Decorating Guides
Spotted! Decorating Schemes Turn Over a New Leaf
Think big when it comes to bringing the outside in via tropical leaf prints
Leaves are big right now, and they’re set to get bigger, as people smother their homes in oversized palm prints and bold, beautiful banana leaf patterns. It’s a jungle in here, and this trend is all about scale. Small, spriggy designs won’t give you the desired effect. Instead, look for fabrics and wallpapers that have a hint of the prehistoric about them. Palms, ferns and large-leaf plants should be front and center if you’re looking to embrace this botanical bonanza and incorporate leaf prints into your interior decor.
Go Hollywood. Bring in some old Hollywood glamour with balmy banana-print wallpaper. This iconic Martinique design was created by decorator Don Loper in 1942 for the Beverly Hills Hotel, and its tropical tones are just as relevant today. For extra oomph, layer the look with luxe gold accents.
Overhaul a small space. Using printed wallpaper in a powder room lets you keep hold of your purse strings without losing any style impact. Cole & Son’s Palm Jungle has a mesmerizing effect thanks to the depth and detail of its pattern. Scarlet Jieldé wall lights, designed by Jean-Louis Domecq in the 1950s, provide the complementary color burst that lets the look sing.
Explore abstract options. If you like your plant prints a little less obvious, look for designs that incorporate the trend in a more abstract way. Large pieces, such as this fern rug, will give you a leafy lift without taking attention away from the rest of the space.
Ditch the dull kitchen. Palm-print wallpaper makes for a wild and wonderful kitchen design that pairs with any plain cabinets. Practical considerations are key: Think about using a tile or stone backsplash or installing transparent glass sheeting to provide a waterproof finish without obscuring the pattern. (Make sure it’s fitted with professional advice to avoid the possibility of dust and crumbs collecting behind it.)
Try a delicate design. Enhance an all-neutral bedroom with delicate fern-print fabric. This elegant design is reminiscent of vintage botanical studies, giving it a classical edge. Shop around until you find the perfect print to shape a sedate and soothing sleep space.
Provide some shade. Create a canopy overhead with a simple leaf-print shade. The fresh foliage enhances other greens and is an easy design to incorporate alongside patterns with a smaller scale.
Another idea for injecting some botanical flavor into your dining space is to dress the table with palm-print napkins or a tropical-inspired runner.
Another idea for injecting some botanical flavor into your dining space is to dress the table with palm-print napkins or a tropical-inspired runner.
Keep it simple. If none of these options appeals to your inner botanist, try embracing the plants that inspired the trend in the first place. Ferns, fiddleleaf figs and palms all provide lush foliage and a sculptural shape that works in any interior setting.
Or go large, enhancing your garden with big, beautiful banana plants to provide a tropical view from your windows.
Tell us: Have you incorporated a jungle motif in your interior? Share your tips in the Comments.
11 Ways With Tropical Wallpaper
Yes, You Can Go Bold With Wallpaper in a Powder Room
Or go large, enhancing your garden with big, beautiful banana plants to provide a tropical view from your windows.
Tell us: Have you incorporated a jungle motif in your interior? Share your tips in the Comments.
11 Ways With Tropical Wallpaper
Yes, You Can Go Bold With Wallpaper in a Powder Room