Even industry veterans aren’t primed enough to attend Parisian design show Maison & Objet without proper reconnaissance beforehand. With nearly 2,000 exhibiting home and lifestyle brands to discover and several first-rate installations to ruminate on, the sprawling event requires a plan.
Consider your travel and trade show recon complete: Below, we’ve detailed everything you need to know before attending Maison & Objet, from the fair fundamentals to the installations you should prioritize. You’ll also find recs for designer-approved accommodations and fair-goer haunts for eating and drinking; after all, design-show season in Paris is as much a place to see as it is to be seen.
PS: While you’re in town for the fair, we also recommend spending a day or two roaming the coinciding Paris Deco Off, where fabric houses take over showrooms along the Seine to debut their latest collections.
What, When, and Where
Held semiannually (in January and September), Maison & Objet draws design buyers from across the globe to scope out the latest debuts from more than 1,800 exhibiting home and lifestyle brands. Spread across seven halls at the Parc des expositions de Paris Nord Villepinte, the trade-only show is divvied up into 19 category sectors–home decor, linens, cooking, and craft among them–for more efficient discovery. The upcoming winter edition will be held January 18–22, coinciding with Paris Deco Off.
What to Know About the Fair
Maison & Objet is open to the trade only, and a ticket purchase is required. With seven-pavilions-worth of ground to cover, we recommend allotting at least two full days to peruse the fair. Designer attendees should prioritize the Signature Hall, which showcases the latest from luxury home labels, such as Les Ottomans, Popus Editions, Maison Matisse, and Tekna, in clever and conceptual pop-ups. (For those who are extra diligent, feel free to study up on the maker we loved from the fair’s most recent fall and spring editions.)
The Parc des expositions de Paris Nord Villepinte, home of Maison & Objet, is located about 30 minutes northwest of the heart of Paris, so getting there will require driving (or requesting a taxi or a ride-sharing service, such as Uber) or taking a train from Gare du Nord. (The RER B line drops riders off directly outside of the Parc des Expositions de Villepinte.)
