If you’ve gone clothes shopping lately, no doubt you’ve noticed the plethora of plaids, the tons of tartans, the buffalo checks by the bucketful, hanging on the racks this fall season. This trend is rapidly propagating into the home decor realm, as well (you’ve seen the adorable new Target commercial with Emily Henderson, no?).
Trendy or no, I think plaid patterns have staying power. And I can’t get enough of them – I seem to be using them in nearly all of my client projects these days, as well as in my own home.
Eric Roth Photography
When I decorated my son’s nursery last year, I used Thibaut’s Winslow Plaid wallpaper above a high chair rail I had installed. It’s such a classic, timeless pattern that oozes Americana.
I’ve also got wool plaid window treatments in the works for my husband’s “Manbrary.” It truly did not occur to me that I was repeating the plaid theme from the baby’s room. But it was intentional to invoke that same color palette, which weaves the different rooms of my home together.
I love how plaid can be structured and masculine, or soft and romantic, or playful and cheery – and, often, somewhere in-between. My favorite plaids of the moment are those rendered in wool – what could be cozier while the temperatures outside (and in!) are plummeting?
I put together a round-up of some of my most favorite plaid fabrics.
- Salinger / Aqua from Highland Court. Soft and light, this plaid brings the pretty in spades.
- Andover Wool / Charcoal from Duralee. I love this ombre variation on the classic black checkerboard pattern, rendered in soft, milled wool.
- Fitzgerald from Osborne & Little. The blurred edges on this vintage-inspired pattern, which comes in a number of delectable colorways, really make it interesting.
- Shetland Plaid / Heather from Mulberry Home. This is the very fabric I’m using for the Manbrary Roman shades, but in a different colorway. Classic, yet current at the same time, with such relevant color combinations.
- Dalton Ombre Check / Thistle from Romo. This fantastic woven interpretation combines the timeless texture and pattern of a herringbone weave with a nicely structured plaid in unique hues. Perfect for upholstering a comfy lounge chair!
- Checkered Out / Billiard Green from Robert Allen. Endlessly versatile, this classic Buffalo check boasts a medium scale and over a dozen colorways. I am particularly fond of this crisp green and off-white combination.
- Drummond Tartan from Scot Meacham Wood Home. This is the real deal, folks. Made by artisanal, heritage mills in Scotland, and sourced by the Prince of Plaid himself, Scot Meacham Wood, for his new home collection.
- Burnside Buffalo Check / Lilac from Caitlin Wilson Textiles. You can always count on Caitlin Wilson for light-hearted and fun, yet classically-inspired patterns. Her Buffalo check print features a vibrant optical play between figure and ground – and this new purple colorway just went on pre-sale.
What do you think of this trend? Do you see a plaid fad, or timeless tartans?
Always a classic Kelly and I love how you have used it in your son’s room!