10 ways to rock the painterly look
Watercolour washes, dry brush strokes and street-style graffiti give this season’s textiles and prints their creative edge
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Artistic flourishes don't have to be saved for the canvas - this season, they're set to be seen throughout your interior. From soft furnishings to tableware, painterly patterns will take you from spring to summer with their bright and pretty stylings. Moody blues and floral hues are the ideal way to refresh your space and bring a sense of art appreciation home.
1. Layer inky-blue wallpapers to add depth and vibrancy - install an art-like focal point by framing one shade.
Walls papered in Innocence Nuage ICC27559109 wallpaper in Gris, Casadeco (opens in new tab); with panel in Baltic Sea in Blue, Teija Vartianen at Feathr (opens in new tab).
2. Explore tonal harmony by using the whole of a palette - from soft, pastel blue to the deepest azure.
Curtains made in Esme 7754/05 linen in Danube, Romo (opens in new tab). Terracotta pots, The Cretan Pottery Company (opens in new tab); painted in Lapis Lazuli; Prussian; Forget Me Not; Sainte Chapelle; Cornish Ware; Bluebell; Clear Sky; Jodhpur Palace; and Tourmaline matt emulsions, Designers Guild (opens in new tab).
3. Create a subtle, impressionist mood with colourwashed patterns flowing across every surface.
Flute Calacatta marble and metal dining table, Roberto Barbieri for Poliform (opens in new tab). Berlin chairs, French Connection Home (opens in new tab); upholstered in Water Iris 322430 linen in Ink/Charcoal, Zoffany (opens in new tab).
4. Bold black and white brush strokes have a Rothko-like look - stipple ceramics for a similar effect.
Wall painted in Strong White and Off-Black estate emulsions, Farrow & Ball (opens in new tab). Etienne Contemporary console table, Atkin and Thyme (opens in new tab). Julius Caesar bust, Rockett St George (opens in new tab).
5. Fabrics feature finer lines, swirling in monochrome patterns. Set against a wide-striped floor for contrast.
Curtains made in Rembrandt 30163-002 cotton-mix in Anthracite, Rubelli (opens in new tab). Ghost 16 sofa, Paola Navone for Gervasoni at The Conran Shop (opens in new tab); upholstered in Macaroni Z465 linen in Carbon, Zinc Textile (opens in new tab).
6. Introduce pencil-thin geometrics and ink-blot motifs to play with scale and form.
Dhurrie floor cushions, Habitat (opens in new tab); upholstered in, top and bottom, Lascaux AC204-21 cotton/linen-mix, Alan Campbell at Tissus d'Hélène (opens in new tab); and, centre, Tracks linen, Kate Blee for Christopher Farr Cloth (opens in new tab).
7. Use reversible colours and prints on a single piece to create a contemporary, op-art design.
Gorska chair, Julian Chichester (opens in new tab); upholstered in Orwell L9050-01 linen in Black; and Orwell L9050-02 linen in White, Larsen at Colefax and Fowler (opens in new tab). Marc Newson book stand and Annie Leibovitz Collector's Edition book, Ralph Lauren Home (opens in new tab).
8. Team graphic textiles with faux concrete and graffiti for a streetwise statement.
Wall papered in Ripple Concrete mural, Textures collection at Surface View (opens in new tab). Blind made in Cubiste F6864-03 cotton, Kit Miles for Osborne & Little (opens in new tab).
9. Big up a teen's bedroom with a large-scale mural.
Walls papered in Ripple Concrete mural, as before; and No Toys Allowed FP371001 wallpaper, Pierre Frey (opens in new tab). Mesh lockers, Bowles & Bowles (opens in new tab).
10. Keep the urban vibe alive with hand-drawn doodles in vibrant shades. Been there, tagged that...
The Piggy Bag beanbag, Made.com (opens in new tab); upholstered in Wobblepotamus K5136/02 cotton in Ice Box, Jon Burgerman for Kirkby Design (opens in new tab); and Plains Seven 141813 polyester in Tomato, Scion (opens in new tab).
Tamara was Ideal Home's Digital Editor before joining the Woman & Home team in 2022. She has spent the last 15 years working with the style teams at Country Homes & Interiors and Ideal Home, both now at Future PLC. It’s with these award wining interiors teams that she's honed her skills and passion for shopping, styling and writing. Tamara is always ahead of the curve when it comes to interiors trends – and is great at seeking out designer dupes on the high street.
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