Bringing summer inside with a floral free for all
The trend for bold botanical prints stems from the floral free-for-all on the catwalk
Whether you’ve been basking al fresco in the recent sunshine or freshly inspired from the gardens at this year’s Bloom In The Park, the spotlight is certainly on the great outdoors at the moment.
However, if the art of gardening does not come naturally, buying into the botanical look is the easiest way to prolong summer vibes without getting your hands dirty.
This season sunny floral prints are among the hottest fashion and interiors trends, with top designers taking an ever bolder approach with imaginative use of contrasting patterns and prints.
‘Too often we see florals take a back seat, used timidly as a finishing touch or thrown into a chintzy country cottage setting,’ says interior expert Róisín Lafferty.
‘But florals are having their moment and it’s time to totally reinvent the living space with this tried and tested trend. This bold look takes foliate inspiration from high fashion, including recent shows from Prada and Christopher Kane, to push the boundaries of interior design.’
Embracing the trend, Lafferty has teamed up with DFS furniture to create a look that is designed to shock the senses with a punch of botanical brilliance.
Her concept living room features large-scale floral prints and bold bursts of block colour, complemented by the softer pastel tones of the Scandi-inspired DFS Betsy Sofa.
And while this high-impact interpretation wouldn’t work for every home, you can certainly borrow a trick or two from it.
‘Try introducing a bold print on just one wall, for example,’ advises Lafferty.
‘Throw out the rule book and mix patterns and prints – something the catwalk does effortlessly. Floral prints complement each other and add a great mix of colours,’ she adds.
From busy, colourful jungle prints on cushions and tableware to large-scale wallcoverings and even palm print shower curtains there are plenty of affordable options on the market to turn up the temperature inside.
H&M Home online now delivers to Ireland and its summer collection is a pretty tropical affair. At Anthropologie painterly brush marks create colourful abstract garden patterns on rugs and textiles.
The latest Matthew Williamson collection, available at Kevin Kelly Interiors, also fully embraces high intensity botanics with exotic palm and animal prints in bold patterns and clashing combinations.
For a softer approach look to the Designers Guild where spring-summer fabric prints are more whimsical and graceful.
‘If you’re nervous about introducing bold patterns or statements into your room opt for bringing the look to life through
subtle accessories,’ advises Lafferty.
And that’s just the way she’s incorporated the pretty floral scatter cushion which complements and adds depth to the block pink colour of the DFS Betsy Cuddler seat in the look here.
Another great tip is to pepper your space with a bit of greenery. Add flowers in different sized ceramic and metallic vases to bring the room up to date. Cacti and succulents are also great options. If the real deal seems like too much work, check out Marks & Spencer’s fantastic faux options. You’ll find hydrangeas and peonies that will easily pass as summer’s freshest blooms.
‘Throw out the rule book and mix patterns and prints, the catwalk does it effortlessly’