Lifestyle
Flights Of Fancy: 15 Whimsical Items For Your Home
Slide Nr 1Closet maximalists, rejoice! Less is no longer more. After years of tasteful greiges and sleek shapes, the pendulum of home decor is swinging back towards individuality, adornment and assorted accoutrements. Enter: the whimsy trend.
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Flights Of Fancy: 15 Whimsical Items For Your Home.
Slide Nr 2More than a specific aesthetic, whimsy is an approach to decorating that prioritises authentic character and quirk over the concept of “good taste”, often looking to nostalgic, high-deco fashions of the past – be that the ‘60s, ‘70s, Art Deco or cottagecore – for inspiration. Think of it as mood dressing for your interiors: every piece should tell a story or at least add a spark of joy, making your home feel, well, homey – and if every element doesn’t align with the latest microtrend, then all the better.
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Lifestyle
Flights Of Fancy: 15 Whimsical Items For Your Home.
Slide Nr 3One advantage of embracing the mismatch is that there’s no need to rip out the carpets or repaper the walls to get started (which also makes whimsy a convenient option for personalising rental properties). You can start small with a few tchotchkes or a shelf of trinkets that make you smile. And before you start scouring shops and internet sites for fanciful acquisitions, consider which of your current possessions might tie into the ethos. Display that wonky ceramic vase you made with pride, for example, or consider repainting your existing furniture a fun new hue.
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Flights Of Fancy: 15 Whimsical Items For Your Home.
Slide Nr 4Once you’re ready to enhance your space with a few purchases, the world of whimsy is your oyster. By nature, the quirky look is all about personal expression, so we can’t provide a ready-made, one-size-fits-all shopping list, but we have selected a few delightfully froufrou pieces to get your creativity flowing…
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Lifestyle
Flights Of Fancy: 15 Whimsical Items For Your Home.
Slide Nr 5Get Groovy – The interiors of the 1960s aren’t remembered for their restraint, so they’re a useful source of inspiration for those looking for something unique. This floral cushion cover introduces instant character and chromaticism to a neutral-hued sofa or bed, making it a great way to dip your toes in the whimsical waters without committing to a full makeover.
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Lifestyle
Flights Of Fancy: 15 Whimsical Items For Your Home.
Slide Nr 6Spinning Around – Springing forward a decade, this ‘70s swivel dining chair by artist and designer Yinka Ilori is sure to bring joyful energy to any meal. The funky curves evoke a subtle nostalgia that’s central to the whimsy trend, and, what’s more, the green-and-beige palette is surprisingly easy to combine – there are no visible wood or metal elements, so it can be paired with a wide variety of tables. If it’s a bit too much green for your taste, you can alternate between the patterned and ivory bouclé models.
Image courtesy of Dunelm 5/18
Lifestyle
Flights Of Fancy: 15 Whimsical Items For Your Home.
Slide Nr 7Studied Seating – If ‘60s fashions fit the whimsical aesthetic thanks to their fearless chromaticism, it’s the sumptuous silhouettes that make Art Deco an excellent fit. This shell desk chair provides a bit more decorative cheer where it is perhaps needed most: in your home office.
Image courtesy of Beliani 6/18
Lifestyle
Flights Of Fancy: 15 Whimsical Items For Your Home.
Slide Nr 8Light and Bright – One simple trick for enhancing the personality of any space is to add colour and pattern to accessories that, in recent decades at least, have tended to lean more workmanlike. Instead of basic spotlights, this Cath Kidston-designed ceramic pendant lamp, with a plain cream exterior and an intricately patterned “strawberry garden” inside, raises the frippery all the way to the ceiling with two staples of whimsy: florals and ruffles.
Image courtesy of Next 7/18
Lifestyle
Flights Of Fancy: 15 Whimsical Items For Your Home.
Slide Nr 9Cheesy China – Whimsy and novelty go hand in hand, as exemplified by this cheese tray handcrafted by Portuguese ceramics maison Bordallo Pinheiro. Adorned with a cat-and-mouse pattern and topped with a mouse nibbling an archetypal triangle of cheese, its vintage feel and tongue-in-cheek design are sure to elicit a smile.
Image courtesy of Bordallo Pinheiro 8/18
Lifestyle
Flights Of Fancy: 15 Whimsical Items For Your Home.
