Tropical wallpaper and furniture to bring your holidays home

Bold jungle prints have been trending for a while now, but with the warmer summer weather here, decorating tastes are getting much more tropical.

John Lewis reports that online searches for the ‘palm bed’ and ‘desert palm’ styles are up 200 percent compared to around this time last month, suggesting many of us want to bring our vacation home.

A tropical decor gives a scheme a relaxed, natural, yet cheerful feel.

“I’ve always been a maximalist, so exotic elements such as palm fronds, rainforest flowers, peacocks and feathers feature in my designs – mixed with bold, vibrant colours,” says fashion designer and interiors specialist Matthew Williamson, whose Palm Lamp (£115) is part from the department store’s trendy assortment.

“Introduce smaller tropical elements first, like a table lamp or a statement pillow,” he says. ‘If you want to make a bigger impact, a tropical wallpaper will bring personality.

“Pick colors from the repetition and use them to choose upholstery and accessories.”

Back to nature

Escapism plays a big role in this trend. The bright colors and prints inspired by nature provide the perfect escape to a tropical paradise.

“This style evokes a sense of calm and creates a calming atmosphere that’s perfect for winding down after a long day,” says Kerry McKenzie, co-founder of innovative wallpaper label Brand McKenzie, whose Banana Leaves paper (£128 per roll) ) a surprising grounding addition to a scheme.

“An easy way to create a tropical interior is through prints, from upholstery to curtains,” she says.

‘If you’re feeling adventurous, try mixing wallpaper and curtains. Tropical print cushions also give a more subtle nod to the trend.’

But it’s not all about a vibrant pattern. Another crucial part is the use of natural textures.

Rattan, bamboo and cane furniture, along with jute or sisal rugs, provide warmth and take a plan back to the natural world for a relaxed, bohemian feel.

Accessories, such as woven baskets, wooden bowls, rattan side tables or lacquered furniture, such as Charles Orchard’s Wave Side Table (£710) all set the scene.

Soft hues can still add a tropical vibe. “Painting walls in soft pink is good for those looking for a subtle design statement,” says Helen Shaw of paint company Benjamin Moore.

‘This shade combines beautifully with green plants to create the ultimate oasis.

‘Finish with wooden furniture and accents.’

If you want to give a pink or pale yellow wall a tropical twist, try a bold geometric floor tile in burgundy and mustard, or green and black tones.

Top with plant baskets with a relaxed silhouette, like La Redoute’s Zac Seagrass Basket ($25.20).

“Sand tones, soft blues and beaded lighting also create the aesthetic of a getaway in a faraway tropical destination,” suggests Helen Pett of Arteriors.

Go wild

Tropical interiors require commitment to achieve a coherent result. This is especially true if you choose a wallpaper.

“Don’t paint just one wall and then decorate the rest of the room in an unobtrusive color,” says Kerry McKenzie.

The secret is to keep your feature wall from looking like an afterthought. You can achieve this by taking a color from the paper and painting it on the other three walls. If you’re feeling brave, take it over the ceiling too.”

To make tropical interiors stand the test of time, choose colors that you can live with for a long time, combined with lots of natural accents and room plants. You’ll be king of the jungle in no time.