Decorating
Decorating: Go Down to the Woods with Tasteful Tree Motifs
From slender branches adorning a cushion to a forest growing across your walls, trees are the inspiration for a thicket of gorgeous designs
We have long plundered the natural world for inspiration for our interiors. Flowers have been reproduced on walls and furnishings for centuries, but our homes have featured animals, birds and insects, too, both as lifelike images and abstract patterns. Trees are another popular natural motif, and for good reason: they can be shown with leaves or without; in knotty close-up or as stylised designs.
Trees work well on wallpaper, but, as these images show, they also grow beautifully in other locations, in paintings, on curtains and as versatile wall stickers. Whether you are drawn to atmospheric forests or leafy orchards, there is a tree design to suit every room in your home.
Trees work well on wallpaper, but, as these images show, they also grow beautifully in other locations, in paintings, on curtains and as versatile wall stickers. Whether you are drawn to atmospheric forests or leafy orchards, there is a tree design to suit every room in your home.
Venture into the woods
This Woods wallpaper by Cole & Son has become something of a modern classic. It works beautifully as a feature wall, introducing the eerie elegance of a thicket of silver birch trees to a space.
Here, it looks sophisticated teamed with grey, but nose around Houzz and you’ll find it used in all kinds of ways and settings. Thanks to the range of colourways it comes in, this wallpaper can be used anywhere from nurseries to studies and cloakrooms with stylish results.
Browse 11 ways to work the woodland look
This Woods wallpaper by Cole & Son has become something of a modern classic. It works beautifully as a feature wall, introducing the eerie elegance of a thicket of silver birch trees to a space.
Here, it looks sophisticated teamed with grey, but nose around Houzz and you’ll find it used in all kinds of ways and settings. Thanks to the range of colourways it comes in, this wallpaper can be used anywhere from nurseries to studies and cloakrooms with stylish results.
Browse 11 ways to work the woodland look
Emphasise elegance
A tree pattern can be as bold or as subtle as you like. It’s a hugely versatile motif that can look graphic or, as here, elegant and detailed. This wallpaper has an oriental feel, featuring delicate trees and watery shades.
A tree pattern can be as bold or as subtle as you like. It’s a hugely versatile motif that can look graphic or, as here, elegant and detailed. This wallpaper has an oriental feel, featuring delicate trees and watery shades.
Take it gently
Tree motifs come in as many shapes, styles and colours as there are trees in a forest. When it comes to wallpaper, there are thousands of designs to choose from. If you are after a mellow backdrop, rather than a showstopper effect, choose a paper in knocked-back tones depicting softly stylised trees.
This Silhouette wallpaper by Harlequin shows trees with pretty pink trunks and lots of tiny leaves, creating a pleasing, easy-to-live-with pattern.
Tree motifs come in as many shapes, styles and colours as there are trees in a forest. When it comes to wallpaper, there are thousands of designs to choose from. If you are after a mellow backdrop, rather than a showstopper effect, choose a paper in knocked-back tones depicting softly stylised trees.
This Silhouette wallpaper by Harlequin shows trees with pretty pink trunks and lots of tiny leaves, creating a pleasing, easy-to-live-with pattern.
Stick them up
Tree wall stickers, or DIY tree designs cut from wallpaper and stuck up, are regular features in nurseries. Frequently, though, these tree designs are colourful and cute, but this nursery shows how a more graphic approach is also effective. Here, dark trees grow up one wall, tying in with the other dark accents in the room.
In addition, rather than the familiar deciduous trees that often crop up in a child’s room, these are striking conifers, bringing a cool suggestion of forests in the far north, stretching for miles and home to bears and elk.
Tree wall stickers, or DIY tree designs cut from wallpaper and stuck up, are regular features in nurseries. Frequently, though, these tree designs are colourful and cute, but this nursery shows how a more graphic approach is also effective. Here, dark trees grow up one wall, tying in with the other dark accents in the room.
