Decorating
Are You Ready for This Brave New Way to Use Botanicals?
A huge fashion trend for the year ahead, ‘psychotropical’ is about using big-impact blooms. Here’s how to bring it home
It never takes long for catwalk fashions to start appearing in homes – but sometimes they’re difficult to reinvent successfully. So-called ‘psychotropical’, where botanical designs get the hyperreal treatment, with saturated hues and not-quite-natural details, is a tricky trend that can look absolutely fabulous, assuming you use it with the lightest of touches. Here’s how.
Make a picture
The bigger the blooms, the greater the impact they’ll create. While you might have to commission a tile pattern like this, rather than picking it off the shelf, exactly the same effect can be achieved in any room by painting a big canvas and putting it on a wall, or by choosing a large-repeat floral fabric for a tall headboard.
The bigger the blooms, the greater the impact they’ll create. While you might have to commission a tile pattern like this, rather than picking it off the shelf, exactly the same effect can be achieved in any room by painting a big canvas and putting it on a wall, or by choosing a large-repeat floral fabric for a tall headboard.
Channel summery warmth
Want to make your home feel summery, even in the depths of winter? A large floral print in bright, tropical bolds will do the trick perfectly. For best effect, keep the other walls and paintwork in the room bright white, and add touches of black and plenty of wood texture to take the whole scheme down a notch or two.
10 cheery interiors ideas to lift the winter blues
Want to make your home feel summery, even in the depths of winter? A large floral print in bright, tropical bolds will do the trick perfectly. For best effect, keep the other walls and paintwork in the room bright white, and add touches of black and plenty of wood texture to take the whole scheme down a notch or two.
10 cheery interiors ideas to lift the winter blues
Try it out first
Love the idea of a psychotropical theme, but just not sure it’s one you’ll adore forever? Choosing cushion covers, bed linen and towels with bright, in-your-face patterns is a good way to test the waters. Pick the patterns’ colours to tie in with your room’s main accent shade, and bind the scheme together with tons of leafy houseplants.
Love the idea of a psychotropical theme, but just not sure it’s one you’ll adore forever? Choosing cushion covers, bed linen and towels with bright, in-your-face patterns is a good way to test the waters. Pick the patterns’ colours to tie in with your room’s main accent shade, and bind the scheme together with tons of leafy houseplants.
Go back to the 1970s
Revisiting interior styles of the past isn’t for everyone, but if you do like a bit of 1970s glamour, psychotropical prints are the way to go – and matching them with cork tiles (or cork-effect wallpaper) will show real commitment to the theme. Then all you’ll need is a cheese plant or two and your scheme will be complete.
Houzz Shop: create a floral look that works all year
Revisiting interior styles of the past isn’t for everyone, but if you do like a bit of 1970s glamour, psychotropical prints are the way to go – and matching them with cork tiles (or cork-effect wallpaper) will show real commitment to the theme. Then all you’ll need is a cheese plant or two and your scheme will be complete.
Houzz Shop: create a floral look that works all year
Upholster with flair
Nestling comfortably somewhere between a classic William Morris print and a shirt worn by Hawaii-based TV sleuth Magnum PI back in the day, this super-sized tropical print is the perfect foil for the traditional chesterfield-style sofa. Note the lack of competing colours in the room, and the presence of natural textures and houseplants to ensure a successful finish.
Nestling comfortably somewhere between a classic William Morris print and a shirt worn by Hawaii-based TV sleuth Magnum PI back in the day, this super-sized tropical print is the perfect foil for the traditional chesterfield-style sofa. Note the lack of competing colours in the room, and the presence of natural textures and houseplants to ensure a successful finish.
Put it somewhere surprising
If courage fails you, the cloakroom is a great place to unleash all your design fantasies. And while it might be a good idea to match dramatic prints with an otherwise toned-down scheme in living spaces, in a loo – or even a bedroom – choosing an equally bold paint colour for the walls will give you a look that’s pure Soho House boho chic.
If courage fails you, the cloakroom is a great place to unleash all your design fantasies. And while it might be a good idea to match dramatic prints with an otherwise toned-down scheme in living spaces, in a loo – or even a bedroom – choosing an equally bold paint colour for the walls will give you a look that’s pure Soho House boho chic.
Be nonchalantly eclectic
Going for psychotropical prints needn’t mean creating a room with a tropical-style theme. If anything, choosing a more eclectic route is much more interesting. So, while this modular sofa might have a whiff of 1970s style about it, it’s consciously coupled with contemporary wall prints and vases from each end of the last century.
Going for psychotropical prints needn’t mean creating a room with a tropical-style theme. If anything, choosing a more eclectic route is much more interesting. So, while this modular sofa might have a whiff of 1970s style about it, it’s consciously coupled with contemporary wall prints and vases from each end of the last century.
Work a restrained style
If yours is a traditional-looking, neutrally-decorated home that you want to brighten (a lot) and modernise (but not too much), a subtly muted psychotropical scheme is for you. For a not-in-your-face look, limit the bold prints to rugs over hard flooring and cushions on plain sofas, and stick to faded shades that hint at vintage.
If yours is a traditional-looking, neutrally-decorated home that you want to brighten (a lot) and modernise (but not too much), a subtly muted psychotropical scheme is for you. For a not-in-your-face look, limit the bold prints to rugs over hard flooring and cushions on plain sofas, and stick to faded shades that hint at vintage.
Employ photorealism for effect
Photorealism, particularly in wallpaper, has been a big trend for the past few years, with no sign of its popularity petering out. And it’s a look that works brilliantly for the psychotropical trend. How to achieve it? Search out a company that specialises in printed murals – many can even be sized to fit your space.
Tell us…
Which of these ways to introduce a bold trend do you most warm to? Let us know in the Comments section.
Photorealism, particularly in wallpaper, has been a big trend for the past few years, with no sign of its popularity petering out. And it’s a look that works brilliantly for the psychotropical trend. How to achieve it? Search out a company that specialises in printed murals – many can even be sized to fit your space.
Tell us…
Which of these ways to introduce a bold trend do you most warm to? Let us know in the Comments section.
The upside to the psychotropical trend is that it suits both modern and period properties – but generally only in moderation. So, here, papering a single wall is enough to create the right impression, while a smattering of a complementary fabric on the chairs gives the otherwise plain room a touch of subtle layering and substance.