For the past two seasons, chrome has been everywhere: on spherical lampshades as well as tubular chair legs. Shimmering reflections and futuristic glare transform living rooms into light boxes. Why is this polished metal once again captivating us, and which designers have made it their signature? A journey to the heart of a trend that plays with shine to visually expand a space.
tom Dixon
Interior design magazines are predicting chrome will be the key material of 2025 for anyone wanting a room effortlessly coolMirrored candelabras, cylindrical side tables or sparkling cabinet handles: each touch reflects light like a small domestic sun, breaking with the matte finishes of previous years.
Tom Dixon leads the way. In Milan, the British design brand presented melt et Mirror ball in polished chrome, which cast an aura on walls and ceilings. English designer Lee Broom responds with Eclipse et Fulcrum Pendant lights and wall sconces with silver discs, capable of blending into the dim light or creating mirror-like effects when they catch a ray of light. In Poland, Oskar Zięta inflates sheets of stainless steel to create Rondo ou Tile Curved mirrors created using a high-pressure inflation technique make reflections dance like a mercury bubble. In a more poetic vein, Dutch artist Sabine Marcelis combines translucent resin and ultra-polished metal surfaces to create columns and benches that filter light and bathe the surroundings in a colorful halo.
The chrome lamp perfectly encapsulates the trend: lightweight, it catches the daylight, then transforms into a disco ball once lit. As for seating, tubular chairs with chrome legs are making a strong comeback in interiors that cultivate a retro-pop aesthetic, while Zięta's inflated stools and mirrored coffee tables make a sculptural statement.
Achieving a perfect chrome finish requires several polishing stages to remove every micro-scratch, followed by a metallic deposit free of impurities. Historically, electrolysis was used: a layer of copper ensures adhesion, nickel provides the deep shine, and finally, chrome seals everything and protects against oxidation. To meet current environmental standards, many design studios are opting for physical vapor deposition, better known by its acronym PVD: the metal, vaporized under vacuum, adheres to the substrate, offering a hard coating that is less toxic than traditional chrome plating, while maintaining the mirror-like effect.
Chrome plays with light from the very beginning: it reflects the colors of the décor, visually expands spaces, and lends a metallic rhythm to perspectives. In an era where interiors seek brightness without sacrificing personality, this shine acts like a built-in Instagram filter: it catches the eye, enlivens an overly subdued room, and complements the natural hues of wood or stone. Contemporary designers also see in it an echo of the 1970s, a period of spatial optimism when metal, a symbol of progress, adorned armchairs and light fixtures.
Whether it envelops a luminous bubble or coils into a tube around a seat, chrome confirms its rise. More sustainable techniques, bold designers, and a thirst for reflections are propelling this material to the top of interior design wish lists. In our homes, mirrored metal no longer simply shines: it speaks of an era that values light, fluid forms, and the desire for spectacular pieces, without losing sight of the importance of craftsmanship. The present is already reflected in these polished surfaces, heralding a future where beauty will continue to embrace light.
