Return of the Seventies: Top Furniture Design Trend for Spring 2023

As the hype surrounding the Salone del Mobile 2023 slowly begins to fade, it is an opportune moment to reflect on the current trends in the furniture and design world spotted at the industry’s most significant event. Vibrant colours and patterns, textural richness, soft organic shapes and versatile modular systems with an emphasis on comfort and informality were at the fore at this year’s edition of the Salone, indicating that the seventies are indisputably making a comeback in interior design. A return to nature reflected in the use of natural materials and organic design in the seventies also aligns with the current focus on sustainable design practices, which was a major preoccupation of designers and brands at the fair. Furthermore, the self-expression and experimentation synonymous with the seventies aligns with the lifestyle of today’s generations, who are increasingly looking back to this bold era in design for inspiration. We’ve rounded up some of the most exciting collections presented at the Salone del Mobile 2023, each reflecting the undeniable influence of seventies design trends in their concepts, choice of materials and forms, while reinterpreting them for a contemporary audience. 

Sancal Celebrates the Decade of Its Foundation

In celebration of Sancal’s 50th anniversary, the Spanish furniture manufacturer has organised a series of events and launched a line of products that pay homage to the decade of its founding. As part of the celebration, their stand at the Salone del Mobile 2023 showcased the aesthetics of the 1970s.

Inspired by the fusion of kitsch elements and natural materials with synthetic finishes to create a visually striking contrast, Sancal reinvented several of its iconic pieces. Furry textiles, a signature of the era, added a touch of texture to the overall design and are the hallmark of the newly reinvented Totem stool., The new Wrinkled Link and Body chairs also pay homage to the vibrant era in which interiors were infused with saturated colours in bold combinations, incorporating shades like tan orange, mustard yellow, vibrant greens, bright reds, and deep blues.

Geometric prints and patterns, some of which had psychedelic influences, were also a distinct visual characteristic of the seventies that served as inspiration: Sancal teamed up with the Dutch textile company Byborre to create an exclusive fabric for the occasion. Several iconic Sancal designs including Tonella, Tortuga, Remnant, Body, Totem Next Stop, and Link will be adorned with this exclusive fabric. Additionally, the fabric will be made available for upholstery across the entire range of products featured in Sancal's general catalog.

Colour and Contrast: Baxter’s 2023 Collection

Baxter has unveiled a new series of designs this year that draws inspiration from “the irreverence of Pop Art, the iconic design of the 1970s, the Majorelle blue that bewitched Yves Saint Laurent, the shimmering atmosphere of Studio 54.” The collection features a carefully curated colour palette that combines soft neutral tones with energetic bursts of blue and teal.

Notable pieces of the collection include Christophe Delcourt's 'Joni' desk, featuring a soft silhouette covered in Kashmir Nude leather and a curved wooden top. Draga & Aurel's 'Dune' bookcase takes us back to the 1970s with its psychedelic composition of chromed metal, offering both dynamism and functionality. Studiopepe's 'So Good' armchair also continues the 1970s theme, featuring an oversized leather seat gently placed on a chrome tubular structure, epitomising comfort and promising to become an iconic piece.

Driade Demonstrates Timeless Appeal of Modularity

During the Salone del Mobile 2023, Driade took the opportunity to showcase its new collection, which included designs by contemporary designers like Ora Ito, Karim Rashid, and Fabio Novembre. Alongside these new creations, Driade also reissued the iconic Ipercubo modular armchair, originally designed by D'Urbino, De Pas, and Lomazzi in 1971.

The 1970s were a transformative era for furniture design with a transition towards modular concepts that prioritised versatility, flexibility, and personal expression. The rising popularity of modular furniture during this era was driven by its ability to cater to individual needs and adapt to evolving living spaces, offering a range of practical advantages while reflecting the changing lifestyle and design trends of the time.

The Ipercubo armchair represents a perfect blend of timeless contemporary design. Its concept revolves around the idea of creating a seating solution that is simultaneously simple, with clean lines, and invitingly comfortable. Despite its solid geometric shape, the Ipercubo armchair offers a sense of comfort and envelopment that contrasts beautifully with its minimalist aesthetic.

Acerbis’ Milanese Utopia

During the Fuorisalone exhibition held at the Spotti store on via le Piave, Acerbis art directors Francesco Meda and David Lopez Quincoces curated an installation called "Nanda Vigo & Claudio Salocchi – a Milanese Utopia." This installation aimed to recreate and revitalise the ambiance of a 1970s Milanese living room, paying tribute to the remarkable creative energy of that era.

Within the installation, new versions of Acerbis' furniture designs were presented, evoking the allure of the 1970s with elegant bouclé and nubuck fabrics in soft shades for the Free System collection, while the combination of white and rust Mongolian fur gives the Due Più line a lavish appearance. Creating a captivating journey through time and space, the immersive experience allowed visitors to view Acerbis’ new designs while immersing themselves in the atmosphere and design language of the 1970s Milanese living room.

Revisiting Superstudio’s ‘Architectural Shapes’: Zanotta Expands the Quaderna Collection

In 1969, the Superstudio group embarked on the creation of "Istogrammi," a series of objects built upon a spatial mesh with an orthogonal pattern. These objects were designed to be adaptable to various scales, ranging from furniture design to urban planning, ultimately leading to the concept of the renowned "Monumento continuo." This concept envisioned an artificial landscape that could be infinitely extended, like a vast interconnected network linking everything together.

Zanotta began production of the Quaderna collection designed by Superstudio in 1972. Each Quaderna object is crafted from a single sheet of laminate and chequered surfaces appear continuous in all three dimensions, guided by the Cartesian axes, in accordance with the original project.

In 2022, Zanotta embarked on expanding its original Quaderna collection by introducing new pieces such as a desk, coffee table, and rug. These additions aimed to complement and enhance the existing range of products. Continuing the expansion of the collection in 2023, Zanotta unveiled additional pieces at the Salone del Mobile—a mirror, a storage element, and a cupboard—demonstrating the enduring popularity of revolutionary seventies design movements.