Trends and styles cycle around again and again, finding reinvention and new life for a modern age. But the renewed interest in William Morris is different. Instead of taking his British Arts and Crafts style and modernizing it, people today are breathing new life into Morris’s exact designs. It’s an amazing resurgence and there are a lot of reasons for it! Let’s take a look…

Who Was He?

William Morris was a Victorian artist who became fascinated by textile design and wallpaper design. He was inspired by medieval patterns and paintings, including the art of illuminated manuscripts. He began to experiment with dying fabrics and fibers and learning how to weave and embroider. His designs usually focused on the natural world, with flowers, leaves, and birds figuring prominently. You can see that in his original design titled Strawberry Fields, which has been reimagined as a rug for Ruggable (above).

What Makes Morris Special?

William Morris was part of the British Arts and Crafts movement, which put the spotlight on artistry and craftsmanship. There was a focus on standards and integrity, in creating things that had meaning and that would last. But I think it’s the beauty of his designs that has really given William Morris such longevity in the decorative arts!

Why Now?

There are so many reasons that William Morris’s popularity is on the rise. First, nostalgia is always higher in times of uncertainty, and we definitely are experiencing that. There’s a coziness to his designs that make us think of cottagecore or the “grandma” trends that we’ve seen in home decor. And there is definitely a timelessness to what he created, with the delicate flowers, beautiful colors, and classic patterns.

Morris in Your Home

Many of William Morris’s patterns skew toward a maximalist look, with lush and multilayered designs that have lots of color. But if you’re more of a purist or have a more modern home, you can still find William Morris designs that work for you. Rejuvenation is one of the companies that has taken a more pared-down approach to Morris’s designs, reinterpreting them with more neutrals and less color. But the patterns are still stunning and work with a lot of decor styles.

You can see a Morris-inspired wallpaper I used in a modern powder room above. It’s the Lotus wallpaper from Farrow & Ball, and it looks fantastic with modern fixtures and details.

So what do you think of the William Morris resurgence? Is it a trend you love or one you will ignore? Let me know in the comments section below!

Warmly,

Beth