Would You Sit on a Mushroom? Because That’s Where Interior Design is Headed.

So, here’s the scene: you’re browsing a concept store in Paris. You spot a chair. It’s gorgeous. Minimal. Smooth like butter. But plot twist, it’s made from fungus.

Welcome to your new obsession: bio-materials. The coolest furniture right now isn’tcarved or cast, it’s grown.

And no, this isn’t some hippie compost fantasy. This is the next wave of the global furniture and interior design industry — and it’s actually shipping.

The Fungus Is Here — And It’s Fabulous

Mogu, an Italian disruptor, is turning mycelium (that’s mushroom root network for the uninitiated) and old textiles into slick acoustic panels. Not lab samples. Real. Commercial. You can literally order them now and install them in your hotel lobby or showroom.

Their entire vibe? Circular, sustainable, and visually stunning. Think soft textures, earthy elegance with a side of “look how woke my wall is.”

Source: Mogu

Algae’s Having a Main Character Moment

You’ve sipped spirulina, now sit on it. BLOOM makes foams from algae that clean up water and suck CO₂ as they grow.

The real kicker? Brands like Adidas and Hoka already use BLOOM foam in their shoes, and interiors are next.

They even give receipts — literally: each kg of BLOOM foam = litres of water cleaned + CO₂ offset.

Source: BLOOM Materials

“Living” Walls: Not Just a Pinterest Fantasy

At the edgy end of things, labs like ETH Zurich are prototyping living, photosynthetic composites — think 3D‑printable goo infused with cyanobacteria that eats CO₂ and hardens into actual structure.

We’re talking about the possibility of future interiors that don’t just sit there but breathe.

Is it commercial yet? No. But it’s close. And it’s way cooler than concrete. Source: ETH Zurich

Why the Furniture Industry Can’t Ignore This

Let’s be real — “sustainable” can feel like the most overused word in design. But this isn’t greenwashing.

This is material revolution with receipts.

• Mogu’s panels are already in global offices and hotels
• BLOOM foam has quantifiable carbon C water impact
• MycoTile in Kenya is producing thousands of sqm of mycelium panels for real construction (Source: MycoTile via Design Indaba)

The furniture industry needs a glow-up. This is it. Low carbon. High storytelling. A whole new aesthetic.

So, What Now?

Want to be in the room where the future’s made? Exhibit at Hive Furniture Show 2026.

The bio-material movement is a category reset. You’re either in early, or playing catch-up. Bio-materials like mycelium and algae foams aren’t “the future” anymore, and are already being used in real products, by real brands, at real scale.

And if your brand is still stuck on chrome and veneer…
Well, let’s just say the mushrooms might beat you to the finish line.