Flower power

Make your home look blooming lovely with floral design ideas that are guaranteed to grow on you

Bring the outdoors in and transform your home with some fabulous floral themes.

Florals never fade or go out of fashion, thanks to our enduring passion for reflecting nature and the great outdoors in our homes – and right now, they’re in full bloom everywhere. But just as you wouldn’t have a wilting bouquet of flowers in your home, any floral look you introduce should be fresh and bang-upto-date.

Luckily, today’s designers have embraced petal-power with bright, bold, new designs, aided by up-to-the-minute digital techniques. So pick one of these looks – no water needed, and they’re guaranteed never to wither.

THE NEW PRETTY

Think pastel pinks and wallpapers featuring petals and pretty blooms, for a fresh, feminine spin on florals.

Rebecca Snowden, interior style advisor at Furniture Choice (www. furniturechoice.co.uk) says: “Unusually, the trend will carry through late into winter and those pastel hues will move into deeper, darker reds and pinks.

“Plum and deep magenta against a smoky black background will conjure a dramatic, gothic effect.”

– Woodchip and Magnolia has stunning Eunoia watercolour floral wallpaper, £99 a roll (woodchipandmagnolia.co.uk).

DECOR TIP: Hot house botanical prints are packing an interiors punch this year, featuring vibrant Caribbean colours on dark backgrounds. Turn up the heat with English blinds’ menton tropical Roman blind, from £53.95.

DRAMATIC BLOOMS

Striking, pared-back, nature-inspired designs and bold colourways are perfect for a no-fuss or frills approach to this look.

“Giant florals have been the stars of the catwalk shows, and now, from wardrobe to walls, we’re reviving floral patterns and embracing large-scale designs in bright, vibrant colours for a statement look,” says Paula Taylor, colour and trends specialist at Graham and Brown (www.grahambrown.com).

DECOR TIP: Plants and flowers will always stand out against a dark backdrop of deep grey or black. Test your taste by painting an alcove or the inside of a dresser in a dark hue and then arrange bright flower displays in front of the backdrop, so the colour really pops.

CLASSIC COUNTRY

Any floral look you introduce should be fresh and bang-up-todate

Botanical illustrations, that could have come straight from the pages of a traditional nature study book, combine with natural textures and a neutral colour palette for an update on that perennial favourite – classic country.

“If an abundance of flowers, plants and all things natural appeals to your sense of style, then don’t be afraid to use a large variety of plants and blooms in one room, to help achieve a fresh feel,” advises Claire Hornby, creative stylist, Barker & Stonehouse (www. barkerandstonehouse.co.uk).

DECOR TIP: Wallpapering stair risers with floral papers is an inventive way to conjure a country-cottage look. Strip a staircase of carpet, sand and paint with floor paint, then use wallpaper off-cuts or a paper of your choice for each stair. Attach using wallpaper paste.