Held in the Swedish capital in February, the world’s leading fair for Scandinavian furniture and lighting ran parallel to Stockholm Design Week.
Spread over a 70,000 sqm space and held just before Covid-19 spread to Europe, around 700 brands and designers – with at least 80 per cent from Scandinavia – participated in the 2020 edition, which attracted 40,000 visitors from 99 countries in February.
Highlights included an installation by the guest of honour Neri&Hu that spotlit social issues in China. Other favourites were the Design Bar – a mix between an exhibition space and a top-class restaurant marrying Scandinavian atriums and Japanese aesthetics – by Anderssen & Voll of Norway, the Temperament showcase by set designer Sahara Widoff, and the NM & A New Collection exhibition highlighting the design process of the Nationalmuseum’s Restaurant.
Also, the Greenhouse exhibition showcasing emerging designers and students, and the award programme Born Classic, which crowned a mirror made from scrap wood and designed by design studio Front for Swedese as this year’s winner. Here are five trends that emerged from the fair.
Trend 1: The Magic of Sound
Eco-awareness, high performance and beautiful design characterised several sound absorber pieces. “In the face of climate change, environmental pollution and excessive consumerism, we as an industry can no longer afford to ignore the part we play,” says Fredrik Franzon, CEO of Baux. “Designing and prototyping for the future is not enough. We need to create a sustainable future today.”
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BAUX ACOUSTIC PULP PANELS
These were produced in collaboration with design studio Form Us With Love and are 100 per cent bio-based and biodegradable. They combine high performance, in terms of sound absorption, with aesthetics and sustainability.
Find out more at www.baux.se.
![2-soundsticks-room-divider-acoustics-andrea-ruggiero-offecct-3-1024x678-1](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2-soundsticks-room-divider-acoustics-andrea-ruggiero-offecct-3-1024x678-1.jpg)
SOUNDSTICKS
Soundsticks was co-created by furniture brand Offecct Lab and Italian-Hungarian industrial designer Andrea Ruggiero, who describes it as “an innovative room-dividing concept that helps reduce ambient noise in public spaces or open-plan workspaces.”
Find out more at www.offecct.comphoto.
![1-environment_office-space_baux-pulp-1024x768-1](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/1-environment_office-space_baux-pulp-1024x768-1.jpg)
SKY
This modular system, available as Sky Ceiling and Sky wall, was developed by Abstracta and designer Stefan Borselius. “My aim with Sky was to make it not just possible but simple as well to liven up spaces and radically change their look while dampening ambient noise at the same time,” Stefan says.
Find out more at https://abstracta.se.
![3-2018-12-11-abstracta-3-042-1024x683-1](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/3-2018-12-11-abstracta-3-042-1024x683-1.jpg)
Trend 2: Renaissance in Wood
The growing interest in wood, particularly in pine and spruce, was apparent at many booths. “Wood is a fantastic material,” says Torbjorn Anderssen, co-founder of Anderssen & Voll, that created the Design Bar. “We chose pine for our installation because it grows here in the Nordic region, it is a living material and it smells good. It also has a natural warmth and is easy to work with.”
![wood-1024x819-1](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/wood-1024x819-1.jpg)
THE FLIP TABLE
Designed by Jesper Stahl for Design House Stockholm, the Flip Table is part of a three-piece furniture suite made for small spaces that also includes a desk and a sideboard.
Find out more at www.designhousestockholm.com.
![1-fliptable_torso_diningroom-1024x768-1](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/1-fliptable_torso_diningroom-1024x768-1.jpg)
HUNTSMAN CHAIR
Furniture brand Carl Hansen & Son reissued the classic Huntsman Chair that was designed by Borge Mogensen and debuted at the Copenhagen Cabinetmakers’ Guild Furniture Exhibition seven decades ago.
Find out more at www.carlhansen.com.
![3-huntsman-chair-bm1106-oak-oil-natural-saddleleather-back-768x1024-1](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/3-huntsman-chair-bm1106-oak-oil-natural-saddleleather-back-768x1024-1.jpg)
MIRROR
Produced in limited editions by Swedese and designed by Front, the award-winning Born Classic Mirror was created from waste material.
Find out more at www.swedese.com and www.frontdesign.se.
![2-front-e2809dmirrore2809d-swedese-winner-of-the-stockholm-furniture-light-faire28099s-new-awarde28094born-classice28094is-mirror-produced-by-swedese-and-designed-by-front-1024x683-1](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2-front-e2809dmirrore2809d-swedese-winner-of-the-stockholm-furniture-light-faire28099s-new-awarde28094born-classice28094is-mirror-produced-by-swedese-and-designed-by-front-1024x683-1.jpg)
Trend 3: Sculptural Forms
Adding both volume and interest to any interior space, sculptural furniture and lighting make a strong visual statement. With their curvy shapes, these products evoke comfort and create a sense of movement while looking decidedly contemporary.
