Chintz charming: After decades in the dark, the old favourite is back, with a funky new twist - so mix and (mis)match florals, gingham and stripes to your heart's content, says interiors editor Nicole Gray
- UK interiors expert Nicole Gray shares her tips on how to nail 'chintz charm'
- READ MORE: Are YOU guilty of these interior design sins?
The last time that chintz entered the national consciousness was for the wrong reason – it was so last season.
We're talking about that 1996 Ikea 'chuck out your chintz' TV ad, in which the neighbours tore down their flowery curtains, ripping out swirly patterned fitted carpets in favour of the brand's beige, minimalist, du jour décor. Well, who'd have thought it? After decades in the cold, chintz is hot again.
Synonymous with busy florals – think Laura Ashley wallpaper – chintz held sway in the 1980s. The fabric originated in India centuries before, where the Hindi word chint means 'spotted' or 'variegated'. Between 1600 and 1800, the hand-painted or block-printed calico was brought to Europe by Dutch and Portuguese merchants.
By the mid-1800s it was being mass-produced by the Victorians, who liked the fact that, with its glazed finish, the fabric could be wiped clean with ease. Fast-forward to 2023 and chintz has had a glow-up, thanks to the demand for 'dopamine décor', where surfaces are a riot of exuberant patterns and vibrant colours.
Saturated chintzy designs, borrowing from nature and botanicals, are filling social media feeds, introducing chintz to a new generation: 72,000 likes on Instagram, with the hashtag 'fancy grandma' racking up 851,000 on TikTok.
Not sure if chintz is for you? Rent the look for a dinner party and see how it works in your home. Maison Margaux can supply a wide selection for practice runs. La Rose tablescape, £24 per setting, maisonmargauxltd.com
For a more-is-more aesthetic, extend the pattern to walls, armchairs, cushions and lampshades. Armchairs from the House of Hackney x 1stdibs.com collaboration
Even the most compact room can be fun. Part flowery fantasy, part Agatha Christie whodunnit, this powder room by landedinteriors.com packs a modern punch while feeling timeless. For a range of floral wallpapers try grahambrown.com
Breathe new life into an old armchair with an eye-catching fabric, teaming it with stripes and statement plants. Armchair in Woodland Floral fabric, £69 per m; Woodland Floral wallpaper, £89 per roll; curtains in Paper Straw Stripe fabric, £79 per m, all Harlequin x Sophie Robinson, harlequin.sanderson designgroup.com
There's no limit to how many patterns you can combine. Just stick to a tight colour palette. In the Edinburgh home of Instagrammer Megan Robson (@Kit andco_) you'll find clashing patterns of gingham, stripes and leaves. For something similar, try Botanical 03 wallpaper at lick.com
The look thrives on colour – and the higher the contrast, the more intense the drama. Replace traditional shades such as china blue and pale pink with bold, saturated rainbow tones including red, hot pink, yellow and teal. Headboard in Sherbet Stripe fabric, £115 per m; bedspread in Meander fabric, £95 per m; Wonderland Floral wallpaper, £159 per roll, all Harlequin x Sophie Robinson, harlequin. sandersondesigngroup.com
'Chintzfluencer' Paula Sutton of @hillhousevintage serves daily inspiration to her 529K followers with botanical tablescape spreads and vintage floral textiles. Ditto Vanessa Barneby, founder of textile brand Barneby Gates (@barnebygates), whose home is full of traditional patterns in revamped hothouse shades.
Ready to commit to chintz? Explore fabric and wallpaper brands such as Brunschwig & Fils, Colefax & Fowler, Sanderson, Cabbages & Roses and, of course, Laura Ashley.
We also love the new kaleidoscopic wallpaper collaboration between interior designer Sophie Robinson and Harlequin (pictured opposite and overleaf), with prints inspired by the flora and fauna around Robinson's Sussex home.
The chintz-cautious can begin with patterned cushions, perhaps, or a fancy plate displayed on the wall. We also love the modern take on traditional crockery by ceramicist Jenny Dyson at pencilagency.com as a way to dip your toe in – case in point, toile mixed with flying saucers.
Even Granny's favourite crockery brand, Wedgwood, is having a makeover by new creative director Alice Bastin, whose previous posts include design consultancy for Alexander McQueen.
There's a bounty of revamped blowsy offerings on the high street, too. See the new botanical wallpapers in collaboration with Holly Willoughby at Dunelm, from £15 per roll; or £44 from Laura Ashley. Wayfair's floral tablecloths start at £11.99, and bird-floral cushions from Marks & Spencer are £29.50 each – an affordable gateway for the chintz-curious.
