The Comeback: Floral Sofas

The floral sofa is having a moment. Forget about that dated full-on floral patterned settee from days gone by, banish associations with your granny's matchy-matchy floral curtain/sofa/carpet combo (complete with antimacassars), because now there's a new wave of flowery upholstery that packs a punch.

Done right, a contemporary floral sofa can bring energy, colour and pizzazz into any living space. Take this Sofa.com collaboration with East London design house, Occipinti. Its oversized floral watercolour print in rich indigo and purple hues is alive with vibrant, painterly marks, which keep the overall look dramatic and modern – not dated.

For another way to transform florals into daring decor, turn to the plush House of Hackney's Midnight Garden Wilton Sofa in a luxurious moody black velvet. Its wild, gothic florals echo paintings by the Dutch masters but with a decidedly rock 'n' roll edge. If you're more inclined to a pretty, vintage look, try Dunelm's Floral Bloom Lottie Chair, or if you're a fan of the Impressionists, try giving your existing seating a face-lift with Harlequin's Monet-inspired Giverny fabric. That should send the 1980s floral sofa phenomena with its tassels and frills spinning on its hind legs.

But don't let the nostalgia stop there, check out other interiors trends that are having a comeback, such as bar trollies, patterned carpets and rattan furniture.