Fresh Maximalism with William Morris
Classic William Morris fabrics and wallpapers are enlivened to feel fresher than ever for Spring 2022
For many designers Morris & Co remains a true icon of Arts & Crafts interiors brands. With a rich heritage and history thanks to the pioneering vision of William Morris, whose revolutionary approach to home decoration in the 19th century is still as vibrant and valid today as it ever was, Morris & Co continue to excite the senses and instil visual passion.
Morris had a fundamental approach of creating patterns with beauty, imagination and order, so it seems only fitting that the new ‘Simply Morris’ collection explores the theme of ‘Fresh Maximalism’. This really is a collection which takes the traditional Morris look and reinvigorates it for contemporary living.
As Morris & Co put it themselves, “Simply Morris is a carefully chosen edit of signature fabrics and surface printed wallpapers, expertly recoloured into a fresh garden palette. Sitting beautifully between traditional Morris and Pure Morris, this collection offers an alternative decorating story with its clean grounds and vibrant motifs. Neither maximalist nor minimalist, its position is softer, more genteel, but far from subdued.”
We love the thought of Fresh Maximalism here at Soft Options Interiors, and it’s an idea that doesn’t just sit within the theme of spring or a particular season. For some individuals maximalism with its aesthetic of excess can feel overpowering, and overly cluttered. By bringing a palette into play that feels softer and gentle, the overall effect is modern with a nod to traditional.
Create a dreamy feminine bedroom scheme
When it comes to creating an individual look for your home, the Simply Morris collection can also easily be incorporated with other Morris & Co papers and fabrics. The classic Strawberry Thief motif in the new Cochineal and Willow colourway, would be the perfect fabric choice for a striking yet serene headboard. Pairing this with a wallpaper pattern like Willow Bough in Pink and Leaf Green, from the Queen Square collection for the backdrop wall will add a little more visual punch. Standen in Seaglass is a great choice for subtle curtains, which would be equally at home in a minimalist dining room setting as shown below as they would be in a feminine bedroom scheme.
When it comes to paint, we’d recommend powder shades of pink for this scheme. Sea Pink or Ash Rose Light from Sanderson Paints will blend seamlessly into this palette, and guarantee you an air of serenity when you enter the one space in your home you really want to relax in.
The tradition of bringing the outdoors into the home is an intrinsic part of Morris & Co
Be bold with Blackthorn
It might seem strange to feature a wallpaper called Blackthorn Autumn during a season where we focus on spring freshness. But one look below will show you why we just had to include this design from the Queen Square Collection. Because when combined with Acanthus and Standen in Leaf Green from the new Simply Morris range, the pops of turquoise, white and red in this wallpapers flowers and foliage really come alive.
Perfect for a dramatic dining room scheme or elegant hallway, we’d recommend using Blackthorn on opposing walls or below a dado rail with walls above painted in a complimentary green. If light is in abundance then Botanical or Devon Green from Sanderson Paints would be the ideal choice. If you need to keep things a little lighter, then English Pear would also work perfectly.
Acanthus or Standen would both be fantastic options for upholstering dining chair seats or framing a window. If you want to make your window dressing bolder then Acanthus would also benefit from the addition of statement tie backs in darker green and gold hues, like the one we’ve chosen here from a selection available in our showroom.
Designed by J.H. Dearle in 1892 Blackthorn Autumn is a real statement piece
Powerful Powder Blue
Think a blue scheme means your interiors might veer into being overly masculine and cold? With the Simply Morris Mallow Wallpaper in Powder Blue combined with Pimpernel in Woad, you can be safe in the knowledge that you’re creating a scheme which feels elegant and soothing.
Originally designed by Kate Faulkner for Morris & Co in 1870, Mallow features a repeat of hibiscus flowers, and is subtle enough to allow fabrics like Pimpernel with its intriguing figure of eight tulip design to take centre stage on upholstery.
Window Blue from Sanderson Paints would work to keep this scheme airy and fresh – the ideal look for a guest bedroom or garden room. Alternatively Yacht Club blue will pick up on the slight indigo hue from the foliage in Pimpernel, or as shown below keeping walls and accessories neutral is an easy way to allow the brilliance of the Morris & Co fabrics to shine solo.
Beautiful blues and designs that feel refreshing and full of joy are an intrinsic part of the Simply Morris collection
Whichever way you look at it the new Simply Morris collection, with its focus on Fresh Maximalism is William Morris reimagined for modern living. As a brand steeped in heritage, and an archive which allows them to explore a plethora of pigments and patterns, Morris & Co still have their eyes firmly on the prize when it comes to designing collections which excite the imagination, and take you into a world of creativity and colour.
All images in this post are courtesy of Morris & Co