My Top 5 Highlights from Decorex 2025

Decorex Joburg 2025, for me, was more than a design convention, it was an experience. In between dragging my feet through different floors and levels, my eyes were captivated by some unique and beautiful devices, designs, art pieces, even people. It wasn’t just about what was being shown, but how it all came together in one place.

What I enjoyed most was the variety. It wasn’t just high-end interiors or minimalist furniture brands talking about texture and quiet luxury. There were clever workspaces, unexpectedly joyful art, and even a luxury SUV in the middle of it all. It felt like a snapshot of where design is right now, and where it might be going next.

I didn’t stop at every stand or speak to every designer. But I did take notes of what stood out. This is my personal highlight reel; a quick, curated look at the spaces, products, and people that made me pause and go, “Wow. That’s different.”

Ananta Design Studio

At first glance, you think you're looking at vines delicately growing around mirrors, stools, and lamps. But these aren’t plants, they are works of art. Cape Town-based sister duo Viveka and Rucita Vassen are the minds behind Ananta Design Studio, whose name comes from the Sanskrit word for “endless” or “infinite”.

Their collection is a sculptural celebration of form and flora, blending Indian and South African influences into pieces that feel alive. Each item, whether it’s a winding lamp or a stool wrapped in bronze-like botanical coils, feels like it belongs in both a gallery and a home.

Ananta’s aesthetic is more than just beautiful; it invites you to pause, observe, and start imagining your own home with their pieces. It’s like nothing I’ve ever seen before; furniture and design so intriguing that people would probably stare before sitting down or even touching it. Each piece demands your attention, not loudly, but with a quiet, sculptural confidence.

Indo Risakti Home Décor

There’s something joyful about discovering homeware that doesn’t take itself too seriously. That’s exactly what I found at the Indo Risakti stand: a playful, vibrant Indonesian brand that turns everyday items into eco-friendly statement pieces.

Think butterfly and crab wall hangings, but not the heavy kind you’d expect. Everything looks like it was sculpted in a potter’s studio during someone’s lunch break, in the best possible way. It’s light, it’s whimsical, and made entirely from things like banana bark, water hyacinth, and straw. There’s a breezy handmade charm to it all that feels like summer in object form.

There’s a real sense of soul and storytelling in the textures and silhouettes. The pieces feel as if they were designed to spark a smile, not just sit in the corner looking pretty. 

Katapilla Workstation

Out of the thousands of stands at Decorex, I found myself putting a desk in my top five. But this isn’t just any desk you buy and assemble. Katapilla lets you customise your desk to exactly what you need. If you’re a gamer, it comes with clean cable management. If you’re an artist or someone who likes their tools close, there are compartments you can add. Want it for your bedroom? They even offer LED lights to really make it fit your space.

What I liked most about this desk is that it’s like nothing I’ve seen before. It doesn’t limit how you work, in fact, you can have a desk within a desk, customised to your life and style.

Lexus GX

I didn’t expect to get a luxury SUV experience at a design show, but Lexus made sure I did. As media, I was chauffeured around in the new Lexus GX, and honestly, it changes the way you arrive. The height gives you that instant VIP vibe, the ride is smooth, and the privacy blinds in the back make you feel like you’re in your own little world.

The GX had its own booth at the event, set against a stunning safari backdrop. It caught plenty of eyes, and probably a few wallets too. The GX itself is a mix of rugged and refined; boxy but sleek, tough yet comfortable. Underneath all the luxury, it’s built for adventure with serious off-road chops and performance tech for thrill-seekers. You feel safe and powerful, but also surprisingly pampered. It’s the kind of car that makes you feel something before you even start driving.

Warren Sean Art

The real highlight of the day wasn’t just the art, it was Warren Sean himself. I ended up spending most of my time at his booth, chatting with him about his life and the journey that brought him here.

Warren doesn’t just make art; he remakes history. Using salvaged objects like pressure gauges, fire hoses, and iron parts from World War II planes, he transforms forgotten relics into pieces that pulse with story and soul.

Every piece is unique, perfect in its wonderfully imperfect way. Take, for example, a lamp crafted from brass and aircraft parts, it’s not just an object, but a narrative given new life. Talking to Warren, you sense the deep connection he has to his materials and the stories they carry. His art is a love letter to the past, forged in metal and memory.

Not Your Average Design Fair

After spending the day wandering through Decorex Joburg 2025, what stuck with me most was how design isn’t just about stuff, it’s about stories, experiences, and a way to shape the spaces we live in. In a world still finding its footing after everything, how we interact with our homes and surroundings feels more important than ever.

Decorex isn’t just a trade show or an industry playground. It’s a space where creativity meets life, where makers and dreamers showcase what matters to them and, by extension, to us. For anyone who loves interiors, art, or simply being inspired by the unexpected, it’s a reminder that design still has the power to surprise and transform.