Florals in balance

Floral interiors have a timeless charm that can breathe life into any space, but they can be polarising.

A floral headboard

A hand-painted headboard of stylised flowers gives this bedroom a charming retro vibe.

Walls painted in Resene Eighth Blanc walls, floor stain washed in Resene Colorwood Breathe Easy, headboard background in Resene Fuel Yellow with hand-painted flowers in Resene Eighth Blanc, Resene Valentine and Resene Watermark, drawers in Resene Eighth Blanc, Resene Clockwork Orange and Resene Valentine, small planter in Resene Soul Searcher, large planter in Resene Ebb and bookends in Resene Moon Mist and Resene Duck Egg Blue. Bedding from Small Acorns. Project by Annick Larkin, image by Bryce Carleton.

Too much of the wrong type of floral design or the wrong colour combination can put some of us off and lead us to think that all floral designs are too busy, or too old-fashioned.

But, armed with some knowledge on how to put a floral look together, and with the right Resene paint colours and wallpapers, you can create a look that is bold, modern, soft, delicate or vintage – or whichever combination of those works best for you.

Resene Colour Expert Meryl Southey says balance and attention to detail are key when it comes to creating a floral-inspired interior that is beautiful, sophisticated and unique and works with the rest of your interior design.

“If you’re working with a floral wallpaper design, for example, first consider the location, the ambience you want to achieve and the scale of both your space and floral pattern,” she says. “If you have a very large room and want to evoke a feeling of relaxation, a very busy design or one saturated in multiple colours might be overwhelming. On the flip side, if you have a large-scale mural with a simple floral motif, there needs to be space to admire it from a distance, before taking in the finer details up close.”

Take into account that in a small room, large-scale florals can visually shrink the space by appearing too big for the walls they’re on. In smaller rooms, smaller patterns create a sense of depth and intricacy without overpowering the room but in a large room they may feel lost and too wispy, particularly in delicate or pastel colours.

When it comes to balance, one way to break up a bold floral pattern over a large stretch of wall, is to add a mirror, which can also help add light to a room, or a neutral headboard, Meryl says.

“You can also layer the look with white or neutral soft furnishings. Try soft dreamy curtains in linens or sheer fabrics, like many of those in the Resene Curtain Collection to soothe the impact of a bold floral print.”

Floral inspiration

One way to create a floral interior that won’t compete with the rest of your interior is choosing a colour palette inspired by florals, rather than a literal floral pattern. You can create the delicate or vibrant prettiness of a bouquet – or a field of flowers, without fears of busy-ness.

A dining room with a floral wallpaper pattern

Soft blues let the delicate florals and dramatic background of this wallpaper sing in this dining room without dominating the space.

Upper wall in Resene Wallpaper Collection 456738 with lower walls painted in Resene Pattens Blue. Floor in Resene Black White and Resene Triple Black White, table in Resene Coast, chairs in Resene Solitude and Resene Dream Big, tray in Resene Rice Cake and vases on shelf in Resene Duck Egg Blue, Resene Lemon Grass and Resene Inspire. Project by Annick Larkin, image by Bryce Carleton.

A dining room with a floral wallpaper pattern - 2

Subtle accents pick out the floral design of Resene Wallpaper Collection 220482 against a neutral background to create a balanced look.

Lower wall painted in Resene Spanish White, floor Resene Quarter Spanish White and Resene Double Spanish White, lightshade in Resene Cest La Vie, console table in Resene Half Duck Egg Blue, mirror in Resene Rewilding, tall vase in Resene New York Pink and round vase in Resene Soothe. Dining table and chairs from Danske Møbler. Project by Annick Larkin, image by Bryce Carleton.

Start with a base of soft neutrals, such as Resene Half Alabaster or Resene Quarter Tea, which offer a clean, versatile canvas. These shades work well as background colours, allowing your floral elements to stand out but not compete with other colours.

Next, introduce floral-inspired hues that capture the essence of blooming flowers. For a fresh, lively feel, consider Resene Petal, a subtle pink with a hint of warm mauve. If bolder is more your style, try dramatic fuchsia Resene Smitten, glowing Resene Buttercup or sweet red Resene Vibe. Once you’ve chosen one dramatic floral shade, work with layers of similar colours in different saturations and tones to create a look with depth and interest. Add colour contrasts in a fresh green like Resene Springtime or forest green like Resene Welcome for balance.

Use your colours on feature walls, furniture or as accents in decorative pieces against your neutrals.

Instant florals

Resene makes it easy to incorporate a wide range of floral styles with the Resene Wallpaper Collection that will give any room an instant change of vibe.

A unique floral motif headboard

A unique floral motif headboard gives a sophisticated update on classic pink and grey.

These walls are painted in Resene Quarter Delta with floor stain washed in Resene Colorwood Greywash. Headboard background in Resene Delta with petals in Resene Strikemaster and Resene Cosmic, flower centres in Resene Chamois, Resene Hampton and Resene Cod Grey and lightshade and side table in Resene Cosmic. Project by Megan Harrison-Turner, image by Bryce Carleton.

Opt for the delicate vintage style florals of Resene Wallpaper Collection 333125 or the more minimalist and delicate blue florals of Resene Wallpaper Collection M458-01 if you want to adopt an historical look that still feels contemporary and vibrant.

For a more modern feel look for stylised floral designs such as Resene Wallpaper Collection 33955, which is visually arresting, but in a more neutral muted colour. Another way to evoke the botanical without using a literal flower design is to try a repeat motif pattern such as Resene Wallpaper Collection M533-09. It also comes in a more muted neutral colour so your room has texture for visual interest without dominating.

For a romantic getaway, try the dramatic dark background and large bold floral of Resene Wallpaper Collection 2311-168-04 or the more intricate vines and pastel tones of Resene Wallpaper 333163.

top tip Resene can order samples of most wallpapers in the Resene Wallpaper Collection so you can see how your favourite pattern looks in your room. Or ask if the wallpaper book is available for borrowing – most can be taken home overnight for viewing at home. Look at natural and artificial lighting and other hard-to-alter features to get a good impression of how it will look.

Quick tips for a balanced floral finish:

Choose a focal point: Select one area of the room where you want a floral design to stand out, such as a feature wall, a statement piece of furniture or large artwork. The florals will draw attention without dominating.
Pair with neutrals: Balance bold floral patterns with neutral colours on the surrounding walls, floors and larger furniture pieces.
Use floral design but not colour: If you love the look of florals but are concerned about a colour overload, look for designs such as Resene Wallpaper Collection 333100 which give you the botanical look in a neutral shade.
Opt for subtle patterns: If you prefer a more understated look, choose smaller floral wallpaper patterns or motifs and use more muted tones than saturated shades. These can be incorporated into cushions, curtains or rugs adding a touch of nature without becoming overpowering.
Mix with solid colours: Break up the floral patterns with solid colours. If you have floral wallpaper, consider solid-colour cushions or a plain rug in a complementary versatile neutral, such as Resene Sea Fog or Resene Silver Chalice.
Use sparingly: Less is often more when it comes to florals. Limit the number of floral items in the room to just a few key pieces. This could be a floral armchair paired with plain curtains and cushions, creating a balanced, elegant look. When working with a busy floral pattern keep other features plain or keep to two or three framed drops of a robust botanical pattern such as Resene Wallpaper Collection 33304.

Colours mentioned in this blog...

Florals in balance

Floral inspiration

Instant florals

Quick tips for a balanced floral finish:

Resene Paints Ltd – www.resene.com