The Furniture You Never Wanted to Inherit Is Now…Suddenly Super Trendy?
For years, chintz has gotten a bad rap: stuffy, outdated, garish. While the bold floral pattern has been around since the 1600s, it didn’t hit its heyday until the ‘80s, where it hit shiplap levels of ubiquity to the point that people couldn’t stand the sight of it. And yet, every few years since, others have been heralding its comeback. (Seriously, just Google “return of chintz” and you’ll see an article from just about every year of the past decade pop up.)
This year, however, it seems to have truly hit the mainstream, thanks specifically to the rise of floral sofas. Indeed, luxury décor site 1stDibs has seen a 60 percent surge in searches for them over the past year, and this increased popularity can be credited to a few factors: (1) a knee-jerk response to the stark white rooms and modern farmhouse looks of the past 10 years; (2) the pandemic-fueled rise of Bridgerton-influenced regencycore and cottagecore; (3) the desire to infuse rooms with personality over Insta-ready conformity (picture blush tones, brass accents, light wood furniture with mid-century modern lines).
The key difference between the floral sofas of today and those of yesteryear? "Today's floral sofas feel relatively tailored and buttoned down. In other words, less shabby, more chic," says Anthony Freund, 1stDibs Director of Fine Art and Editorial Director, adding they have a "cleaner, brighter, more streamlined sensibility." Think romance and drama over lived-in comfort.
How to get the look? Well, you could go vintage. Or you could reupholster your existing couch, though—fair warning—that could set you back anywhere from $500 to $4,500. Or you could shop from one of the many companies selling floral designs today. We’ve rounded up some of the coolest floral sofas on the market, spanning a range of styles and price points.
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The Top Floral Sofas to Buy Right Now:
2. Ėkáàbo Albany Loveseat
How cool is this West African pattern, especially when set against a contemporary couch? It’s named after the first words Albany Park co-founder Darryl Sharpton heard when he learned about his African heritage (which mean “welcome home”) and inspired him to create this cozy-chic velvet two-seater.
3. Valerie Pied-a-Tierre Sofa
If an all-over print is just too much for your taste, try this more subdued, half-solid, half-patterned number from Anthropologie.
4. Jeanbaptiste Chaise Lounge
OK, OK, so it’s billed as a chaise and not a sofa, but this 72-inch-long number can comfortably seat at least two people—and instantly become the focal point of your room.
5. ISA Bergamo Sofa in Red Floral Fabric
The brass stiletto feet and sculptural shape of this sofa makes it double as art in your living room. (It’s also a great throwback to 1950s design in Italy.) This kind of craftsmanship doesn’t come cheap though.
6. Classic Sofa in Delft Chintz
If you’re into something a little more traditional, check out The Inside’s Classic Sofa in a timeless blue and white floral. (Just be forewarned that due to demand, it’ll take about 14 to 18 weeks to ship to you.)
7. Modern Sectional in Mint Cherry Blossom
Maybe overstuffed sofas give you terror flashbacks to the plastic-covered one from your childhood. In that case, opt for a daintier floral, like these cherry blossoms, splashed across a more streamlined design.
8. Danish Banana Sofa
For a softer, more understated look, consider this circa-1970 Danish banana sofa. The florals blend into the cream background, so it won’t compete with the rest of your décor.
