Floral Patterns are Making a Comeback this Spring

Judging by the abundance of floral patterns shown on the spring 14 runways, there is no question they will be seen in home furnishings too. Florals may have been seen better days in the past decades, but its modern version is far different from the ones that surfaced before.

Jon Call of Mr. Call Design said, “It’s what we’re all craving. It’s romance, it’s a softness... And it feels fresh again, because no one has defined it for our generation.”
HGTV.com Spring House series’ executive producer Brian Patrick Flynn says that scale will play a great role in this new floral trend. “Scale is the most important factor in modernizing the look and feel of florals.” Flynns suggests using patterns of flowers that are 50 to 200 percent larger than their real-life counterparts.

Call and Betsy Burnham agree that small prints can also look good on smaller home items such as throw pillows.

Flynn suggests, “Homeowners with aversions to super-girly florals featuring rosebuds or elaborate petals may find botanicals a better fit. While floral prints include shapes and silhouettes of actual flowers, botanicals rely more on stems and leaves.”

Burnham says that florals can be a good contrast to sleek furniture pieces. This, she says, will have a more unexpected and delightfully-surprising effect rather than using florals on round and tufted sofas. And instead of using floral prints as draperies, the modern version can look great with upholstered headboards.

As for the color, Flynn reveals that even the best pattern will look outdated with the wrong color. “Florals with mustard yellow and burgundy palettes feel instantly old and stuffy. To make them fresh and fun, look for those with unexpected color palettes, such as black and violet or springy greens and punchy pinks. The pattern will keep its classic appeal, but with a youthful update.”