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The Surprising Furniture Trend That Came Out of Nowhere

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After years of white walls and light wood, a bold look is popping up everywhere: paint-splattered and brushstroke-covered furniture. It’s eye-catching, and at first glance, it may seem too eclectic to ever find a place in your home, but it’s easier to style than you might think. And it seems to be the natural evolution of what we’ve been wearing this past year.

“Fashion and interior design go hand in hand, so it completely makes sense that the tie-dye sweatpants of the pandemic have migrated toward home design,” says interior designer Mary Patton. “I think we should embrace these fun and colorful pieces. You can pull one color out and create a monotone look for the rest of the space, or go crazy with color, because, like tie-dye sweatpants, who cares? You could even create an all-white environment like an art gallery for these pieces to really stand out.”

The types of paint styles vary—from brushstrokes to splotches and tonal colors to a full rainbow of hues. You can now see this trend on side tables, dining chairs, even wallpaper, all adding a pop of fun to the homes we’ve all spent way too much time in this past year.

Still unsure of taking the leap? We’re pretty sure the items below will change your mind.

1. claire Desjardins Brushstroke Tamsin Dining Chair

Pastels for spring? Groundbreaking. No, but actually so, thanks to the delicate brushed strokes of lacquer all over the chair. Put it around your dining table, add a touch of flowers, and get ready for the compliments.

2. adela Modern Hand-painted 5 Drawer Nightstand

The swirls of white, gray and black spanning this five-drawer nightstand are almost hypnotic. Since this is a little more subtle than an all-out rainbow hue, you could use the colors in the drawers as inspiration to add similar colored pieces around a solid-toned bedroom.

1stDibs

3. blue Midcentury French Metal Tolix G-table By Xavier Pauchard

A legendary piece designed by Xavier Pauchard, the G Table made by Tolix was its first table, and it was long a fixture among bistros and restaurants during the 1930s. But aside from taking home a piece of history, the distressed blue-, white- and lavender-painted finish echoes the vintage vibe. Since this is more of an accent piece, an all-white backdrop seems ideal.

4. parsons Paint Wallpaper

From across the room, these tiny flecks of pink, red, orange and aqua blur together, creating a textured, peachy hue that casts a rosy glow to the room. Up close, you’ll see all of the speckled detail. Who needs to worry about hanging up art when you’ve got this as an accent wall?


5. venus Chaos Table

This piece might have the word ‘chaos’ in it, but because it only uses geometric designs in the painting, it actually looks pretty uniform, despite its wild style. It’s definitely a splurge, but it can easily become the focal point of the room. Use it as a coffee table with similar-hued, textured furniture all around.

6. zoey Ceramic Side Table

For a more subtle take on the paint trend, stick to shades of the same color—it won’t be as jarring (or tricky to decorate around). Shades of blue are uber relaxing, and pair perfectly with more muted homes.

AMAZON

7. ottopt Dining Chair Cover

Pretty purple paint drops envelop this chair, which could work either as a single accent piece in a purple and white room, or combined with other colors for some pizzazz.

$30 AT AMAZON

8. mod Reactive Sideboard

If you’re going to need extra storage, you might as well do it in style. While this isn't technically a painting technique, the patinated copper-plated steel doors have a similar quality to them, thanks to its pops of blues, reds and gold. Pair against a neutral, greige wall to let the colors shine through.

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Nikhita Mahtani

Freelance Writer

Nikhita Mahtani is a freelance food, home and wellness journalist based in NYC. She has been writing about everything from viral wellness trends to trendy homes since she...
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