![sculptural-forms-1024x819-1](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/sculptural-forms-1024x819-1.jpg)
FONT
According to its designer Matti Klenell, the sofa system Font by Offecct “is based on a simple form with a round backrest, which gives the furniture its graphic expression and character, and inspired its name.”
Find out more at www.offecct.com.
![1-font-sofas-matti-klenell-offecct-4-1024x1024-1](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/1-font-sofas-matti-klenell-offecct-4-1024x1024-1.jpg)
NEST
Designed by Form Us With Love and presented in Stockholm by +Halle, the Nest System Tables is a modular solution that turns and bends to allow different configurations.
Find out more at www.formuswithlove.se and www.plushalle.com.
![3-190128_plushalle-system-table-6-press-1024x768-1](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/3-190128_plushalle-system-table-6-press-1024x768-1.jpg)
APIALES
Inspired by the shape of a flower and designed by Danish designer Sofie Refer for Danish brand Nuura, the Apiales chandelier – with nine or 18 mouth-blown glass globes – comes finished in brushed brass and satin black.
Find out more at www.nuura.com.
![2-nuura_apiales-18_brushed-brass-finish_opal-white-glass_1_off-683x1024-1](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2-nuura_apiales-18_brushed-brass-finish_opal-white-glass_1_off-683x1024-1.jpg)
Trend 4: Earthy Tones
Browns, terracotta, walnut… Versatile and useful for creating inviting atmospheres warm colours dominated this year’s fair.
![earthy-tones-1024x819-1](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/earthy-tones-1024x819-1.jpg)
NICHE CHAIR
Based on the larger version originally designed by TAF studio and made exclusively by Fogia for the Restaurant in the renovated Swedish Nationalmuseum, Niche is a modern interpretation of the club chair.
Find out more at www.fogia.se.
![3-fogia-collection-2019_studio176313-768x1024-1](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/3-fogia-collection-2019_studio176313-768x1024-1.jpg)
THE LOAFER SOFA
By Space Copenhagen for &Tradition, the Loafer, available as a two- and three- seater sofa, is a new addition to the family of lounge seating of the same name designed for the former SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen.
Find out more at www.andtradition.com.
![1-tradition-loafer-sofa-by-space-copenhagen-atd_location_2019_loafer_sc26_copenhagen_sc14_mezcla_jh20_the-moor_ap5_tricolore_sh1-772x1024-1](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/1-tradition-loafer-sofa-by-space-copenhagen-atd_location_2019_loafer_sc26_copenhagen_sc14_mezcla_jh20_the-moor_ap5_tricolore_sh1-772x1024-1.jpg)
THE RELIEF MA SK
Designed by Kristina Dam, this wall sculpture was inspired by an ancient depiction of the world using pictures and patterns carved in wood. Available in two different sizes, it can be placed on the floor or mounted on the wall.
Find out more at www.kristinadam.dk.
![2-kristinadamstudio_relief_mask_small-769x1024-1](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2-kristinadamstudio_relief_mask_small-769x1024-1.jpg)
Trend 5: Textured Fabrics
These are an excellent way to transform an interior space, giving it personality and shaping a specific ambience. Textures create contrasts and add elements of tactility. Whether on the floor as carpets or against the walls as curtains, textured fabrics with different colours and patterns offer many possibilities.
![textured-fabrics-1024x819-1](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/textured-fabrics-1024x819-1.jpg)
ROPE RUG
Created by French designer Pauline Deltour and available in four colours and three sizes, the Rope Rug is the first cotton rug from Hem and was inspired by the Japanese tatami pattern.
Find out more at www.hem.com.
![2-hem-rope-rug-large-terracotta-by-pauline-deltour-1024x683-1](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2-hem-rope-rug-large-terracotta-by-pauline-deltour-1024x683-1.jpg)
PANORAMA, DIORAMA AND SUITE
Exploring the relationship between stripes, colours and bindings, Panorama, Diorama and Suite are satin-woven curtains by Margrethe Odgaard.
Find out more at www.kvadrat.dk.
![3-panorama_i_1313_c0651_cropped-1024x941-1](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/3-panorama_i_1313_c0651_cropped-1024x941-1.jpg)
DIVERSITY
Bolon’s 2019 collection, Diversity, celebrates variation, participation and inspiration through three patterns, Bling, Buzz and Bouquet, that are available in 12 colourways.
Find out more at www.bolon.com.
![1-bolon_flooring_diversity_buzzall-1024x683-1](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/1-bolon_flooring_diversity_buzzall-1024x683-1.jpg)