The 2025 edition of Interzum once again proved why it’s considered the starting point for innovation in the world of furniture and interior design.
Held biennially in Cologne, Interzum fair is where emerging materials, advanced components, and breakthrough ideas are revealed—often years before they reach the market. It’s here that the innovation cycle truly begins, setting the tone for what will shape our interiors in the near future.
This year, it was clear that innovation is no longer just about form or style—it’s about adaptive living, sustainable thinking, and the growing integration of technology with everyday design. From smart systems to conscious materials, Interzum 2025 was filled with signals of where the industry is headed.
Among the many insights gathered, these are the five key directions that stood out to me—each offering a unique perspective on how the landscape of interiors and furniture is evolving.
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1. Rotating & Dynamic Furniture: Innovative Furniture Trends from Interzum
Gone are the days of static interiors. The modern home demands flexibility, especially as urban living spaces become smaller and multifunctionality becomes key. At Interzum 2025, dynamic furniture systems emerged as a standout solution for rethinking spatial flow.
A key highlight was Hettich’s RoomSpin system—a smart, rotating furniture concept that allows entire storage or wall units to turn on their axis. Imagine a wardrobe that transforms into a home office or a bookcase that reveals a hidden TV wall. It’s furniture that adapts to your needs in real time, without the bulk of traditional dividers.
Equally exciting was Häfele’s Dynamic Living concept, which integrates magnetic walls to allow furniture elements—like shelves, hooks, and storage modules—to be moved and repositioned with ease. This level of modularity is game-changing, especially for renters, shared spaces, and evolving households.
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2. Foldable Furniture: Compact Living, Elevated
The demand for space-saving solutions continues to grow, driven not only by the rise of nomadic, hybrid lifestyles but also by increasing living costs and shrinking home sizes—particularly in major urban centers where space comes at a premium. At Interzum 2025, foldable and collapsible furniture took on a more refined, design-driven form—proving that compact doesn’t have to mean compromise.
Leading the way was the PLICOBOX system by Julius Blum, a foldable drawer box concept that surprised with its sturdiness and elegance. It’s designed for quick assembly and disassembly, making it ideal for temporary installations, pop-up concepts, or dynamic home offices. The beauty lies in its simplicity and clever engineering: it’s flat-packed yet feels premium and long-lasting once assembled. Foldable furniture is no longer just utilitarian: it’s a design statement, helping people live more flexibly without sacrificing functionality or style.
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3. Augmented Reality in Furniture Design: Bridging the Digital and the Physical
Technology is playing an increasingly central role in how we design, select, and personalize furniture. One of the most compelling applications seen at Interzum 2025 was the use of augmented reality (AR) to elevate the design experience.
TrendCast by Fritz Egger stood out for its seamless integration of AR into the material selection process. With just a smartphone or tablet, users can project materials into their space, view full-size configurations, and experiment with combinations in real time. This adds a new layer of storytelling and customization to the interior design process—particularly valuable for architects, designers, and end-users alike.
AR is becoming a tool to streamline design workflows, enhance client engagement, and reduce waste by allowing more precise visualization before production.
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4. Recycled and Raw Materials: Innovative furniture trends from interzum
Sustainability is no longer a niche concept—it’s a non-negotiable in today’s design world. At Interzum 2025, I was thrilled to see many innovation in eco-conscious materials, not just in look but also in performance and scalability.
Shattdecor introduced for example a new line of decorative paper surfaces created with sustainable production methods and a reduced environmental footprint. These finishes beautifully merge aesthetic appeal with responsible sourcing practices.
OWI’s FiberFlex, a bio-based and highly flexible material, also stood out for its raw, tactile texture—an ideal option for designers pursuing a natural, eco-aligned aesthetic and looking to integrate it into furniture design.
Meanwhile, VITA Group showcased a sustainable mattress concept constructed from recycled components, proving that comfort and circular design can go hand in hand.
Another standout was the Moreganic Natural Latex, developed by Global Textile Alliance—a sustainable latex component for mattresses and sofas. Certified by the Moreganic sustainability initiative, this innovation supports not only environmental goals but also social ones, by helping local farmers and promoting ethical supply chains.
From surfacing solutions to core components, these developments confirm a powerful shift toward materials that prioritize both people and the planet.
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5. Old Natural Materials Making a Comeback: The Linoleum Revival
Sometimes, innovation means looking back to move forward. One of the more surprising but welcome trends at Interzum 2025 ( and yes that I already forecasted few years ago! ) is the rediscovery of natural, time-tested materials, particularly linoleum.
Forbo’s updated linoleum collections reframe this classic material in a contemporary light. Once relegated to institutional floors, linoleum is now being used in sleek furniture surfaces, cabinetry, and tabletops. It’s fully biodegradable, antibacterial, and offers a warm, organic texture that contrasts beautifully with today’s digital-heavy interiors.
Interzum 2025 proved that the future of furniture is as much about responsiveness and sustainability as it is about style. From dynamic systems that move with us, to digital tools that empower better design decisions, and materials that respect the planet, the fair was a masterclass in holistic innovation. For designers, manufacturers, and consumers alike, the key takeaway is this: flexibility, circularity, and interactivity are no longer trends—they’re the new standard.
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Want More on Trends and Innovation?
If you’re eager to dive deeper into what’s shaping the future of furniture and interiors, we’ve got exciting news: a brand-new trend report packed with exclusive insights from Interzum 2025 is on its way—available soon for our members at TRENDBARK. Join at this link.
Plus, we’re putting the final touches on a new Materials Gallery, designed to help you explore the latest surfaces, finishes, and components in a curated, visual format.
Stay tuned—innovation is just getting started!