In addition, rather than the familiar deciduous trees that often crop up in a child’s room, these are striking conifers, bringing a cool suggestion of forests in the far north, stretching for miles and home to bears and elk.
Hang a photographed forest
Like a contemporary take on the trompe l’oeil paintings of centuries gone by, this photographic wallpaper featuring a forest creates an illusory effect on a wall. The boundaries of this kitchen-diner seem to be blurred, with the physical room blending into the two-dimensional forest.
It’s an exciting effect that brings a huge shot of natural beauty to this space, while also making it feel bigger.
See great ways to create a feature wall
Like a contemporary take on the trompe l’oeil paintings of centuries gone by, this photographic wallpaper featuring a forest creates an illusory effect on a wall. The boundaries of this kitchen-diner seem to be blurred, with the physical room blending into the two-dimensional forest.
It’s an exciting effect that brings a huge shot of natural beauty to this space, while also making it feel bigger.
See great ways to create a feature wall
Design your own
Painting a tree across a blank wall creates a unique image. You can design it to suit the space, with the branches trained around existing pieces of furniture – talk about flexibility! This tree bends towards the large adjoining reception room, pointing the way and leading the eye towards the heart of the home.
Painting a tree across a blank wall creates a unique image. You can design it to suit the space, with the branches trained around existing pieces of furniture – talk about flexibility! This tree bends towards the large adjoining reception room, pointing the way and leading the eye towards the heart of the home.
Seek out a silhouette
Tree branches, with all their kinks and knots, grow into interesting shapes. So why not celebrate the naturally gnarly personality of a tree by rendering branches in bold black against a bright background, as in this painting? Isolated in this way and devoid of leaves, tree branches look graphic and striking.
Tree branches, with all their kinks and knots, grow into interesting shapes. So why not celebrate the naturally gnarly personality of a tree by rendering branches in bold black against a bright background, as in this painting? Isolated in this way and devoid of leaves, tree branches look graphic and striking.
Dot in some detail
As with any pattern, a tree design will add a splash of detail and pace to a neutral scheme. This cushion features a simple tree silhouette, complete with birds and deer, in green on white, to repeat the colours used in the curtains. The lamp adds a further arboreal note, but these tree details remain subtle, not forced.
As with any pattern, a tree design will add a splash of detail and pace to a neutral scheme. This cushion features a simple tree silhouette, complete with birds and deer, in green on white, to repeat the colours used in the curtains. The lamp adds a further arboreal note, but these tree details remain subtle, not forced.
Paint a picture
A painting of trees will introduce a forest feel to any space, with the added advantage of being flexible. You can hang the painting elsewhere if you want a change, and take it with you if you move house, which you can’t do with wallpaper. In a child’s room, a forest painting is a wonderful fit, providing a place for their imagination to escape to.
A painting of trees will introduce a forest feel to any space, with the added advantage of being flexible. You can hang the painting elsewhere if you want a change, and take it with you if you move house, which you can’t do with wallpaper. In a child’s room, a forest painting is a wonderful fit, providing a place for their imagination to escape to.
Create a rainforest
OK, this striking wall does not feature a forest exactly, just a simple tree silhouette, but it brings a unique feel to this contemporary bathroom. Rather than tiles or mosaics, a water-resistant wall has been created alongside the bath using a tree design sealed behind glass.
TELL US…
Are you a fan of forests? Do trees grow in your home? Tell us about them in the Comments below.
OK, this striking wall does not feature a forest exactly, just a simple tree silhouette, but it brings a unique feel to this contemporary bathroom. Rather than tiles or mosaics, a water-resistant wall has been created alongside the bath using a tree design sealed behind glass.
TELL US…
Are you a fan of forests? Do trees grow in your home? Tell us about them in the Comments below.
Homespun, retro, crafty designs from the 1960s and 1970s often featured trees (and owls, deer and matryoshka dolls, too). To channel this vibe, seek out a repeating pattern, with simply drawn trees in bold, saturated colours.