Why the 'Marshmallow Furniture' Trend Is Making a Comeback

Soft edges and rounded, puffy profiles are gaining popularity in home design.

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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After years of minimalist, streamlined interiors, there's been a resurgence of sculptural, soft-edged furniture in home design. This 'marshmallow furniture' trend can be traced back to iconic Italian designers of the 1970s, like Mario Bellini and his modular Camaleonda sofa. The style fell out of fashion but has made a comeback in recent years, with designers and tastemakers embracing the comforting, sensual qualities of curved forms.

Why it matters

The rise of marshmallow furniture reflects a broader desire for homes that feel more warm, tactile, and emotionally nurturing, in contrast to the stark minimalism that dominated interiors for a long time. Designers say the organic shapes and plush textures of these pieces create a more inviting, relaxed atmosphere that supports how people want to live today - gathered, connected, and at ease.

The details

Iconic Italian designers like Mario Bellini, Tobia Scarpa, Gianfranco Frattini, and Alessandro Becchi popularized puffy, sculptural furniture in the 1970s. After falling out of fashion, the style made a comeback with creatives and tastemakers like Kelly Wearstler, Chrissy Teigan, and Athena Calderone. In 2020, B&B Italia reintroduced Bellini's Camaleonda sofa after more than four decades. Designers like Noha Hassan and Francesca Grace have embraced the trend, using rounded, plush furnishings to balance architectural lines and create a more dynamic, layered, and emotionally resonant aesthetic.

  • In the 1970s, Italian designers popularized puffy, sculptural furniture.
  • The style fell out of fashion for decades.
  • The trend made a viral comeback with creatives and tastemakers in the 2010s.
  • In 2020, B&B Italia reintroduced Mario Bellini's Camaleonda sofa.

The players

Mario Bellini

An Italian architect and designer known for his iconic Camaleonda sofa, which featured a modular, marshmallow-like design.

Tobia Scarpa

An Italian architect and designer who was part of the 1970s movement towards sculptural, soft-edged furniture.

Gianfranco Frattini

An Italian architect and designer who created the Sesann armchair, a rounded, plush seating piece that exemplifies the marshmallow furniture trend.

Noha Hassan

A New York-based interior designer who has embraced the marshmallow furniture trend, using curved, soft-edged pieces to balance architectural lines and create a more inviting, layered aesthetic.

Francesca Grace

A Los Angeles-based interior designer whose clients include Sabrina Carpenter, Alicia Keys, and Justin Bieber. She has incorporated marshmallow furniture into her projects to create a more relaxed, connected, and emotionally resonant environment.

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What they’re saying

“Curves instinctively feel comforting—they're inherently more inviting. There's also a sensual undertone to curved forms—they feel fluid and effortless, adding warmth and a quiet sense of movement without overpowering the space.”

— Noha Hassan, Interior Designer (ELLE Decor)

“After years of very clean, minimal interiors, people are craving warmth and tactility again.”

— Francesca Grace, Interior Designer (ELLE Decor)

“Rounded, plush furniture softens a space visually and physically. It photographs beautifully, but more importantly, it supports how we actually want to live: relaxed, gathered, and connected.”

— Francesca Grace, Interior Designer (ELLE Decor)

The takeaway

The resurgence of marshmallow furniture reflects a broader shift in interior design towards creating homes that feel more warm, tactile, and emotionally nurturing. By embracing soft, rounded silhouettes, designers are able to balance architectural lines and cultivate a more relaxed, intimate atmosphere that supports how people want to live today.