Vintage prints are making a comeback – designers say to look out for these 5 nostalgic patterns this year

A collected, characterful home tends to be filled with vintage gems and embraces all things second-hand, be it furniture, decor, or fabrics. Recently, it's the latter that has caught my eye, as I've noticed heritage patterns cropping up everywhere, adorning walls, furniture, floors and more.

Decorating with pattern is a failsafe way to enhance a room with beautiful visual interest, elegantly lifting a scheme with movement, color and, most of all, personality. Of course, when decorating with vintage, many nostalgic prints offer a wonderfully timeless feel, and over the last few years, more and more of us are opting for a more classic look when it comes to choosing patterns for the home.

'Vintage prints are not only having a comeback, but they are also here to stay', says Chloe Vince, Senior Decorating Consultant at House of Hackney. 'Vintage decor, such as vintage-style wallpaper, brings instant soul to a space. It can soften the clean lines of modern architecture and add visual texture and warmth. What vintage prints offer is a sense of nostalgia and escapism, which we feel a lot of people look to create through interiors.'

Vintage prints making a comeback in 2025

I spoke with leading printmakers and designers to learn what styles to look out for this year. From fun animal patterns to ditsy florals, the diverse array of patterns that have made a recent resurgence proves that there are options for all.

1. Large scale, chintzy florals

While florals may feel like a print that comes around every spring, it's the country-style flower patterns that are proving popular with interior designers for floral room decor ideas.

Large-scale floral patterns are often featured in country curtain ideas or country wallpaper ideas. They're a lasting choice that evokes a sense of nostalgia and nods to an enviable spring landscape. Creative Director Shauna Dennison-Taylor at Penny Morrison says, 'Vintage or antique prints, rather than being seen as ‘fuddy-duddy’ or old-fashioned, are becoming increasingly desirable again as they tap into the current trend for both nostalgia and authenticity.'

Shauna adds, 'What we used to call ‘chintzy florals’ are being reprinted on rustic linens, giving them a more relaxed and less stuffy look. Small-scale patterns are being used in busier ‘layered’ schemes – think cottage-core, which again harks back to granny’s living room. Gathered skirts are being added to slipper chairs and replacing kitchen cupboard doors, redolent of the flouncy pelmets that dominated the late seventies and early eighties.'

It's not just traditional living rooms that welcome the popular vintage floral; in fact, they're a clever addition to a minimalist bedroom, bringing warmth and variation to contrast against a neutral palette.

2. Animal print

For mid-century modern lovers, you'll be pleased to hear that it's not just country-style fabrics that are the new go-to among design masters. While many may think of florals when it comes to decorating with vintage fabrics, animal print is the new retro choice that's officially been revived and is here to stay.

Decorating with animal prints may seem a little scary, but they come in many forms and are a great neutral choice to frame the backdrop of your space. If you're braving the sometimes-bold print for the first time, choose a smaller variation and a subtle color, like a brown zebra print of a fine leopard pattern.

Chloe says, 'We draw a lot of design inspiration from Madeleine Castaing who is one of the 20th century decorating greats and has a French, mid-century feel. Beyond her magnificent schemes, it was her revolutionary spirit that drew her to be an influence on a House of Hackney collection. Her use of animal prints as her neutral when building schemes is definitely something to be adopted. Use our Wild Card wallpaper in your home to introduce understated glamour to any room – the versatile colour palette will complement many interior schemes and provide the perfect building block for those looking to create a transitional design.'

3. Ditsy florals

If you've ever decorated with antique textiles, you'll be familiar with ditsy floral prints. Typically small and detailed, ditsy prints are a classic farmhouse-style pattern that nods to a simpler, country-style cottage, evoking an oh-so-cozy sensation as soon as you enter a space.

While ditsy florals are often popular this time of year, the love for eclectic interiors has meant that nostalgic patterns are cropping up even more than usual. Watts 1874 recently launched their newest collection inspired by the heritage fabrics that once hung in a Yorkshire castle.

The Watts 1874 team said, 'Color and pattern, coupled with a sustained sense of tradition and an inexhaustible curiosity for the new, are emotional decorating tools.'

They add, 'You might consider adorning the walls with delicate floral paper or introducing such motifs upon the bed linens or a well-placed rug. When tempered with solid-hued fabrics and the honest texture of natural materials wood, linen, or stone, the effect is one of tranquil harmony, as though the room itself has drawn breath from an English garden in springtime.'

4. Food-inspired patterns

While florals are to be expected, fruit and vegetable-themed patterns are a new favorite that strays from tradition, with tomatoes, strawberries, and (believe it not) radishes popping up on walls and furnishings.

You may have noticed Schumacher's recent ode to garden crops, with the creation of the whimsical My Little Radish and Green Grocer prints, inspired by 1950s patterns. A welcome addition to a breakfast nook or sunroom, both patterns honor the past and are easy choices if you're looking to create a cozy, country-style look with a pinch of playfulness.

5. Chequered print

Checks have been popping up for a while, but now more than ever designers are opting for more playful styles that honor the past, going full force by featuring this distinct vintage pattern throughout their designs.

Proving that check is here to stay, trailblazing printmakers ROMO Fabrics said, 'Known for their versatility, timeless and always on trend, chequered prints are an easy way to incorporate sophisticated style into any interior and seem to be undergoing somewhat of a resurgence at the moment. We are seeing a growing appreciation for bolder and more contemporary checks, particularly modern reinterpretations of the classic checkerboard. Whether presented as a rustic cloth or embellished with charming details that add a modern twist, a checkerboard pattern is a perfect statement choice.'

While decorating with checks can seem a little bold, it's a print that can be featured in all styles of interiors. If you're working with a minimalist living room and want to incorporate some pattern, feature a neutral checkered rug to counteract the subtle tones. If you've got a maximalist home, why not try your hand at mixing a variety of patterns in a room by pairing checks with other vintage prints?

I hope to see a lot more of these vintage prints this year. They're all oh-so-charming and would make a welcome addition to any home style. If you've been inspired to decorate with print, try some pattern-on-pattern decorating for an eclectic, maximalist look.