Botanical Prints: A Guide to Bringing this Style of Wall Art Into Your Home

How to Use Botanical Prints in Your Home 

Are Botanical Prints in Style?

Botanical prints are in style! They’ve made a huge comeback in the past fifteen years, and they're not just for traditional wallpaper or vintage décor trends. Botanical prints can be fresh, vibrant, and used within a multitude of design styles. 

Botanical prints offer a timeless elegance that transcends fleeting fashion trends and will work in various interior settings. 

 

 

When did botanical prints come back into style?

As with many design elements, the popularity of botanical prints has ebbed and flowed over the years.

However, the most recent resurgence of botanical prints in interior design and fashion began in the 2010s with an increasing emphasis on mindfulness, well-being, and a return to nature. In addition, biophilic design, which focuses on incorporating natural elements into indoor spaces to promote well-being, gained traction.

Botanical prints fit perfectly into this paradigm.

In addition, there was a resurgence of vintage and retro styles in both fashion and interior design in the latter part of the 2010s. As botanical prints have historic roots, they naturally fit into this trend. 

 

Classic botanical prints are one part science and one part art.

 

Do botanical prints have cultural or historical significance?

Botanical prints started as a way for scientists to record plant species. Over time, these illustrations held both educational and aesthetic value. They're a blend of art, history, and science! 

How can you incorporate botanical prints into your home decor?

One of the easiest ways to incorporate botanical prints into your home is with grouping of framed botanical prints. Four 8x8 botanical prints make a perfect grouping above your dresser drawers in the bedroom. While three 10x10 botanical prints framed and matted in 12x12 frames look beautiful above a sofa, love seat, or credenza. 

 

 

If you don’t want to start with your walls, you can add some botanical prints to your home with throw pillows, curtains, tea towels or a table cloth. 

But if you're all in, go for a botanical wallpaper or big art pieces. A 12x12 botanical print framed with nice wide matting will create a gorgeous show stopper to act as the focal point in a bedroom, dining room, or above the kitchen table. And remember, a few potted plants and other natural elements and textures will pair beautifully with these prints.

 

 

Who are some of the most renowned artists or designers of botanical prints?

People often rave about artists like Pierre-Joseph Redouté (painter and botanist) and Maria Sibylla Merian (German entomologist, artist, and naturalist) from the past. But there are also contemporary artists out there, like Helen Ahpornsiri, who do amazing work. 

 

  

June Hunter’s blue botanicals series combines fine art photography with graphic design to create timeless prints that can be incorporated into a variety of decor styles from bohemian to farmhouse to cottagecore and Scandinavian. 

If your home has an eclectic style that incorporates light bright colours or saturated high contrast colours, these deep blue botanical prints may be the perfect way to finish a room. 

 

  

When did botanical prints first become a trend in design and fashion?

Botanical prints found their footing in the 18th and 19th centuries, primarily for scientific documentation. However, these vivid depictions of plants soon caught the attention of design lovers. By the turn of the 20th century, they were firmly established within interior décor and fashion spheres, having transitioned from scientific records to art forms.

Their cyclical trend pattern in design history is indicative of their enduring appeal. Today, they resonate with a modern audience much as they did with past generations.

 

 

Is there a particular color palette that complements botanical prints?

While botanical prints are versatile, they often harmonize well with earthy and neutral tones. Palettes encompassing greens, browns, soft beiges, or muted blues can accentuate their organic feel. However, to create a contrasting pop, don't hesitate to introduce bolder hues like deep blues, golds, greens, or rich terracottas. 

The key lies in creating a balance, allowing the prints to stand out, yet seamlessly integrate into the chosen ambiance. The choice of color palette should ideally be influenced by the specific botanical print, its hues, and the desired overall aesthetic of the space.

You can go for an analogous colour combination where your botanicals draw on the same colours in the room. Or you can opt for something high contrast. 

 

 

Can botanical prints be paired with other patterns and textures?

Botanical print can be paired with other patterns and textures as long as you do it mindfully. The key is to balance out busy prints with something simpler.

Geometric shapes, stripes, or even certain abstract patterns can complement botanicals if there's a coherent color and scale harmony. Natural fibers like linen or jute, can further enhance the organic feel.  A curated approach, blending patterns and textures, can lead to a rich, layered design story.

 

 

What type of design styles do botanical prints work best with?

Botanical prints are incredibly versatile and can complement a wide range of design styles. 

 

  

 

Here's a list of design styles that harmoniously integrate botanical motifs:

Bohemian: Known for its eclectic and layered look, the Bohemian style often incorporates natural elements, making botanical prints a natural fit.

Scandinavian: While characterized by its minimalist and functional approach, the Scandinavian style also emphasizes a connection to nature, making muted botanical prints a subtle addition.

Farmhouse: With its rustic charm, the Farmhouse style pairs well with vintage botanical prints, enhancing its cozy and homey feel.

