This year one look has continuously dominated social media and the high street homeware collection; a look we're calling the 'new romantics'. Think ruffles, nostalgic patterns and earthy pink colour palettes. This look is soft and feminine, without being overly fussy.
Carefully treading the line between a home that is on-trend, but not a fashion victim, can be tricky when ruffles are involved. However, there are a few styling tips that can ensure the decorative details and beautiful patterns of this 2026 home decor trend still look just as lovely in five years time as they do today.
The trick lies in keeping the look fresh by pairing the romantic look with contemporary furniture shapes and a muted colour palette. You also need to practice a little bit of restraint and be careful not to go overboard with the decorative flourishes.
1. Pick a faded palette
Choose colours that feel washed out and gently timeworn over sugary pastels and bright, pristine palettes. Sage greens with faded rose tones is a perfect classic colour pairing. For something new, pick dirty peach or nude paints in lieu of traditional pink tones if you want to create an elegantly grown-up space.
'For living room walls look for a muted, earthy shade of pink that adds depth and feels refined, rather than sugary and sweet,' says Heather Young, Ideal Home Editor-in-Chief.
Look for wallpapers and fabrics with a soft, watery, painted look; the brushed or washed colours will add movement and depth to a room, creating an easy, modern atmosphere. Pair with more formal stripes on runners and rugs.
2. Choose nostalgic patterns
Pattern mixing is key to the look, but the secret to keeping it fresh and contemporary is not to have everything perfectly matched. Try layering one hero pattern, such as a painterly floral, with small ditsy prints, ticking stripes or soft geometrics, all in loosely connected colours, to add contrast.
In the space pictured above, stripped-back styling and contemporary furniture let this peach-toned trailing floral wallpaper become the hero in the space, for a feel that's up-to-date rather than traditional.
3. Add decorative details
Loose, flouncy frills on cushions, pleated lampshades and ruffled curtain headings and valances instantly add a romantic air, but you don't need to incorporate them all in one space. Using them in just one or two areas allows them to breathe rather than overwhelm.
Layer a few frilled cushions or curtains with a softly ruffled heading to bring a romantic touch to a living room. The clean lines of a contemporary sofa, neutral geometric rug and abstract art will keep the scheme fresh and current.
Balance the fills and details with textured finishes. 'Natural textures, such as a wool rug on a parquet floor, or simple woven curtains will ground romantic florals and create balance,' says Ginevra Bennedetti, Digital Editor.
4. Select your shades
Choose a combination of soft strawberry, mint and lemon yellow for an uplifting summer vibe. For a more relaxed scheme, we love chocolate, vanilla and rich mango paired with warm wood tones. Don't like mixing flavours? Go for a monochrome ice cream scheme, layering caramel or butterscotch tones with milky accents.
A backdrop of plain peach-toned painted walls allows the ditsy floral bed linen and decorative details, such as frill-edged lamps and an armchair, to add layers of interest, ensuring the romantic bedroom scheme feels gracefully grown-up.
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