h&m home x kelly wearstler

Milan Design Week typically belongs to the heritage furniture houses of Europe. H&M Home has decided to crash the party for 2026. The Swedish brand is making its grand entrance at the prestigious fair alongside a rather formidable partner in the shape of American interior icon Kelly Wearstler. Such an alliance marks a definitive shift for the high-street giant, stepping beyond the realm of accessible cushions and vases to introduce actual furniture within a designer partnership for the very first time since launching in 2009.

Wearstler brings a heavy dose of West Coast maximalism to the table. The LA-based designer built her reputation by redefining modern luxury through projects like the sprawling Proper Hotels and highly coveted private residences across California. Her signature style mixes contrasting materials, bold geometric shapes and a fearless approach to scale. “This is my Milan Design Week debut, and H&M Home is the perfect partner,” says Wearstler. “Bringing this collection to life in Milan and showing people how the pieces come alive in a real space – that’s what excites me.”

H&M Home regularly partners with celebrated creatives, having previously launched highly successful homeware capsules with the likes of India Mahdavi and Diane von Furstenberg. Bringing Wearstler on board for an Autumn 2026 launch pushes their collaborative ambitions into entirely new territory. The two have never worked together before, making the upcoming collection a highly anticipated first.

“This collection represents many firsts for us. Having a presence at Milan Design Week has long been a dream, and with Kelly, we knew the moment was right,” says Evelina Kravaev-Söderberg, H&M Home Head of Design & Creative. “H&M Home has a global presence, but with this milestone we want to make an impact on customers and the design industry alike in a new way.”

Visitors to the Italian design capital between 21 April and 26 April will get an exclusive preview of the project. The showcase takes over Palazzo Acerbi, a near-mythic seventeenth-century Baroque palace that usually keeps its doors firmly shut to the public. Austere architectural features on the outside give way to soaring columns and opulent frescoes inside.

Such a historic setting provides a brilliant clash against the contemporary nature of the new collection. Wood, metal, ceramics, marble and rich textiles form the core of the upcoming range. Production agency Studio Boum choreographed the space to highlight the concepts of daily rituals and modular design. Every room acts as a distinct sensorial experience to show how the objects interact with their surroundings.

Fans eager to bring a piece of Californian excellence into their own homes will have to wait just a little longer. The full collection officially drops in select stores and online on 3 September. Discover more here.

photography. courtesy of H&M Home
words. Gennaro Costanzo