Hollyhocks IN THE BEDROOM

One for the tentative decorator: if you want to introduce floral patterns but are hesitant to do so in a big way, a wall-hanging or curtain is a safe option. Hollyhocks have a nostalgic quality redolent of a cottage garden, making them a good fit for a country bedroom. Here, it is used cleverly to zone and heighten the silhouette of the bed – and teamed with frilled linens, vintagestyle quilts and pale-painted furniture. A degree of informality is required when using such a pretty and feminine floral; country homes tend to be accessorised in a charmingly casual way, and anything too neat can detract from a room well-lived in and well-loved.