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As June peeks around the corner and the garden begins to bloom in earnest, itʼs hard not to feel the pull of florals. But if the word “floralˮ sends you running for the hills - too bright, too busy, too much - I promise, thereʼs a way to do it that feels fresh, grown-up, and balanced.
I do believe that seasonal updates should feel like gentle nudges, not full-blown overhauls. Especially if you share your home with someone who might raise an eyebrow at a pink peony explosion in the sitting room Iʼd take a guess that many of you also have to carefully balance different tastes in the home!
So here are my favourite ways to embrace summer florals in a way that feels calm and cohesive, and ever so slightly romantic - without going overboard.
Thereʼs nothing lovelier than a meal outdoors in summer - and a floral tablecloth is one of the easiest ways to bring a little seasonal joy to the garden or terrace. Think block-printed linens in soft greens, dusky blues, or sun-faded reds.Choose something with a natural palette and a slightly vintage feel, and itʼll blend beautifully into the background while still giving that ‘hosted with flairʼ feeling. Bonus: no one minds if the wine spills.
A lampshade swap is criminally underrated when it comes to seasonal styling. For summer, I love a pleated cotton orlinen shade in a floral print — small-scale motifs or Indian block patterns are especially easy to live with. They add atouch of softness without shouting for attention, and the effect when lit in the evening is just magical.
Florals in small doses, like a cushion or two, are a great way to test the waters. Stick to cushion covers with a slightly aged look — nothing shiny or overly graphic — and layer them with plains or stripes for balance. A floral paired with aticking stripe on a linen sofa? Summer perfection.
If youʼre feeling bolder (but still not too bold), consider a floral wallpaper for a guest WC, hallway, or behind shelving -somewhere that wonʼt dominate the house but can bring a lot of joy. Iʼm fond of wallpapers that echo the natural worldwithout being overtly ‘floweryʼ: leafy trails, painterly vines, or subtle meadow prints. Thereʼs also a lot to be said for amore compacted print with little colour variation that looks almost as if itʼs one block colour from afar, if you donʼt wantsomething too fussy. There are some beautiful removable options out there now too, if commitment is a concern.
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