These Are the Pattern Trends Designers Are Expecting to Lead the Way in 2027 – From Florals to Whimsical Murals

The most stylish homes all have one thing in common: they're expressive, filled with personality-led interior choices that tell a story, and pattern is often a key element in doing so.

Decorating with patterns – from classic florals to a traditional stripe – is a tool designers often rely on to bring movement and rhythm to rooms and provide a visual break from block colors, but choosing a timeless pattern that won't quickly date is key to ensuring your design choices have longevity.

With that in mind, what patterns feel most stylish for 2027? Here, interior designers and textile experts share five pattern trends expected to be big in the coming year, while also being rooted in history that gives them a timeless quality. Whether you incorporate these stylish patterns boldly with wallpaper or more sparingly with smaller decor, they will no doubt elevate your home with character.

1. Gingham

Gingham is a classic pattern that, over the past few years, has been quietly resurfacing as a stylish way to bring a sense of cottage charm to homes. For the year ahead, designers are expecting to see this ramp up, with gingham becoming a go-to pattern choice beyond just rustic styles.

'We’re already seeing a real appetite for gingham from customers in both the UK and US, which is usually a good sign of where things are heading,' explains Louisa Tratalos, founder of bespoke fabric studio Colours of Arley. 'We’ve all seen gingham before, but it feels very different when you take it out of the expected red-and-white or blue-and-white combinations and put it into an unexpected color. Suddenly it feels graphic, modern, and much more sophisticated. I think 2027 will be about that kind of reinterpretation – taking something familiar and making it feel like your own.'

And while interior designer Michelle Gage is also championing decorating with gingham for 2027, she enjoys it for its classic roots. 'Gingham is a timeless pattern,' she says. 'You can see it being used throughout the last few decades. It feels classic because it's a sort of plaid – and it's two-tone, usually one color being white, so it's a pattern that feels familiar and absorbable.'

'Gingham – like stripes – has been around forever, which is probably why it doesn’t feel like a trend in the first place,' agrees Louisa. 'It’s familiar without being fussy, and there’s something very pleasing about that simple, graphic grid.'

To style gingham in a modern way in 2027, designers are embracing a more-is-more approach with pattern on pattern. 'I love pairing ginghams with florals,' says Michelle, who opted for this approach in this bedroom. 'It feels playful, fun, and fresh.'

And although gingham can lean English country in style, Louisa assures it is just as relevant for more modern spaces. 'It works beautifully on a country kitchen curtain or a traditional upholstered chair, but put it in an unexpected color, or use it as a sheer at the window, and suddenly it feels completely at home in a more modern scheme.'

2. Small-Scale Motifs

One prominent shift some designers are noticing for the year ahead is a shift towards small-scale patterns. 'In recent years, we have seen large-scale prints take center stage in interiors,' says designer Tamsyn Mason, founder of Tamsyn Mason Interior Design. 'I think we are now seeing a shift towards more nuanced designs that layer within a room and reveal themselves more slowly. Small-scale motifs create a gentler impact. They can still feel interesting and detailed, but there is something more soothing about their rhythm and repetition.'

The reason small-scale patterns feel timeless as well as of the moment is that they offer a sense of nostalgia. 'Whether geometric or floral, these patterns often have a wonderful sense of familiarity, in part because they echo the craftsmanship and pattern-making traditions we have grown up around,' says Tamsyn. 'They can remind us of patterns we have encountered throughout our lives and in the homes we remember, but that doesn't mean they have to feel old-fashioned or fussy.'

To reimagine small-scale patterns with a modern look, take inspiration from this bathroom and pair wallpaper with a bolder paint color. 'Smaller-scale patterns are particularly effective on wallpaper, where they reveal themselves gradually, creating a subtle richness that becomes more apparent the longer you spend in a room,' explains Tamsyn.

You could also experiment with using scale to mix patterns. 'Smaller-scale patterns can work beautifully alongside larger, bolder designs, creating a balance that feels both considered and natural,' adds Tamsyn. 'On upholstery, a smaller, more intricate pattern can be paired with bold, colorful cushions, rather than relying on plain fabrics to provide contrast. The smaller scale adds detail and texture, while the larger prints introduce impact and personality. Surprisingly, this combination can often feel more harmonious than a contrast between pattern and block color, bringing greater depth and a sense of ease to a room with a thoughtful interplay of scale.'

3. Traditional Florals

Floral room ideas are another classic within the interior design world, but the types of florals designers reach for are constantly evolving. For 2027, traditional and whimsical motifs that feel rooted in nostalgia are leading the way. 'We are finding that our clients have become a lot more open to florals and less worried about them feeling too traditional or too feminine,' says designer Emily Ruff of Cohesively Curated. 'I think florals feel timeless because they’ve been used in interiors for centuries, and there are so many different interpretations of them.'

