This Fabric Was Voted Best Floral by Experts (Plus 15 Others That Made the Cut)
Words by Laura Dahlgren
Photography by Eric Piasecki; Design by Andrew Howard
Floral fabrics? Pick the right pattern and even Miranda Priestly will call it groundbreaking.
Even though botanical prints have been around forever, the best designers know how to give them a fresh spin that feels more modern-day Bridgerton and less Golden Girls. Not sure where to start? Many Experts we polled swear by one failsafe classic: Schumacher’s Verdure Tapestry: “The patterns in this fabric are truly timeless—they work well upholstered on a chair to ground a modern room, or in a traditional space by layering in a classic textile,” says Expert Lucy Barlow.
Whether you’re looking to update your upholstery or sprinkle in the suggestion of early spring, our Experts offer their hand-picked advice for bringing the outside in, no green thumb required.
Photography by Lauren Caron; Design by Studio Laloc
Photography by Lauren Caron; Design by Studio Laloc
For Wow-Worthy Windows
“Who doesn't love a stripe? Incorporating one with charming mid-scale flowers like the Ariana Floral Stripe fabric by Schumacher is even better. I see this working really well on window treatments, upholstered on a kitchen built-in bench, dining chair seats, or as accent pillows thrown on your favorite living room sofa.” —Lauren Caron, Studio Laloc
Book a consultation with Studio Laloc
Photography by Donna Dotan; Design by Ariel Okin
For a Fabric That Can Do it All
“Indian Arbre by Schumacher is one of my favorite fabrics—it comes in different colorways and is gorgeous for upholstery, pillows, and window treatments. I love using it in a space as the main hero where it's repeated all over the room in different iterations for an updated take on an old French decorating trick.” —Ariel Okin
Book a consultation with Ariel Okin
For Sweet Dreams
“I love the Floral Trail fabric by Salvesen Graham—it feels nostalgic but also contemporary because the print is quite scaled up. It would look totally gorgeous paper-backed and used on the walls in a children’s bedroom.” —Susie Atkinson
Book a consultation with Susie Atkinson
For a Lively Botanical
“I love the Exotic Butterfly Indoor/Outdoor fabric by Schumacher. It has so many colors to pull from for a room. It really lets you dig deep into your bag of tricks.” —Andrew Howard
Book a consultation with Andrew Howard
Photography courtesy of Susie Atkinson
For an Indoor/Outdoor Option
“An all time favorite of mine is the Citrus Garden Indoor/Outdoor fabric by Schumacher. We recently used it on a Svenskt Tenn Josef Frank sofa and it looked incredible. I love the freshness of this colorway and the fact it can be used outdoors—it would look fabulous on sun loungers outside.” —Susie Atkinson
Photography courtesy of Barlow & Barlow Design
Photography by Jonathan Bond; Design by Barlow & Barlow Design
For a Trip Down Memory Lane
“Strawberry Hand Block Print fabric by Schumacher has the most delightful little hand-blocked print with a really nostalgic feel. It’s perfect for accents to a whimsical guest bedroom or even a lucky little person’s nursery. The white ground cloth gives it a very fresh feeling and I love pink and green as the basis for a scheme.” —Lucy Barlow, Barlow & Barlow Design
Book a consultation with Barlow & Barlow Design
Photography by Chad Mellon; Design by Brooke Wagner
Photography by Chad Mellon; Design by Brooke Wagner
For a Nice Nursery
“Floral Sprig fabric by The Collection by Salvesen Graham is the sweetest little floral! I’d pair it with a check and layer it in a nursery on bedding and drapery.” —Brooke Wagner
Photography courtesy of Andrew Howard
For an Almost-Stripe
“I love Royal Poppy by Schumacher, it almost reads like a stripe, but it’s softer and the floral element is great. I could see this on curtains, but it would also be really great on a sofa.” —Andrew Howard
Photography by Lauren Caron; Design by Studio Laloc
Photography by Lauren Caron; Design by Studio Laloc
For Unique Upholstery
“The palette and scale of the Sissinghurst fabric by Clarke and Clarke lends itself to work in a variety of upholstery uses, from creating a statement sofa to accent pillows. Its soft colors and linen material allow it to feel both comfortable and pulled together all at once!” —Lauren Caron, Studio Laloc
Photography by Donna Dotan; Design by Ariel Okin
For an Updated Take On a Classic
“This gorgeous Chinoiserie Vine fabric is a classic from Mark D. Sikes' collection for Schumacher. We recently used it on custom upholstered Gustavian chairs at a breakfast table at a project in New Canaan, and they added so much delicate beauty to the space and really balanced the heavy antique French breakfast table so beautifully. This fabric is so versatile, it can be used as both upholstery and a window fabric. It would also be gorgeous paper-backed and applied to the walls.” —Ariel Okin
Photography by Chad Mellon; Design by Brooke Wagner
For Dreamy Drapery
“I love Poppy Sprig fabric by Lee Jofa in all the colorways! I would love this in a sophisticated bunk room as bedding or in a breakfast room as drapery and cushions!” —Brooke Wagner
Photography courtesy of The Misfit House
For a Saccharine Space
“The Martha fabric is one of my favorites by Lulie Wallace. We used it for curtains in her kids’ den with blue-gray walls and a green leather sofa and it’s such a sweet room.” —Monica Stewart, The Misfit House
Book a consultation with The Misfit House
For a French Country Feel
“Schumacher’s Bunny fabric is a bit French country, but it would feel equally at home in the city. It would pair well with a larger scale pattern or a stripe.” —Mark D. Sikes
Book a consultation with Mark D. Sikes
Photography by Haris Kenjar; Design by Heidi Caillier
For a Neutral Floral
“Le Castellet by Schumacher is one of my go-to fabrics. The olive green is neutral and the floral print also has the striped pattern, which feels interesting, unexpected, and a bit granny, which is really cool.” —Heidi Caillier
Book a consultation with Heidi Caillier
Photography be Mellon Studio; Design by Brooke Wagner Design
For a Hardworking Favorite
“Foxglove Indoor/Outdoor fabric by Schumacher is a perfect outdoor cushion or daybed upholstery fabric. Looks like linen and I love the neutral pattern. It would be so fab on pillows layered in the green and blue colorways!” —Brooke Wagner
Book a consultation with Brooke Wagner Design
