For the past three years, I’ve made the annual pilgrimage to Milan Design Week. It’s an incredible event and one I always come home from feeling inspired.
This year, though, I felt like a change.
So together with my design besties, Donna and Nerida, I swapped Milan for the Copenhagen 3 Days of Design showcase, curious to experience Scandinavian design in the place it was born.
People often ask why interior designers travel halfway around the world for events like these. For me, it isn’t about chasing the latest trend. It’s about stepping outside my everyday environment, seeing how other cultures live and experiencing design through a different lens. Sometimes those experiences introduce completely new ideas. Other times, they simply reinforce what you’ve believed all along.
Whilst I of course came home with a phone full of photos of beautiful products, colours and inspiring spaces, I also came home with something much more valuable…
Copenhagen didn’t change the way I think about design. It reminded me why I design the way I do.
If Milan celebrates innovation, style and refinement, Copenhagen celebrates craftsmanship, comfort and liveability. Neither is better than the other, but Copenhagen felt much closer to the kind of homes I love creating for our clients.
One word stayed with me throughout the trip: effortless. Not because I thought it was effortless to create, but because nothing felt like it was trying too hard.
Homes should feel welcoming before you even step inside.
One of the first things I noticed had nothing to do with furniture, lighting or architecture.
Walking through Copenhagen, I found myself constantly peering into the front windows of homes. Deep window sills were filled with fresh cut flowers, flowering indoor plants and beautiful candlesticks. Candles were lit throughout the day, not because guests were arriving, but because they were simply part of everyday life.
It gave every home a sense of warmth and personality before you’d even stepped inside.
It reminded me that atmosphere isn’t created by expensive furniture or elaborate styling. Often it’s the simple things, fresh flowers, candlelight and greenery, and small rituals that quietly shape how a home feels.
Comfort should never be sacrificed for beauty.
One thing that struck me almost immediately was how comfortable everything felt.
Not comfortable in a luxurious, oversized way, but comfortable in a deeply human way. Sofas you immediately wanted to curl up on. Chairs that invited long conversations. Warm timbers, natural stone, wool, linen and layered textiles softened every space.
Even the showrooms felt like homes. Rather than presenting products as untouchable objects, they invited you to imagine living with them. Iconic Danish furniture sat effortlessly alongside antiques, vintage finds and contemporary pieces, creating interiors that felt collected over time rather than carefully curated.
The hotels were equally inspiring. Wallpaper, colour, pattern, texture and beautiful lighting all sat comfortably together, yet nothing felt overdone. Every room revealed another layer the longer you stayed.
What struck me was that calm doesn’t come from having less. It comes from every layer feeling considered.
The best homes reflect the people who live in them.
One of the absolute highlights of the trip was a private tour of the home of Josephine Yaa Akuamoa, founder and creative director of File Under Pop.
It was full of unexpected moments, from a pale pink steel staircase to colourful artwork and furniture collected over time. Yet somehow it all felt completely natural, as though every decision had simply evolved with the family who lived there.
What made it memorable wasn’t any individual piece. It was how completely it reflected the family who lived there.
It was a lovely reminder that the most memorable homes aren’t the ones that follow a particular style. They’re the ones that couldn’t belong to anyone else.
Craftsmanship will always outlast trends.
Visiting showrooms including Muuto, GUBI, &Tradition, Le Klint, Louis Poulsen, Kvadrat, Audo and Vitra was a privilege.
While each brand had its own point of view, they shared the same commitment to craftsmanship, quality materials and timeless design. Sustainability wasn’t treated as a marketing message, it was simply embedded in the way products were designed, built and expected to last.
It reinforced the value of investing in fewer, better pieces that will continue to bring joy for years to come.
The city was the biggest inspiration.
As inspiring as the Copenhagen 3 Days of Design event was, my biggest takeaway wasn’t inside them. It was Copenhagen itself.
The beautiful green copper rooftops. The mix of old and new architecture. The cycling culture. Outdoor cafés filled with people lingering over coffee. Parks, waterfronts and public spaces that were full of life.
Then there were the people! Effortlessly stylish, individual and quietly confident without ever appearing overdone or trying to impress anyone.
Perhaps that’s why the city felt so inspiring. Good design wasn’t confined to the showrooms. It seemed to be part of everyday life.
Coming home…
One of the other highlights of Copenhagen 3 Days of Design was spending time with the wonderful teams from Great Dane and In Good Company. Their generosity gave us behind-the-scenes access to many of the brands, designers and maker talks that made the experience so memorable, and I’m incredibly grateful for their hospitality.
Looking back, I don’t think my biggest takeaway was a particular chair, lighting collection or colour palette.
It was a reminder that the most memorable places aren’t the ones that impress you the most. They’re the ones that make you feel welcome the moment you arrive and make you want to stay just a little longer.
Copenhagen didn’t send me home wanting to design differently – if anything, it gave me even more confidence in the kind of homes we love creating at McMillan Design. Homes that feel welcoming from the moment you arrive, reflect the people who live there and continue to feel just as good to live in years later.
As always, if you are looking for some design support then we would love to chat. You can book a complimentary 20min Discovery Call by simply clicking here.
Anna x
