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It's time to stop and smell the roses
With the weather warm and the sky bright, we feel a certain print call. Florals are a familiar favourite – but in some corners, they've gained a reputation for being old fashioned. We're here to show you just how versatile this print can be.
If you think floral patterns and chintzy fabrics are just for fans of cottagecore, it's time to think again. From the bold and bright to the edgy and cool to the wonderfully demure, there are florals to suit every kind of space. So whether you're looking to add some drama, whimsy or colour to your home, here are some ideas to get you started...
Exotic giant-scale blooms add masses of impact to a room. If you’ve opted for an extravagant mural, you can create a balanced, considered scheme throughout by echoing the colours of the artwork in some of the furniture.
Pictured: One Hundred Thousand Island mural, Studio Coverdale. For a similar pink sofa, try the Wallis three-seater sofa in Smart Luxe Velvet Dusky Pink, Heal’s
What could be more dramatic than a blown-up painting of luscious flowers? It fuses a traditional medium with a modern sensibility, and once you’ve added similarly patterned bedding, it looks fabulously, unapologetically extra.
Pictured: Mural available as print: Hollyhocks and Other Flowers in a Vase, National Gallery Shop. For a similar mural, try Vase of Flowers, Wallpapermural.com. Walls painted in Setting Plaster, skirting in Paean Black, both Farrow & Ball.
Want an easy way to ramp up the feelgood vibes? Team simple, stylised floral motifs with vibrant colours. This bright Marimekko print created in the mid-Seventies feels both timeless and joyful.
Pictured: Green Green tablecloth, Oiva breakfast set in Piccolo pattern, Oiva plate in Muija pattern, Syksy bowl, Flower vase; all Marimekko
Flowers and checks make perfect partners. The graphic floral-print towels riff with the paint-effect chequered wall in this bathroom, while the cheerful pink and green hues reference a favourite colour combination from the 1950s.
Pictured: Flower and Heart towels, yellow round mirror, green bedside table, all George at Asda
Create a laidback, colourful look by layering florals in different ways, as shown here, where the shape of a mirror, the inlay on the chest of drawers, and painted accessories accompany a sweet cottage garden-inspired wallpaper.
Pictured: Babushka wallpaper, Tess Newall. For similar bone-inlay furniture, try Oliver Bonas. For a similar daisy-shaped mirror, try Casa by JJ.
This lovely sprigs and stripes wallpaper is cosy, comforting and familiar. However, the addition of a few whimsical touches and pure white linen make the dreamy space feel clean and modern.
Pictured: Bindi Flower wallpaper in Sage and Pink, Dado Atelier. For similar bedding, try Annabelle Scalloped bedlinen in Asparagus, Rebecca Udall
Any piece of furniture that brings together large-scale painterly roses, rich shades, and a sumptuous velvet fabric is likely to take centre stage. Let it sing by pairing with large blocks of toning colour and neutrals for contrast.
Pictured: Sofa in Ottavia Velvet in Tapestry, wall covered in Ciro embossed wallcovering in Hunter, both Romo. For a similar rattan ceiling light, try Lights & Lamps. For a similar coffee table, try Holmes marble coffee table, Olivia’s
If you’ve ever planted colourful shrubs by a dark fence, you’ll know how the contrast makes their blooms even more luminous. The same concept applies to this wallpaper with its navy background that brings a meadow of wildflowers to life.
Pictured: Wallflower Dusk wallpaper, walls painted in Tiamat ultra-matt resistance paint emulsion, both Graham & Brown. For a similar chair, try Fluid dining chair, Sweetpea & Willow. For a similar desk, try Atkin and Thyme
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