Vintage: Given the historic nature of many botanical illustrations, they can be seamlessly integrated into vintage decor.

Botanicals work well in vintage, eclectic, and cottagecore-inspired spaces.

Tropical: This style's emphasis on lush and vibrant flora makes it a perfect backdrop for bold and colorful botanical motifs.

Eclectic: This style, by definition, borrows from various design influences, allowing for the integration of botanical prints alongside other patterns and textures.

Contemporary: Modern spaces can benefit from the contrast and organic touch that botanical prints bring, especially when used as statement pieces.

Coastal: While often associated with marine motifs, the Coastal style can also incorporate botanicals, especially those reminiscent of beachy flora like palm leaves.

Traditional: The elegance and detail of botanical prints can elevate a Traditional space, adding an academic or classic touch.

Shabby Chic: Botanical prints, especially those with a faded or aged look, can enhance the romantic and distressed vibe of the Shabby Chic style.

Rustic: Rooted in a love for nature and the outdoors, the Rustic style naturally pairs well with botanical themes, especially those depicting local or native plants.

Tropical botanicals are a fine choice for light and airy spaces.

Biophilic Design: Centered on integrating nature into built spaces to enhance human well-being, this design philosophy embraces botanical prints for their organic and natural aesthetics.

Industrial: The raw and urban feel of the Industrial style can be softened and contrasted beautifully with botanical prints, creating a blend of man-made and natural.

Art Deco: While primarily known for geometric patterns, the lush and opulent Art Deco style can also accommodate botanical themes, especially when they're rendered in a more stylized or glamorous manner.

Botanical prints, given their wide appeal and timeless nature, can be adapted to fit a myriad of design styles. Their integration depends on the specific print's color, scale, and detailing, as well as the overall desired ambiance of the space.

 

 

What are the different types of botanical prints?

When people think about botanical prints, they often think immediately of the vintage hand drawn and painted prints of the 18th and 19th century. But a botanical print is any rendering of a plant in a printed format. 

Botanical prints, which primarily focus on illustrating plant life, can be categorized based on several factors, including their style, purpose, and method of creation. If you’re looking for some botanical print inspiration, here are all the different types of botanical prints to consider when adding a touch of nature to your home.

 

 

Here are some of the distinct types of botanical prints:

Scientific Illustrations: 

These are the most detailed and accurate depictions, often used in botanical texts and research. Historically, they played a crucial role in documenting and sharing information about plant species, especially during the Age of Exploration.

Decorative Art Prints: 

These are created with the primary goal of aesthetics rather than scientific accuracy. While they might still be detailed, there's often more freedom in color and composition.

Vintage or Antique Prints: 

Originating from older botanical books or collections, these prints have a distinct charm and often show signs of age or a particular art style from the era they were produced.

Stylized or Abstracted Prints: 

Modern interpretations of plant life, these prints might play with color, form, and scale, offering a more artistic or abstracted view of botanicals.

Florilegia: 

A collection of detailed prints often documenting the plants in a specific garden or region. Historically, wealthy estate owners would commission artists to create florilegia of their gardens.

Herbaria: 

Actual pressed plants that are mounted on paper. While they are a form of botanical documentation, they offer a three-dimensional and tactile aspect.

Woodcuts and Engravings: 

These are older printing techniques where the image is carved into wood or metal plates. The result is a print that has a distinct lined texture and often feels more rustic or handmade.

Watercolor Prints: 

These are softer and often have a more fluid appearance due to the nature of watercolor painting. This method allows for gradient tones and a sense of depth.

 

You can combine botanicals with textured wallpaper or painted wall effects.

 

Photographic Botanical Prints: 

Modern technology has enabled detailed photographic documentation of plant life. These prints capture the minute details and real colors of the subjects.

Patterned or Repeated Prints: 

These are commonly found in textiles or wallpaper and feature a repeated botanical motif in a patterned format.

Themed Collections: 

Some botanical prints focus on specific themes, like medicinal plants, edible plants, or endangered species.

Tropical Prints: 

Highlighting plants from tropical locales, these prints are often vibrant and feature species like palms, bird of paradise, and other lush flora.

Monochromatic or Silhouette Prints: 

Using a single color (often black or another bold hue), these prints emphasize the shape and silhouette of the plant over its intricate details.

 

Blue Botanical Prints

Check out June Hunter’s collection of blue botanical prints which will add a vibrant touch of nature to your home. 

View June's Blue Botanical Prints Collection >

 

 

You'll enjoy the colour and texture that botanicals bring to your space. See June Hunter's Blue Botanicals Print Collection HERE >

 

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This article was written by Colette Nichol and reviewed by photographer and nature enthusiast June Hunter. Our aim with these short articles is to bring interesting bird facts and nature-inspired home décor info to more online readers while also highlighting June Hunter's photography and designs. To read June Hunter's popular blog the Urban Nature Enthusiast, where she shares stories about crows and ravens, please click HERE.