Perth may not be a hub for fashion and style innovation like the metropolises of Europe, but that does not mean cutting-edge design and quality craftsmanship are not in high demand. Michael Fotis, managing director of Claremont's Ligne Roset showroom — the trendsetting French furniture label's only physical outlet in Western Australia — was one of a select few Australians present when the brand unveiled its latest design forecasting at an exclusive annual global showcase in April.
Akin to Milan Design Week, the four-day event was held in Paris' Palais de Tokyo and covertly previewed the 2027 design themes that would eventually trickle into WA, and ultimately, the homes of fashion-forward residents. With representatives from up to 600 global Ligne Roset vendors attending the private showcase, Mr Fotis was tasked with handpicking the styles he feels will connect best with his clientele.
"Not everything's right for our market, because there are so many different distributors they have, and we are all a little bit different from what sells in China; our Perth lifestyle is quite unique," he told The West Australian. The same applies to Australia's east coast: "The way we live here — longer days, the quality of our daylight and what have you, is a bit different to the gloomy Melbourne winters."
Established in 1860, Ligne Roset's pioneering design has naturally been welcomed into the homes of global artists and creatives, with rock star Lenny Kravitz and actor Colman Domingo two known fans of the label's iconic 1960s Togo sofa. Natural synergies between fashion and furniture design led to Ligne Roset's recent collaboration with German fashion house BOSS (also known as Hugo Boss), with the timeless piece front and centre. The bespoke collection will eventually make its way to Australia from Europe.
Mr Fotis offered a broader look at interior trends in colour and texture set to land in WA in the next 12 months.
Furniture Design Trends Hitting Perth from Paris in 2026-27
'Solar Sands'
Ligne Roset's annual showcase unveiled a central theme of "Solar Sands," which embodied warm, natural tones incorporated into textiles and materials. Mr Fotis said there was a key focus on "getting back to nature" that could be seamlessly applied to the WA market. "In terms of textiles, a lot softer colours and neutral tones. When it comes to materials, a lot of travertine and natural stones coming back into trend," he said.
The design expert said travertine typically follows a trend cycle of 10-15 years. "We have looked at some things that we are bringing in for next year that we have ordered — natural timbers in noble woods, walnuts, and oaks, which will mirror our lifestyle, our environment here," he added. "If you start thinking about those colours, you start thinking about the sand and our coastal environment, our beaches and our landscapes." The owner described the Perth-specific motif as "relaxed sophistication."
Deep Blues and Denims
After observing an emergence of blue tones at last year's showcase, Mr Fotis feels blue and denim tones will become more prevalent as they complement the lifestyle of Perth residents. "In terms of the way we live coastally and close to the water, a lot of our clients are either on the river or down the coast," he said.
Earthy and Grounded Tones as Accent Colours
In textiles and homewares, Mr Fotis said there was a trend towards adding colourful accents to interiors via warmer and more expressive variations. "In terms of colours, earthy tones like garnet, rich oranges, blood oranges, terracotta, and ochre," he said. Although furniture pieces may take up to 12 months to breach our shores due to their more complex development — with all items manufactured in France — the owner said he has already seen evidence of these colour trends in accessories that have arrived at his store. "We are starting to see those colours coming through with some of the glass and the vases, some of the throws, some of the cushions that come through a lot more quickly than the furniture," he added. The owner added that "wine colours, burgundy colours and deeper browns" would also become more commonplace.
