation Meets Illusion: Materials That Defy Expectations
Disrupting Traditional Design Norms
Innovation was at the heart of many of the fair’s most memorable pieces.
Home Studyo’s ceramic vases and mirrors, for example, echoed the inflatable plastic of buoys, disrupting traditional material usage in design.
This unexpected approach to materials demonstrated how designers are pushing the boundaries of form and function in their quest to create something truly surreal.
A Shift Toward Emotional Design: Playful, Flamboyant Pieces
Quirky and Colorful Designs for Emotional Impact
One of the standout trends from the fair was the shift toward more emotional and expressive design.
As modern interiors have become increasingly minimalist, a new wave of quirky, flamboyant, and colorful pieces emerged at the fair.
These designs not only serve a functional purpose but also provide joy and emotional connection, transforming ordinary objects into works of art.
This rise in accessible emotional design signals a shift toward more playful and uninhibited design approaches in the interior design world.
Conclusion: The Surrealism Influence Continues to Shape Design
The Maison & Objet 2025 fair provided a captivating glimpse into the future of design, showcasing how surrealism continues to inspire bold, imaginative, and unconventional creations.
Whether through distorted mirrors, playful color schemes, or innovative material use, designers are embracing the surrealist ethos to break the rules and challenge our perceptions.
As the trend toward emotional and accessible design grows, it’s clear that surrealism is more than just an art movement – it’s a powerful influence shaping the future of interior design.
