Botanical inspiration isn’t anything new, but it is increasingly popular as part of wider greenery trend in interior design. And for good reason. Think about the feeling brought on by the sight of snowdrops emerging through frozen soil or silver birch trees suddenly breaking into new leaf. Plants have the power to delight and soothe. Green is a hopeful, healthy hue, just the kind of vibe we need to kick off the new year. To help you bring the outside in and refresh your home in 2024, we’ve chosen a few of our favourite botanicals and biophilia-inspired designs – see below.

Stephanie Le Cocq: wildflower wallpapers 

The Lost Garden Wallpaper, ecru  Studio Le Cocq

“Green is calming, reinvigorating and lush,” says Somerset-based print designer Stephanie Le Cocq who set up her own interior design firm, Studio Le Cocq. “Green can be so rich with all its variations, including zesty golds and olive-fern tones.” The British-Filipino designer has a host of woodland and wildflower-inspired wallpapers and textiles this season in her incredible British Biophilia collection.

Her finely drawn and painted are often influenced by vintage textile and natural history references. For instance, the ‘Lost Garden’ (see above) is inspired by the late botanical artist William Kilburn, who was famous for his detailed chintzes in the 18th century. The tangle of wildflowers includes chicory, buttercups, ox-eye daisies, knapweed, enchanter’s nightshade, quaking grass and queen’s lace to name but a few.  In 2020, Le Cocy was commissioned to recreate a historic wallpaper from fragments found in a late 17th century listed house that was being restored by its owners. “The wallpaper is a simple example of Chinoiserie, sweet yellow birds placed sparsely on delicate rose branches,” she explains on her website. Repurposing vintage and deadstock designs, whether it is taking inspiration or restoring aging designs is one of the services the designer offers. Studio Le Cocq also creates bespoke patterns and prints for interiors.

Fiona Howard: beautiful botanicals

Birdsong wallpaper in Jade. Fiona Howard

In an increasing digital world, designer Fiona Howard stands out for using the traditional technique of linocut block printing to create her nature-inspired fabrics and wallpapers. “Every good design begins with a drawing. I have sketchbooks filled with observations of plants and seeds, sketches, colours and ideas accumulated from various different sources,” explains Howard who collects vintage botanical books.  Her designs begin as a pencil sketch, first as a rough idea in a sketchbook and then translated to a larger piece of paper. “At this point I being to work the elements into a repeating pattern. A textile design needs to flow gracefully and seamlessly across the fabric or wallpaper so that the eye travels effortlessly across the pattern. It should grow and intertwine, taking the eye with it.” Inspired by the British coast and countryside, each hard-drawn and hard-carved lino design is then printed in the UK using environmentally friendly inks and FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) paper.. Check out her wonderful collection, including floral designs (cornflowers, cowparsley, honeysuckle , paisley fern etc), birds, seaside themes and orchards in blues, greens, orange/reds and dove.

Clarissa Hulse: nature inspired silhouettes

Clarissa Hulse Jungle hex tiles. Ca’ Pietra

The rainforests of Costa Rica and Highbury Fields in London may seem an unlikely pairing, yet Clarissa Hulse cites both as influences on her work. The north London designer takes inspiration from her nature photography whether on a jungle trek or a short stroll from her studio. She mostly designs furnishing fabric and wallpaper but collaborated with Ca’ Pietra to create a collection of hexagonal porcelain tiles featuring her signature botanical silhouettes. “While designing the range we approached the tiles from an unusual angle as we decided not to make a repeat pattern,” explains Hulse.  The idea behind the collection was to create something that mimics the random beauty of nature. Each tile in the pre-mixed collection is an illustration of an exotic palm or rare fern in a misty teal palette. Together they are designed to bring the “wild beauty of nature” into a kitchen, bathroom or steam room. A matching plain tile is also : Woodland Glade Shadow White tile.  Tiles classified as anti-slip floor tiles are given an “R” value which runs from R9 (not tested but manufactured to a minimum standard) to R13, the highest slip resistance. The Jungle Hexagon range is rated R10 and  regarded as safe in both wet and dry areas, says the Tile Company.

Green gallery wall

Green Botanical Gallery. Desenio

Refresh the hallway with a green gallery wall. Ferns are the foliage of the moment. Desenio offer botanical gallery collections, see above. Available as a set of four to create a gallery wall, each print can also be bought See also Where Saint’s Go fern prints, showcasing the detailed fronds of different species. Each print has been taken from a hand-coloured series of 1864 drawings and lovingly recreated from the antique originals. Or you might prefer to bring a little playful energy to your kitchen or dining room with a potted eucalyptus art print by Green Lili. Botanical posters offer inexpensive green pick-me-ups as do the real thing. M&S offer an ‘easy care green plant bundle.’ Pot plants of all shapes and sizes are available from most supermarkets and garden centres.

Victorian inspired glasshouse vibe

Victorian Glasshouse spruce fabric. ILIV

From bold leafy prints to dainty daisy designs, create your own little oasis. Think about how you want to feel in the space. Choose a soft cool green if you want to feel relaxed or a zesty, yellow green to energise or brighten a room. For that that extra pop of colour, consider a tropical or jungle-inspired scheme: check out Clarke & Clarke Rainforest Velvet and Jane Clayton’s Harlequin Wonderland. The soft palette of Victorian Glasshouse collection, see above, takes inspiration from botanical gardens and Victorian glasshouses. Expertly matched to perfectly complement each other, the fabrics feature a range of patterns. Ideal for curtains, blinds, cushions and other soft furnishings, the fabric is available in five colours. Now is the perfect time to spruce up your home with some beautiful botanicals.