'I expect to see a return to more traditional floral patterns, particularly classic motifs like hollyhocks and roses,' she adds. 'These patterns have a nostalgic quality that feels especially relevant as we’re seeing more interest in interiors with warmth, character, and a collected feel.'

Another reason why florals feel relevant for 2027 is that they bring a sense of nature indoors – something that is increasingly being reflected in interior design trends. 'We’ve seen a broader movement toward natural materials, organic elements, and interiors that feel more layered and personal,' says Emily. 'Floral patterns fit naturally into that direction because they bring an element of nature indoors while adding softness and personality.'

As is important with most patterns, getting the scale right is key to making florals work in 2027. 'When you’re incorporating multiple floral patterns into a room, you want to vary the scale so they complement rather than compete with one another,' Emily advises. 'I also like to mix florals with solids, stripes, plaid, and more textural patterns to give the eye somewhere to rest.'

'The key is creating a balance between patterned and solid surfaces, and mixing in different textures and materials,' says Emily. 'That’s what keeps a room from feeling overly themed and allows the florals to feel like a natural part of the design.'

4. Whimsical Murals

Wall murals are one of the most dramatic ways to decorate with pattern, and experts are predicting their whimsical appeal will increase in 2027. 'Murals have become increasingly popular due to their ability to completely transform a space and create a sense of escapism,' says Chloe Vince, senior decorating consultant at House of Hackney.

'The home is a sanctuary to nurture and inspire, and with the change to modern working patterns, more people are spending time at home and looking to invite the outdoors in through nature-inspired patterns and wallpapers,' Chloe adds.

And while murals feel fitting for the way design trends are heading, they are by no means new. 'Decorative murals have featured throughout the history of design, from the Italian Renaissance and Roman antiquity to the chinoiserie style that peaked during the Baroque and Rococo periods,' explains Chloe. 'Nature is the recurring inspiration for murals, from the soft botanicals of chinoiserie to the scenic landscape taken from French archival prints that we see so prominently in today's interior trends.'

With the right design, murals work well in both traditional and modern interiors. 'Nature-inspired murals help to bridge the gap between architectural spaces and the natural world, making them very versatile for both traditional and contemporary spaces,' says Chloe.

'For more traditional interiors, you can opt for an idyllic landscape or beautiful botanicals found in chinoiserie designs,' advises Chloe. 'The soft but rich palette often grounded in greens, browns and blues is timeless and acts as the perfect building block for a scheme.'

'For a playful, contemporary look, our HOLLYHOCKS is a print full of joy and a touch of irreverence,' she adds. 'While capturing the pastoral purity and romance of the English countryside, our punk spirit is embedded in the print's riot of flowers, making it the perfect backdrop for an inspiring retreat.'

Whichever type of mural you go for, a more graphic print alongside can modernize the look. 'I like to add a stripe as a visual break,' says Chloe. 'This helps to soften the scheme and creates a playful but timeless look.'

5. Chintz

For the more maximalist decorating styles, expect to see a return to chintz in 2027. But no longer are we talking about the chintz rooms of the '80s with their elaborately layered look and ruffled textiles; this decorative print needs a level of restraint.

'Chintz has been quietly having a moment for a while, and I think 2027 will bring it firmly back into the conversation,' says Jools Cornell, founder and creative director at fabric studio Pukka Print. 'There’s a real appetite now for interiors that feel more expressive, layered and individual. People are embracing pattern, color and abundance again, rather than feeling everything has to be quiet and minimal.'

And while this traditional print can quickly look dated when a room is overwhelmed by it, the right applications of contemporary chintz feel timeless. 'I think chintz is timeless because the things at its heart – flowers, foliage, color and craftsmanship – never really go out of fashion,' says Jools.

But how do you make this maximalist print work in 2027? 'My biggest piece of advice is not to be frightened of it,' Jools adds. 'Let chintz have a voice rather than trying to make everything else in the room match. I love using it on upholstery, curtains or a single statement piece, then bringing in plain linen, stripes or something more graphic to break things up.'

More unexpected colors can help make chintz feel more modern too, rather than dated. 'Don’t feel you have to use traditional colors,' advises Jools. 'Playing with color and scale can make traditional motifs feel incredibly fresh. I also love mixing periods and textures – an antique alongside something contemporary, polished wood with linen, a floral next to a stripe. The trick is to make a room feel collected rather than themed. Chintz should feel like part of the story, not the whole story.'

The best patterns to decorate with in 2027 are those that work with your existing design, adding personality and movement without overwhelming the room with a themed look. With any of these on-trend options for the year ahead, how they are incorporated will keep them looking contemporary, from experimenting with different scales so a room doesn't look overly matched to going for unexpected colorways.

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