Victorian Floral Revival

By Kate Riley March 1, 2023

I was putting together a design plan for my study-turned-library space makeover and picked this floral wallpaper for the walls behind the sofa and the bookcases. I chose it because I wanted our library to have just a touch of an old world feeling since the rest of the furnishings are from the modern era.

For years, I shied away the floral patterns of the past, they felt dusty to me. As I get older I have more appreciation for those motifs and the age where people entertained themselves with books, music, and art. I’ve found myself lingering longer at art museums and gazing at books on natural history. My mother in law was wondering what she should do with her old set of leather bound encyclopedias and my instant desire was to thumb through them as a portal to the past when we turned to books for information instead of the internet.

With the continuing popularity of vintage art, the resurgence of landscape wall murals, and last year’s academia trend, it’s no surprise Victorian florals are having a moment. It’s like we all want a piece of history in our homes, a touch of the 19th century paired with modern lines. The easiest way to get the look is by adding wallpaper, art, or home accents with Victorian style botanical motifs while keeping the rest of the space’s furnishing and lighting in the current century. Examples below.

  

susannah holmberg

heidi callier design

 

rejuvenation 

floral fabric at morris & co

bespoke only

dee murphy design

floral pillows

anemone wallpaper

garden wallpaper

rejuvenation 

 

via emily henderson

 rebecca & genevieve

john lewis

meinewand

You can find may of the iconic William Morris patterns in the wallpaper collection at Morris & Co. Rifle Paper Co is known for their fresh takes on floral motifs similar in charm to old patterns pairing animals with botanicals. Below are a few decor favorites to add a touch of Victorian botanical patterns to your space.

 

peacock catchall tray / crimson pillow

bone china tea cup set / botanical art prints

duvet cover / shanghai pillow

 

You might also like these articles on bold botanical wallpapers and landscape mural sources.

2 comments

  1. I love a bit of Victorian wallpaper. It gives a space a very homey and comforting touch. We lived in a few Victorian’s and bungalows in Portland, Oregon when I was a kid and those homes were so comfortable. I always long for a home like that again. Instead, I have a pretty modern home.

  2. Whenever I see these type of wallpapers I think of all the B&B’s I have stayed at in Wales,Ireland,Scotland and England. The rooms were always welcoming as were the hosts. I would love to go back and enjoy a train ride through the countryside in the spring when the lambs are in the very green fields and get off at a stop
    to stay at a B&B for the evening before going on to the next area the next day. This brought back some great memories.

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