Floral Interior Design Ideas: 8 Tips To Using Floral Prints Expertly At Home
After decades in the wilderness, floral motifs are budding again
By Nikki Hunt -
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Last year was a time for gentle colours, soft nurturing furniture shapes and textures. We emerged from the pandemic timidly, in need of reassurance and our interior choices were suitably soothing,
Today, our confidence is back. We have shed our sweatpants and are looking for adventure. And what could be more emblematic of a zest for life than flowers, the bigger and bolder the better.
Floral Interior Trends Making a Comeback
Kickstarted, by a yearning for the outdoors during lockdown and bolstered by the visual feast that was the Netflix hit show Bridgerton, floral patterns are popping up in every aspect of design from fashion, table top, wallpapers and furniture.
Once thought only suitable for old grannies, floral motifs have shed their staid or purely feminine image and gone mainstream.
Dior, Gucci, Hermes and Louis Vuitton have all launched floral homeware designs. At the other end of the spectrum, IKEA has introduced a host of floral ranges too.
Photography: Vernoica Tay & Athirah Annisa
Nature Benefits Well-Being
For centuries, throughout the world and across cultures, flowers are symbols of love. Scientists tell us that the human connection to flowers is innate, imprinted into our DNA, drawing our ancestors to the most fertile soil.
Even today, the sight and scents of flowers activate the pleasure centres of our brain, boosting our mood and bolstering wellbeing. Post-pandemic, prioritising well-being has become a top concern: we want our homes to nurture and restore us. And flowers make us feel good.
Cheerful colours, crisp prints and mood boosting motifs generate a vital, happy energy that’s fun and contagious. Luckily, advances in digital printing have made floral patterns more accessible and affordable than ever before. I see this era of florals sticking around for quite some time, because unlike actual blooms, these visual representations are capable of looking fresh for many years to come.
Here are my expert tips to help you get started on decorating your house with floral wallpapers and motifs.
Florals in Living Room
With its generic layout and choice of furniture, the main living room lacked focus and seemed drained of vitality. The new look is instantly engaging and empowering, making you feel energised.
Main living room before redecorating with floral wallpapers.
Main living room after redecorating with floral wallpapers.
My first and most important tip: Have fun!
This is the only important decor rule to abide by. If you love it and it makes you feel good it’s the right choice. Here I mixed three different fabric wallcoverings in various parts of the home and on the furniture as well!
Don’t be afraid to choose floral patterns with dark backgrounds, this will make the pattern feel gender-neutral and sophisticated.
Bring the Outside In
Photo: Design Intervention
Rooms that open onto the garden should complement the outdoor vista. Draw in garden views to benefit from the soothing effect of nature. Potted plants and fresh-cut flowers are a great way to bring the “outside in”.
Bloom & Shrooms tea cups from T2 matches the floral carpet.
Symmetrical Furniture
Photo: Design Intervention
Symmetrical furniture placements will help to balance out strong visual stimuli, allowing you to add multiple layers of motifs and still retain a harmonious feel.
Frame Leftover Floral Wallpaper
Photo: Design Intervention
Framed offcuts of wallpaper are an inexpensive decorative touch. The white mount provides a gentle break from the sea of pattern and draws you to the beautiful details in the wallpaper design.
Dining Room
Before redecorating, this area was an under utilised sitting room.
What used to be an under-utilised sitting room is now a vibrant dining area that can seat up to eight. The floral elements on the backwall and furniture stand out beautifully against the white floor.
A new dining room redecorated with floral chairs and wallpapers.
START SMALL
If you’re new to floral
patterns, start with
small accents, like
table top accessories.
This way, you can
experiment with
different colours
and styles without
overwhelming
your space.
Choose furniture with clean lines
Opt for furniture with clean lines to keep your space feeling modern and streamlined.
Layer big and small floral prints
Layer larger prints with smaller ones for a garden-inspired look that feels fresh and modern. Don’t be afraid to mix and match different types of flowers, such as roses with peonies or daisies with wildflowers, for a playful and eclectic vibe.
The napkins
are from my
new tabletop
collection.
I kept them
plain to allow
the placemats
to take
centrestage,
with the
wide frill trim
adding an
element of fun
and texture
to the entire
setting. They
resemble real
flowers too.
These napkins (above) are from my new tabletop collection. I kept them plain to allow the placemats to take centrestage, with the wide frill trim adding an element of fun and texture to the entire setting. They resemble real flowers too.
Start with Floral Table Top Accessories
If you’re new to floral patterns, start with small accents, like table top accessories. This way, you can experiment with different colours and styles without overwhelming your space.
Unique floral-themed table top by Synergraphic Glass Arts
I worked with talented artisans at local studio, Synergraphic Glass Arts, to create these glorious glass table mats and coasters (above).
Photo: Design Intervention
Pastel-Coloured Floral Wallpaper
Softer colours are soothing in a bedroom. You can keep pastel florals modern by mixing in heaps of texture and opt for large scale blooms, for a look that is thoroughly contemporary.
Photo: Design Intervention
Mix and Match Materials
Mixing floral patterns into unexpected materials, like glass and fabrics, will give your space a unique, contemporary edge.