Mad For Plaid: Creative Ways To Decorate With The Tartan Trend

Timeless, festive and inviting. Plaid is back, and we couldn’t be more pleased. Perfect for the holidays, we’re giving you some ways to incorporate the nostalgic pattern into your home.

From neutrals to metallics and pops of colour, this pattern invasion offers something for everyone to play with in your homes. With easy updates like pillow covers and throws to statement-making duvets and wallpaper, there are so many ways to infuse the comfort and cheer of plaid into every room of your home.

Check out our favourite ways to throw your home an unforgettable plaid party…just don’t forget our invite!

Sporting crisscrossing stripes in a range of colours, tartan is an instantly recognisable pattern. It comes with a rich history, too. Though it got its start all the way back in the 6th century, the historical tartan pattern is no longer limited to Scottish kilts and bagpipes.

Plaid has a rich style history and has been around for ages. And even though it has undergone many interpretations, this Scottish classic is the sole perennial fashion trend that will never get old.

Plaid is an iconic pattern that people seem to either love or hate. But plaid seems to be stealing the spotlight, as the world seems to be going mad for plaid and the pattern is showing up everywhere. And because we tend to spend a lot more time inside during the colder months, you might as well make the best of it.

Tartan has migrated from kilts and clothing to use in a domestic setting, and while rooms that incorporated tartan used to look a little heavy or ‘ski chalet’, today’s interiors use tartan in original, thoughtful ways. Today, with thousands of colour combinations and patterns to choose from, it’s a bold and versatile statement for the season.

So why not fall in love with tartan and bring it into your home? It’s time for a Highland fling.

The easiest way to tap into this trend is by adding just a hint of tartan to your interior. Accent pieces are key. Tartan cushions, throws or even a statement chair will bring your look bang up to date without it looking like a kilt factory exploded in your home.

Pick colours that complement your current look. Bright and bold plaids are great for making a statement but be careful, they won’t work for every interior. Beige and brown prints will add that Scottish style to your home without overpowering your current look.

Already have pattern in your home? Don’t worry you can still make this trend work for you. Choose a plaid that is a different scale to the other pattern in your look – too many small patterns will give you a headache. Pick colours that complement each other and incorporate light neutrals so that the eye isn’t overwhelmed.

Now that we got the basics worked out let’s see how plaid looks on the walls, windows and furnishings.

Textiles aren’t the only way to add plaid to your home. Let your tartan wallpaper call the design shots in a room by teaming it with pieces that pick up on its key colours. Transitional tartan wallpapers in various tones refresh any space and create a bold look in place of boring, white walls.

Although traditional tartans feature strong blues, greens and reds, there are plenty of contemporary takes on this classic colour scheme. Try tartan in soft grey or beige, as on this wallpaper, to reference the pattern, but in a subtle way that’s easy to live with.

Green, red, or navy plaid not your thing? Not to worry! These muted tartan shower tiles add a distinctly masculine feel to this master bath. Paired with neutral cabinetry and simple hardware, it’s a statement without being over the top.

Wonderful tartan tiles are actually a mosaic tile design, carefully laid to reproduce the classic Scottish favourite. It’s a clever, witty way to bring colour and pattern into this bathroom.

We know commitment is tough. If you’re not looking for a permanent change but are mad about plaid, pillows, rugs and window treatments are the perfect temporary touch.

It’s confined to a cushion, but the tartan fabric in the above images add some welcome pattern and seems to unite all the other elements in the room, from the throw to the artwork and soft upholstery.

A tartan rug is not to everyone’s taste, but used confidently and teamed with surprising, exciting furniture and accessories, it can look a wee bit marvellous. Here, the tartan underfoot takes on a glamorous feel, combined with boudoir-style staircase and an elegant table. The plaster walls add a gritty contrast, for a room that’s bold and super sure of itself.

Also, don’t be afraid to add plaid to the heart of your home. Upgrade those checkerboard kitchen floors with a muted plaid. When you’re going for such a bold pattern in the kitchen, keep the rest of the space muted.

Grab the softest blanket you can find and sink into this slouchy sofa. Both stylish and cosy, checked chairs are the perfect accessory for your home. If you’re more into a subtle touch, sit a check chair alongside a structured sofa to give your space a playful mid-century modern feel.

Upholstery in a tartan fabric looks stylish, bringing a whiff of country-house chic to a room, but without dominating the scheme.

Does it get any better than a comfy bed paired with flannel? Complementary plaid bedding fronting a matching orange wall makes for a seriously cosy bedroom look, especially with the addition of thick-pile rugs or fur throws.

So simple, but so effective, this tartan bed sheet transforms this bedroom. It makes the plain white duvet cover come alive and brings warmth and character to the simple scheme.

Don’t limit plaid to just the interior of your home. Plaid-woven throws and pillows make a statement in an otherwise minimalist outdoor space, and even a simple tartan doormat gives guests with a warm welcome.