Trees, wildlife and country scenes have inspired designers for well over a century, and they still bring a lovely sense of calm indoors. In this post we look at woodland and countryside designs in wallpaper and fabric, how each one behaves in a room, and how to combine them so your home feels like a walk in the woods rather than a theme park.
Silver birch for a quiet, airy room
If you want a woodland feel without a busy pattern, a tree-trunk design is the place to start. The strong verticals draw the eye upwards and can make a ceiling feel higher.
Woods Wallpaper from Cole & Son is taken from an iconic 1959 screen print and has become a firm Cole & Son favourite. Its silver birch design comes in uncomplicated tones and understated hues: Black on White, Linen on Cream, White on Old Olive, Soot on Foil, White on Lilac Grey, Linen & Charcoal and Parchment. The paler colourways are restful in a bedroom or hallway, while Soot on Foil adds a little glow in the evening. The design is also available as Woods Linen Union fabric if you want to carry the trees onto curtains or a blind.
Morris trees and meadow flowers
For a richer, more traditional take on the countryside, Morris & Co is hard to beat. William Morris drew constantly on nature, and several designs in the archive bring the garden and the woodland together.
Kelmscott Tree Fabric was inspired by Kelmscott Manor, Morris's Cotswolds country home. Alison Gee adapted it for Morris & Co from the curtains of Morris's bedroom there, which were designed and embroidered in 1891 by his daughter May. It depicts trees and the wildlife they support, and it is printed on a linen-rich blend at 20,000 Martindale, so it is suitable for upholstery as well as curtains, blinds and cushions. Choose from Woad/Wine, Mulberry/Russet and Forest/Gold.
To partner it on the walls, Snakeshead Wallpaper is a natural choice. Reportedly one of William Morris's favourite designs, it was first produced in 1876 and shows clusters of snakeshead fritillaries and flame-like motifs held by delicate scrolling tendrils. It is described as an ideal partner for larger-scale Morris fabrics, and its earthy colourways, including Forest/Thyme, Madder/Gold and Indigo/Cumin, sit comfortably with Kelmscott Tree. See more from the Morris & Co collection.
Country scenes for studies and dining rooms
A pictorial design tells a story, which makes it ideal for rooms where you sit and linger.
Tally Ho Wallpaper from Sanderson was originally hand block printed in 1948, and its hunting scene has been repainted to capture the charm of the original. It is at home in studies and in cosy living and dining rooms, and it comes in Teal/Ruby, Evergreen/Crimson and Pearl/Grey. Evergreen/Crimson feels warm and clubby by lamplight, while Pearl/Grey is softer for a smaller room.
How to mix woodland designs
Nature-inspired patterns tend to get along well, but a few simple rules help:
- Vary the scale. Pair a larger fabric design with a smaller-scale wallpaper, or the other way round, so they do not compete.
- Share a colour. Pick out one shade, a forest green or a soft russet, and let it appear in both the wallpaper and the fabric.
- Add natural textures. Wood, linen and wool sit happily alongside tree and leaf patterns.
- Give pattern a rest. Keep one wall or the larger furniture plain so the designs have room to breathe.
Ready to bring the woodland home? Browse our wallpaper and fabric collections online, or visit the shop in Somerset, where our team will gladly help you match papers and fabrics for your room.
