MODERN and trendy are not words that usually jump to the front of the mind when someone mentions floral prints.
Indeed, images of Miss Marple, embroidery, and cups of tea in bone china mugs are more likely images in your mind’s eye.
But florals are back and with good reason – the feel-good factor of flowers and leaves are highly appealing after a year of lockdown, reminding us of freshness and new life.
The stuffy image of floral prints has been well and truly killed off as modern designers look to bring an element of the classic and homely right in alongside the clean lines and more minimal look of contemporary design.
Perhaps the summary of floral prints in today’s design is as a great feature piece or strong accent rather than florals dominating the majority of the décor – the less-is-more approach means the floral patterns do not overpower a room but rather stand out as a feature, allowing you to appreciate the intricacy of the artwork more deeply when it is not as ubiquitous.
Examples include brightening a bedroom with new floral print bedding – a quick and easy change that literally brings spring from outside the house right into your bedroom, with no mess or fuss. In keeping with the idea of making floral a feature, a larger than normal print may be the way to go, and will bring a dash of color into your room.
Wallpapers are a traditional way of bringing floral patterns into a room, but can get very fussy in their detail – so go for a feature wall rather than the whole room, offset with plain neutral colors. This lets you go really creative with the print as you can pick something that even the Victorians would have thought was just too much for four walls.
But if redecorating is a bit daunting with the mess and work involved, a sitting room can be made over just as easily as the bedroom with a change of curtains and cushions. It is quick and easy to change the blinds, curtains, drapes, or whatever your custom window preference is – and to bring in a touch of the floral to bring a totally new look to the room. Carmen’s Custom Window Treatments can help bring your vision to life.
Modern decorating thrives with the mix and match approach – things do not have to be fully uniform so enjoy experimenting with blending styles. Some custom upholstery on furniture can give a tired old piece a whole new lease of life, and the upcycling craze on television shows has helped people see their older pieces of furniture in a whole new light. Try picking a bright and colorful floral print and have those old dining chairs redone or splash out and have the couch overhauled in florals as a focal piece.
And it does not have to be old to be floral – many contemporary furniture pieces are being made with bight and breezy florals to offer a vibrant color swatch to any room.
Floral patterns can even bring a beautiful contrast to the otherwise more clinical approach found in bathrooms, perhaps with a piece of art or a roller blind.