Say It With Flowers: Give Yourself a Lift With a Little Floral Whimsy
Playful and fanciful, floral features are sure to put some spring into your step
Spring is upon us, and it’s time to welcome in warmer, sunny days, a garden bursting with colour, and trees looking greener by the day as buds turn into leaves. What a shame it would be for us to miss out on all the unbridled wonders of nature going on in our back gardens. Fortunately, it’s easy to bring some of that exciting spring vibe inside. There’s no better time than now to introduce floral fabrics, features and accessories to your home – no matter what your budget.
Flowers don’t have to be obvious to add whimsy. A floral quilt layered with bedding in solid colours and stripes is just the thing for an eclectic look. The neutral walls and timber floor make the bed’s colours and patterns the star attraction in this bedroom.
If you feel happier when flowers are around, why not make them one of the first things you see when you wake up of a morning? You won’t be able to help but notice a bold wallpaper like this one, yet the dreamy watercolours and soft hue so typical of Sanderson wallpaper avoids it being too jarring.
ENTRY
If you only add fresh flowers to one room of the house, make it the entryway. Every time you open the door to come home, you’ll be greeted with a joyful sight that’s sure to elevate your mood. Keep in mind that guests will feel the same way – what a way to set the tone of a social gathering! Flowers of any size and colour would work well with that Zuster sideboard; its bold design means it can comfortably accommodate the biggest and boldest of flower arrangements without fading into the background.
If you only add fresh flowers to one room of the house, make it the entryway. Every time you open the door to come home, you’ll be greeted with a joyful sight that’s sure to elevate your mood. Keep in mind that guests will feel the same way – what a way to set the tone of a social gathering! Flowers of any size and colour would work well with that Zuster sideboard; its bold design means it can comfortably accommodate the biggest and boldest of flower arrangements without fading into the background.
If you’re a more set-and-forget type decorator, a more permanent display in the hall can be achieved with the help of gorgeous floral wallpaper. The addition of fresh flowers or a leafy branch (real or otherwise) is optional.
LIVING AREA
The great thing about a sofa covered in white fabric is its ability to make sensational cushions the highlight. None of the cushions on this sofa match, but the cacophony of colour and floral theme makes them work together in harmony.
The great thing about a sofa covered in white fabric is its ability to make sensational cushions the highlight. None of the cushions on this sofa match, but the cacophony of colour and floral theme makes them work together in harmony.
If you stumble across a floral rug you love, don’t fight it; just make the rest of the room work around it. The walls and furniture choices in this room have been inspired by the colours in the flower-filled rug.
DINING AREA
Even the most traditional of rooms can benefit from a little floral whimsy. The native Australian flower paintings in this dining area add colour and life to the room. The subdued hues in the rest of the room offset the blue flowers nicely, and using the same frames for each practises the same restraint used elsewhere. The flowers have inspired the colour scheme in the rest of this house – blue accessories pop up in every room.
Even the most traditional of rooms can benefit from a little floral whimsy. The native Australian flower paintings in this dining area add colour and life to the room. The subdued hues in the rest of the room offset the blue flowers nicely, and using the same frames for each practises the same restraint used elsewhere. The flowers have inspired the colour scheme in the rest of this house – blue accessories pop up in every room.
Flowers can also be used to make a sunny dining area cheerful and inviting. Team colourful floral fabric – abstract or otherwise – with white or transparent furniture for maximum effect. These Mademoiselle chairs with Missoni fabric can be found at Space Furniture.
When they’re soft, dainty and feminine, floral fabrics can bring cottage charm or shabby chic character to any dining area. Furniture painted in soft shades of white or pale blue work best against floaty florals, but natural timber can also be a feel-good match.
BATHROOM
Feature walls in the shower or by the bath are becoming popular design features in beautiful homes across the globe, so why not use this trend as an opportunity to bring some floral flair into your bathroom? Although the colours in this bathroom are far from bright, the floral tiles make it anything but boring.
Mosaic tiles: Bisazza
Feature walls in the shower or by the bath are becoming popular design features in beautiful homes across the globe, so why not use this trend as an opportunity to bring some floral flair into your bathroom? Although the colours in this bathroom are far from bright, the floral tiles make it anything but boring.
Mosaic tiles: Bisazza
If your bathroom is already in good shape, or your finances mean renovation is still a way off, updating the shower curtain to something fresh and floral is a great way to bring in some springtime fever.
Shower curtain: Marimekko
Shower curtain: Marimekko
A comfortable seating area makes a home office, well, more homey. I love that this mini-sofa has been upholstered in such a cheery floral fabric – it just makes this work area a happier place to be. Further floral whimsy has been added in the form of that amazing light fitting.
YOU TELL US
How have you used florals at your house? Share your thoughts and high-resolution images in the comments section below.
MORE IDEABOOKS
How to Make Florals Work in Any Room
Flower Power: What to Pair With Floral Upholstery
YOU TELL US
How have you used florals at your house? Share your thoughts and high-resolution images in the comments section below.
MORE IDEABOOKS
How to Make Florals Work in Any Room
Flower Power: What to Pair With Floral Upholstery
What could be prettier than a collection of quaint floral cushions on a little girl’s bed? Surrounding her with flowers is sure to make her feel as though she’s drifting off to sleep in a flower-filled meadow when she lays down her head of a night. The vintage prints in these cushions tie in beautifully with the wrought-iron bed and soft toys that would look just as much at home on the bed of her grandmother when she was a child as they do here.