How To Make Florals Feel Fresh & Modern
Find A Fresh Take On A Familiar Print
“Florals naturally bring softness, character and a sense of romance to a room. To keep them feeling current, try to balance their more organic nature with cleaner lines, understated furniture and interesting textures. A floral alongside antique pieces, contemporary artwork and natural materials creates the kind of old-meets-new contrast that makes a room feel considered.” – Tom Carpenter, associate director at Sims Hilditch
“The way a print is drawn and the colours in it can matter more than its scale. A small, ditsy design can feel modern in unexpected combinations – think rust on pistachio or cobalt on butter yellow – especially when the motif is loose or hand-drawn. The ground colour can shift the mood too: try ink, chocolate or chartreuse in place of cream or magnolia.” – Jojo Barr, founder of House Nine
“I’m drawn to both ends of the scale – either a really small ditsy floral or something really blousy and dramatic. Painterly, organic designs with a little imperfection can also feel more relaxed than precise, formal repeats. When choosing a pattern, look for movement, a considered colour palette and enough space between the motifs for the design to breathe.” – Tiffany Duggan, founder of Studio Duggan
Play With Scale & Pattern
“Scale still has a role to play. A delicate print can feel intimate in a bedroom, snug or cloakroom, while a larger design can bring drama to curtains, wallpaper or a sociable living space. But there are no hard-and-fast rules about matching pattern size to room size. Just consider how the print sits alongside the room’s proportions and other details.” – Tom
“Larger designs need enough space to read clearly, while smaller prints can create a soft, enveloping effect in more intimate rooms.” – Jojo
“I love cushions that do a bit of the layering for you. My Trove by Studio Duggan collection includes florals in different scales, some reversible with a co-ordinating pattern on the other side. It’s an easy way to bring several prints into a room and change the balance when you want to. Trailing florals are also particularly versatile. You get the romance of a floral with the order of a stripe.” – Tiffany
Ground Florals With Colour & Texture
“For a more grounded feel, try combining decorative prints with linen, wool, timber and stone. A floral fabric against aged oak, a simple plaster wall or contemporary lighting brings contrast and texture; antique brass and darker timber can add depth. Colour can help, too. Rather than picking out the most obvious shade in a pattern, try using a quieter one elsewhere in the room. Muddy greens, warm ochres, soft terracottas, tobacco browns and muted blues can give a traditional print a fresh perspective, while a little contrast keeps the scheme from feeling overly matched.” – Tom
Be Bold In Smaller Spaces
“I like to take a brighter approach to small, dark rooms, favouring sunny yellows, soft pinks and fresh greens on a pale background to bring warmth and lift. If you’re not ready to commit to a full room, start with a lampshade, cushions or an occasional chair – pieces that can introduce patterns without requiring a complete rethink. Experiment in a cloakroom, downstairs loo or the back of a bookcase.” – Jojo
“Smaller rooms are a chance to be bolder. Try using a beautiful wallpaper to make a bedroom, dressing room or downstairs loo feel special. In a space with limited natural light, embrace the atmosphere with a warmer or deeper ground colour, layered lighting and tactile fabrics. It’s often better to make one confident choice than to add several small touches that don’t quite make an impact. Balanced with thoughtful colour, texture and furniture, florals can feel right at home in both a contemporary city interior and a traditional country house.” – Tom
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