I love a bit of chintz. Hear me out: it has to be done right. While the term “chintzy” may commonly imply something that’s cheaply produced, gaudy or naff, often referencing the 1970s, the floral fabrics that came from India in the 19th century were stiff, high quality and luxurious. The trend today — which is cropping up across high street and high-end shops — leans into a similar kind of relaxed grandeur.
I’m not alone on this nostalgia trip. According to Pinterest, searches for “eclectic interior design vintage” are up 850 per cent year on year. The “hipstoric” trend is driven by a rejection of mass-produced pieces for the home and is largely being embraced by Generation X and Boomers, who desire meaningful spaces that merge historical nostalgia and self-expression. “These pieces add a layer of charm and nostalgia to a room reminiscent of your granny’s home from your childhood,” says Holly Hardy Watkins, who sources vintage and unique home finds at sourcedbyholly.co.uk.
The crux of the trend now isn’t to look entirely like you’ve taken a hop, skip and jump back to the 1970s. But it’s not a million miles from it. Although there are busy prints, stylish knick-knacks and a dainty ornament or two, the vibe — as the internet would deem it — is a bit more elevated. House of Hackney’s latest collection, Gothic Garden, is heavy on dark romance — think wallpaper printed with gothic poppies in shades of ebony, amber and periwinkle blue (wallpaper starts from €210; houseofhackney.com). It’s enough to turn the biggest naysayers into a Wednesday Addams acolyte or Margo Leadbetter from The Good Life.
How do you ensure the trend is modern? First, scale is key. “An oversized print will give the look an updated twist rather than using a scale that is twee or dated-looking,” says Steve Corcoran, decorating consultancy manager at House of Hackney. Second, if you’re going to trial the look then you need to commit. Ruched trims, ruffles and gathered fabric are all fair game. “Don’t scrimp on chintz fabrics. The busy prints should be layered together in an eclectic mix that should look as if it evolved over time rather than a single cushion positioned in a minimal setting that might look out of place,” Corcoran says.
So far, so brazen. What about accessories? You may have noticed that posh granny touchpoints such as china, delft and quirky decorative ornaments are back in vogue. (My favourite is a retro swan planter, perfect for potting up indoor geraniums.) Then there are clamshells (peak bad taste: I’m lusting after one). They’ve become the coolest kind of home accessory — think Rachel Greene’s ugly seashell lamp in Friends but far superior — thanks to designers such as Matilda Goad, who sells them as decorative bowls (from €95; matildagoad.com). The Ranelagh-based Interiors Atelier, meanwhile, stocks a decorative resin clamshell, perfect also for displaying flowers (€290; interiorsatelier.ie).
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Watkins advises using busy pieces against a plain backdrop for contrast. “Hang decorative plates in bathrooms to break up the clinical feel often associated with these rooms. They also work beautifully in a room full of traditional artwork as the round shape breaks up the sterile, traditional hard lines of framed art,” she says.
Sourced by Holly sells one-off vintage and antique crockery like these Hungarian floral print plates, with the ethos that they are statement pieces, conversation starters or even heirlooms. Similar plates start at €87 each; sourcedbyholly.co.uk
Whether it’s for dining or decorative, buying a statement plate such as this earthenware dessert number is the perfect way to tap into the trend, €10.99; zarahome.com
Pattern on pattern: a swirl of geometric, floral and animal prints dominates in this cosy bedroom. Floral quilt, from €217; anthropologie.com
Floral tribute: the Floralia wallpaper by House of Hackney packs a punch, from €210; houseofhackney.com. Fans of the brand will delight in the fact that it has a high street collaboration with Anthropologie, which focuses on home accessories. Shop it at anthropologie.com
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“Mix chintzy floral with other prints and patterns, it’ll ensure the look is up to date rather than a redo of your granny’s florals,” House of Hackney’s Steve Corcoran says. Bold stripes, for instance, imbue things with a rock’n’roll edge. The Papavera wallpaper in Noir is a perfect example of statement florals, from €210; houseofhackney.com
