How do you recognise Memphis?

Dot, stripe and squiggle patterns on laminate and fabric; Pastels combined with loud colours and black; Furniture built from toy-like blocks; Printed faux-stone and faux-wood surfaces.

Bold & eclectic

Memphis

Memphis Group, Memphis Milano, Memphis style

Loud colour, playful pattern and shapes that break the old rules.

Cream whiteCandy pinkTealBright yellowBlack

Origin: The Memphis Group was founded by Ettore Sottsass in Milan, Italy in 1981 and flourished through the 1980s

The Memphis Group was born in Milan in 1981 under Ettore Sottsass as a reaction to the seriousness of modern design. Its hallmarks are bright colour, dots, stripes and squiggles, printed laminates and toy-like assembled forms, where looks matter as much as function.

In Vietnam, Memphis suits children rooms, work corners, cafés or a single large piece in the living room. Laminate, moisture-resistant paint and acrylic are sensible since they wipe clean in the humid season. Keep the base white or light grey and let pattern appear on a few chosen items so the space is not overloaded.

Materials

Laminate printed with dots, stripes and squiggles
Multi-coloured moisture-resistant paint
Acrylic and tinted glass
Painted plywood and powder-coated metal

Furniture & forms

Multi-compartment bookcases with staggered, coloured shelves
Tables and chairs with mismatched geometric legs and tops
Block sofas upholstered in unusual patterns
Rugs printed with squiggle patterns

Lighting

Coloured sculptural table lamps with unusual shades
Neon or LED-rope fixtures in simple shapes

Best for

People who like fun, youthful and spontaneous spaces
Children rooms, study corners and cafés
Small apartments needing one bold accent

Home types

ApartmentTownhouse

Typical finishing level

Standard

Estimate building cost at this level

Common mistakes

Patterning every surface, making the room noisy and confusing
Skipping a neutral base so the hero piece does not stand out

Care & northern Vietnam climate

Laminate and plastics wipe clean and suit the humid season; keep painted pieces away from west-facing windows where colour fades.

Reference photos

Styles in the same family

Bold & eclectic

Industrial

Factory beauty: concrete, bare brick, black steel and exposed pipes, bold and free-spirited.

Bold & eclectic

Mid-century Modern

Optimistic and retro: warm teak, slim tapered legs, organic curves and orange and mustard.

Bold & eclectic

Bohemian

Free and relaxed: layered textiles, pattern, rattan, plants and collected treasures.

Want a home in the Memphis style?

HICONIQUE balances style with function, orientation, climate and your real budget.

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