Welcome Winter with A Touch of Plaid

Warm up a tabletop, bedroom, study with the classic look of tartan

User December 14, 2011

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Warm up a tabletop, bedroom or study with the classic look of tartan
It used to be that Scottish plaid fabric was only used in hunting lodges, kilts or school uniforms. But tartan has come into the interior design world in a big way, and the fabric feels especially appropriate for winter, when it instantly adds a touch of warmth to a room. The look can range from equestrian chic to cozy and family-friendly.

Michelle Edwards

The tartan blanket serves as the perfect tablecloth for a holiday table setting. The red berries, burlap placemats and hurricane lanterns pop against the red of the tartan print.

Lisa Borgnes Giramonti

This is a great example of mixing pattern with tartan plaid. The red and navy print on the window seat contrasts nicely with the beige and black thistle wallpaper and floral pillows. But it all seems to work well together in a genuinely eclectic eating nook.

Lea Bassani Design

Here, tartan adds a striking feature in a highly contemporary environment. The shiny blue walls and white furniture and window treatments provide the perfect background for the dramatic red tartan ottoman and sofa.

In this formal study, accents of red tartan accessories on the desk pair nicely with zebra print. The red bookshelves make the layered look luxurious and slightly masculine.

Adeeni Design Group

These chairs feel so unexpected for the space, which is light and airy. The dark tartan upholstery grounds the room and gives it warmth, while also making it a bit more casual. And the nailhead detailing on the chairs is oh-so-English country.

This is definitely a variation on the classic black-and-white Macfarlane tartan, but it's the same idea. The headboards look so dramatic with the tartan fabric — and could be paired with any color bedspread. The red-striped pattern adds a wintery touch, completed by the brown walls and small mounted antlers in the center.

Designs by Gollum

Combined with the Gothic centerpiece, the deep jewel tones in this tartan pattern make for an intimate dining experience for two.

The green pattern of this tartan blanket adds a coziness to an otherwise modern and minimalistic bedroom.

Adeeni Design Group

It's hard to even spot the tartan here, it's so subtlety incorporated into the décor: The throw pillows on the sofa are a muted tartan; they add a layer of casual upholstery to the heavy-on-leather room.

Crisp Architects

I love these valances in a classic mustard-and-black tartan plaid. It's a very masculine look that's perfect for the navy-blue study.

Scot Meacham Wood Design

This tailored, upholstered headboard features a subtle brown-and-beige tartan plaid.

Of course, tartan is perfectly festive for the holidays. Investing in a few fun red, white and navy tartan blankets is the perfect way to make your Christmas décor functional.