Scion is the brand we reach for when a room needs a lift of colour and a bit of wit. This guide covers where Scion comes from, what makes its patterns so recognisable, and practical ways to use its wallpapers and fabrics together, with examples from the designs we stock.
Who Is Scion?
Scion launched in 2012 as part of Sanderson Design Group, the same family as Sanderson, Morris & Co, Zoffany and Harlequin. Where those houses lean on archive and heritage, Scion was created to bring a younger, more playful energy to interiors: clean lines, bright colour, Scandinavian-inspired pattern and plenty of animals. Its designs come from a team of designers in the UK, and its best-known character is Mr Fox, the fox who has become a shorthand for the brand's cheerful outlook.
The Signature Scion Look
Look closely at most Scion designs and you'll find a hand-made quality under the bold colour. Canter wallpaper was originally created as a linocut, so its bold, handcrafted marks are still visible as playful horses, with stylised manes and tails, canter back and forth across the wall. Cedar wallpaper uses lino-printed branches, trunks and leaves laid over blocks of colour to make stylised trees, in Almond/Cobalt/Midnight or Blush/Toffee/Taupe.
Geometry is the other half of the story. Aikyo, from the Japandi wallpaper collection, draws on Japanese influences for a geometric pattern with a handcrafted feel, in the jewel-like colourways Coast and Hemp. Barbican, from Scion Zanzibar, is quieter still: a subtle geometric with a metallic hint, inspired by the hard edges of the Barbican Conservatory. If you prefer something classic, Central Check gives the traditional check a contemporary upgrade, with larger proportions and a subtle cloth texture that mimics fabric on the wall.
Match Your Wallpaper and Fabric
One of the easiest ways to use Scion is to let a design run from wall to window. Several patterns come as both a wallpaper and a fabric, so a scheme hangs together with very little effort.
- Cedar: Scion suggests teaming the wallpaper with Cedar fabric, a 100% cotton print for curtains, blinds and cushions. The fabric comes in Slate/Apple/Ivy or Tangerine/Sulphur/Chilli, so you can choose a pairing that contrasts with your walls rather than copying them.
- Canter: the Canter Print fabric puts the same galloping horses on curtains and cushions.
- Bimble: Bimble wallpaper was translated from an embroidery of the same name, a meandering, multidirectional path that conjures up ambles along the river. Pair it with the Bimble Embroidery fabric, whose top stitch references a blanket stitch, on cushions or a headboard.
A tip from the shop: when you match, change the scale of the surface. A full wall of pattern plus a pair of cushions in the same design feels considered; the same print on walls, curtains and sofa can feel like too much.
Scion Fabrics for Curtains, Cushions and Upholstery
Scion's fabrics run from printed designs to embroideries and sheers. The Esala collection is a good place to start. Axis is a kaleidoscopic mix of geometric shapes in a colour-clash Tangerine/Citrus, made for adding interest to living rooms, bedrooms and hallways. Calm it down with Ballari, an embroidery whose criss-cross stitch forms an interlocking fan leaf motif; it is described as a great partner to bold designs, in Pumpkin or Flint. Athyrium, from the same collection, is a printed embroidery of layered fern leaves and fronds in gentler colourways such as Chalk Pewter and Biscuit.
For windows where you want to filter light rather than block it, Ayaka Sheer is a bold floral blossom burn-out from the Haiku collection. It is railroaded, meaning the fabric is turned and its width becomes the maximum drop, so check it against your window height before ordering.
Styling Tips from Our Team
- Pair bold walls with calm furniture. Let a Canter or Cedar wall be the focal point and keep the sofa and rug plain.
- Mix pattern with natural texture. Wood, linen and wool balance Scion's brighter colours.
- Use prints in unexpected places. Upholstered headboards, a statement armchair or a lampshade are all good homes for a Scion fabric.
- Match the mood to the room. Playful animal designs suit family spaces and children's rooms; the Japandi and Zanzibar designs sit well in a calmer living room or hallway.
Browse the Scion collection, or go straight to our Scion wallpapers and Scion fabrics to see the full range. If you'd like help pairing a wallpaper with a fabric, visit us in Somerset or get in touch with the team and we'll talk it through.
