Exploring the Emotional Depth of Home Design at 3 Days of Design in Copenhagen
In a reflective journey through Copenhagen’s annual design festival, 3 Days of Design, Bailey Meredith emphasized a notable trend: design transcending mere aesthetics to delve into the emotional facets of domestic spaces.
Rethinking Domestic Spaces
A prevalent theme emerged across various exhibitions—the heightened emphasis on the emotional dimension of living environments. This year’s festival invited attendees to reconsider the home as not just a functional or stylistic setting, but as a sanctuary for rhythm, ritual, and quiet introspection. The exhibits embraced the notion that our living spaces are dynamic, evolving alongside us, rather than remaining static entities.
The presentations exuded a sense of softness and soulful design, which gracefully countered the often harsh lines associated with modern decor. The showcased works conveyed a vision of design as an integral part of how we dwell, gather, and how our surroundings resonate with us.
Home From Home: A Study in Dualities
Charlotte Taylor and Maéva Massoutier showcased their installation, Home From Home, at Noura Residency, emphasizing the intricate dualities inherent in domestic life—intimacy versus openness, function versus feeling, permanence versus change.
This immersive installation appeared as a lived-in space, featuring layered textiles, sculptural furniture, and warm lighting. Everyday objects were arranged in artful yet unforced manner. The use of walls was minimal, hinting at different zones of domestic life without complete separation. The installation masterfully illustrated how time, light, and human presence shape a home’s narrative, creating an environment that felt both personal and universally relatable.
Key Design Takeaway: Rather than idealizing how a home should look, it prompted viewers to reflect on the homes they occupy.
FRAMA: Transforming Functionality into Creative Living Zones
In another fascinating exhibit, FRAMA converted their Copenhagen showroom—historically St Paul’s Pharmacy—into a conceptual space dubbed Structures of Living. The installation broke down traditional concepts of home into its fundamental components, reinterpreted through a modular framework.
With elements like open shelving and solid wooden designs, the concept blurred the distinction between furniture and architectural structure. Zones for cooking, eating, relaxing, and socializing coexisted fluidly, prompting visitors to envision a home where functionality surpassed rigid definitions.
Subtle nods to daily life were present, with tables casually set and low beds layered with linens, conveying a warm atmosphere that felt genuinely lived-in.
Key Design Takeaway: This installation encouraged a new approach to living, where environments are adaptable and driven by intentionality rather than excess.
Celebrating Everyday Beauty: Cappelen Dimyr’s Table Linen Collection
At 3 Days of Design, Cappelen Dimyr unveiled their inaugural table linen collection in collaboration with French studio La Bagatelle. Instead of opting for a traditional showroom presentation, the brands curated an intimate domestic scene in a Copenhagen apartment, resembling an ongoing dinner party.
Tablecloths bore gentle creases, candle wax dripped in holders, and glassware was elegantly askew, embodying a spirit of warmth over perfection. Flooded with sunlight, the area showcased earthy neutrals and textured linens, embodying a philosophy of ‘lived-in beauty.’
Key Design Takeaway: Authentic elegance doesn’t necessitate flawlessness; the most resonant designs often bear the marks of life.
Embracing a Deeper Design Ethos
The presentations at this year’s 3 Days of Design highlighted a significant evolution in our approach to design. It’s no longer solely about ornamentation or status—it’s about supporting a meaningful way of living. These installations invited viewers to slow down, to engage emotionally with the spaces presented, and to reflect on what it means to live well, beyond visual appeal.
In retrospect, the festival felt akin to a collective sigh of relief—a gentle reminder that a home is not merely a perfect space, but one meant to be fully inhabited. For those of us in Aotearoa, where mindful living is often embraced, this message hit home deeply. It was an affirmation that life’s imprints, blurred boundaries, and thoughtful transitions bear more significance than mere newness—they bring clarity, restraint, and purpose to our environments.
For more insights into interior design trends, visit our blog at ChatbiHouse, where we explore everything from vintage charm to eco-conscious selections.
By emphasizing the emotional connections we cultivate within our spaces, the recent events in Copenhagen have undoubtedly reshaped perspectives on home design, urging us all to rethink how our environments influence our lives.