Slide Nr 10Cooking Up Kitsch – A staple of kitchens around the world for decades, Le Creuset has branched out in the last few years, demonstrating a more playful side with pumpkin casserole dishes, heart crockery and even a Pokémon collaboration. Our favourites are the blueberry-, strawberry- and peach-shaped cocottes – a quirky yet extremely useful addition to any kitchen.
Image courtesy of Le Creuset 9/18
Lifestyle
Flights Of Fancy: 15 Whimsical Items For Your Home.
Slide Nr 11Sitting Ducks – Make your bathroom a little less utilitarian with this bath mat featuring the undisputed stars of kitschy bathroom decor: three fresh-from-the-tub rubber ducks. If you really want to commit to the bit, matching facecloths, ornaments and towels of varying sizes are all available. If you have your own collection of rubber ducks to finish off the look, then all the better.
Image courtesy of Next 10/18
Lifestyle
Flights Of Fancy: 15 Whimsical Items For Your Home.
Slide Nr 12Reflected Glory – A mirror is often the largest ornamental item in a room, so for an immediate upgrade, ditch frameless minimalism in favour of a fun border like this twisty lemon-yellow floor-length number. Add another creative personal touch by hanging fake flowers or pendants on the corners. Alternatively, you can spruce up your existing mirror by crafting your own frame from wood or decorative foam coving, spray-painting it any hue you choose, and attaching it using mirror adhesive.
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Flights Of Fancy: 15 Whimsical Items For Your Home.
Slide Nr 13Slumber on the Shore – Though it has somewhat fallen out of favour in the mainstream design world, the natural warmth and organic texture of rattan is returning to the limelight. This petal-like headboard brings a ‘70s beach-house vibe that evokes memories of days in the sun. Weave in fairy lights for a cosy touch.
Image courtesy of La Redoute 12/18
Lifestyle
Flights Of Fancy: 15 Whimsical Items For Your Home.
Slide Nr 14A Warm Welcome – Set the tone before you even enter the house with the sweetest of welcomes: a patisserie-shaped doormat in durable coir. If you’re not much of a sweet tooth, other options include decadent champagne and caviar or, for humbler souls, a tin of sardines.
Image courtesy of Anthropologie 13/18
Lifestyle
Flights Of Fancy: 15 Whimsical Items For Your Home.
Slide Nr 15Curtain Call – Though it may be best known for its low-key, Scandi-chic aesthetic, Ikea isn’t afraid to get a little whimsical now and then. These floral curtains will perfectly complement any potted plants on your windowsill, featuring fruits, flowers and vines that feel like something out of a children’s book.
Image courtesy of IKEA 14/18
Lifestyle
Flights Of Fancy: 15 Whimsical Items For Your Home.
Slide Nr 16Table Talk – Inspired by colourful Spanish ceramics, this flowery tablecloth is both pretty and practical. It’s made of waxy oilcloth, so you can simply wipe it clean without worrying about liquids seeping through, and it can be ordered by length to fit any table, starting from one metre. For maximum effect, opt for contrasting placemats and coasters.
Image courtesy of John Lewis 15/18
Lifestyle
Flights Of Fancy: 15 Whimsical Items For Your Home.
Slide Nr 17Wonderfully Witchy – From Practical Magic to Charmed and Sabrina, the witches of the ‘90s nailed whimsical interiors with their eclectic abodes. Most of us mere mortals can’t justify splurging on Tiffany lamps and stained-glass windows, but this brass candle holder captures a glimmer of that nostalgia-tinged magic, and plenty of similar vintage items can be found on Etsy.
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Lifestyle
Flights Of Fancy: 15 Whimsical Items For Your Home.
Slide Nr 18Skirting the Issue – Once a popular way to cover bare bed frames and unsightly legs, the bed skirt is staging a comeback. The frilly form of this yellow gingham style has an old-fashioned cottagey vibe that’s wholly aligned with a more-is-more approach. Don’t worry about matching it with your bedsheets – eclecticism is the goal here!
Image courtesy of Jotex 17/18
Lifestyle
Flights Of Fancy: 15 Whimsical Items For Your Home.
Slide Nr 19Frills and Flow – After a long day of decorating fun, lie back – in whimsy, of course – with the ruffled edges and candy-striped motif of this cosy duvet cover. Pair it with the matching flounced pillows, or mix it up with cushions in complementary shades for a lived-in look.
Image courtesy of Westwing 18/18
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