Decorating
10 Ways to Create a Botticelli-inspired Room Scheme
To celebrate the ‘Botticelli Reimagined’ exhibition at the V&A, be inspired by these ways to decorate with elements of the artist’s style
Sandro Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus and Primavera are famed for encapsulating the values and look of Italian Renaissance painting. Living from 1445 to 1510, Botticelli was forgotten in the later years of his life, but over the past 200 years, his work has seen a renaissance itself, triggered by the admiration of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, a group of English painters, poets and critics working in the late 1880s.
The Victoria and Albert Museum in London is currently running an exhibition entitled Botticelli Reimagined, showcasing the enduring appeal of Botticelli in today’s popular culture. These room ideas show how to re-create the look in your home with a nod to the painter’s use of colour, movement and shape.
The Victoria and Albert Museum in London is currently running an exhibition entitled Botticelli Reimagined, showcasing the enduring appeal of Botticelli in today’s popular culture. These room ideas show how to re-create the look in your home with a nod to the painter’s use of colour, movement and shape.
Achieve movement with flowing curtains
The draping, flower-festooned curtains here are reminiscent of Botticelli’s petals in paintings such as Primavera and Pallas and the Centaur. On fabric, the print captures that same feel of movement you get from his dancing figures, too.
If you want to re-create the feel of Botticelli’s florals like this, you need to look closely at colours – rich pinky reds, paler pinks, aqua blues and darker shadows are all demonstrated here, as well as the solid grey of the walls.
The other ‘Renaissance’ items on display here, such as the globe and piano, add a subtle nod to the era of his work, too.
The draping, flower-festooned curtains here are reminiscent of Botticelli’s petals in paintings such as Primavera and Pallas and the Centaur. On fabric, the print captures that same feel of movement you get from his dancing figures, too.
If you want to re-create the feel of Botticelli’s florals like this, you need to look closely at colours – rich pinky reds, paler pinks, aqua blues and darker shadows are all demonstrated here, as well as the solid grey of the walls.
The other ‘Renaissance’ items on display here, such as the globe and piano, add a subtle nod to the era of his work, too.
Employ lots of draping
The way Botticelli captured folds of wispy fabric is also the subject of study. Get the look with longer-than-needed, purest white curtains that pool luxuriously on a polished dark floor. Accessorise with brass, copper and shadowy, moody colours.
Find out how to choose the perfect curtains
The way Botticelli captured folds of wispy fabric is also the subject of study. Get the look with longer-than-needed, purest white curtains that pool luxuriously on a polished dark floor. Accessorise with brass, copper and shadowy, moody colours.
Find out how to choose the perfect curtains
Find space for flowers
Red, pink and rust-coloured blooms are recurrent motifs in Botticelli’s work, especially set against darker shades, like the soothing greys in this bedroom.
Up the ante with braided, golden patterns similar to the finish on this bedside table, evoking the beauty and flamboyance of Botticelli’s models’ hairstyles in works such as Portrait of a Young Woman and Portrait of Simonetta Vespucci.
Be inspired by more ways to bring flowers into your home
Red, pink and rust-coloured blooms are recurrent motifs in Botticelli’s work, especially set against darker shades, like the soothing greys in this bedroom.
Up the ante with braided, golden patterns similar to the finish on this bedside table, evoking the beauty and flamboyance of Botticelli’s models’ hairstyles in works such as Portrait of a Young Woman and Portrait of Simonetta Vespucci.
Be inspired by more ways to bring flowers into your home
Adorn with blocks of pastel colour
Botticelli is famed for his ‘flatness’ of colour. Try decorating in block shades of similar fresco-fresh skin tones and grey blues, as shown in this restful bedroom.
The light and dark in this room are evocative of the painter’s works, while that spectacular pendant light creates beautiful, shell-like lines and shadowy tones.
Botticelli is famed for his ‘flatness’ of colour. Try decorating in block shades of similar fresco-fresh skin tones and grey blues, as shown in this restful bedroom.
The light and dark in this room are evocative of the painter’s works, while that spectacular pendant light creates beautiful, shell-like lines and shadowy tones.
Celebrate gold and ornate
The tones in this room mirror the opulence of Botticelli’s work. He had patrons, including the famous Medici family, and included their likenesses, looking their best in luxurious surroundings, in his work. He also painted with gold leaf.
Try combining golden elements with inky shades and hints of opulence – a chandelier here, a touch of velvet there – to achieve this look.
The tones in this room mirror the opulence of Botticelli’s work. He had patrons, including the famous Medici family, and included their likenesses, looking their best in luxurious surroundings, in his work. He also painted with gold leaf.
Try combining golden elements with inky shades and hints of opulence – a chandelier here, a touch of velvet there – to achieve this look.
Weave in circular elements
Botticelli was known for painting tondi, which are circular works of art in painting or sculpture. Introduce a round statement piece into your room to reflect this Renaissance style. This convex mirror is right at home in this pale-coloured scheme, with lots of flowers and Botticelli-esque clearly defined outlines.
Botticelli was known for painting tondi, which are circular works of art in painting or sculpture. Introduce a round statement piece into your room to reflect this Renaissance style. This convex mirror is right at home in this pale-coloured scheme, with lots of flowers and Botticelli-esque clearly defined outlines.
Give it definition
Botticelli is known for strong outlines, as mentioned, allowing figures to appear to jump off the canvas. Try this approach in public rooms where you want to wow.
This hallway and staircase is beautifully defined in darkest navy and, of course, all those added touches of framed art and fresh flowers bring the old master to mind.
Botticelli is known for strong outlines, as mentioned, allowing figures to appear to jump off the canvas. Try this approach in public rooms where you want to wow.
This hallway and staircase is beautifully defined in darkest navy and, of course, all those added touches of framed art and fresh flowers bring the old master to mind.
Create an artful cacophony
We’re always being told to be more minimal these days, but that’s not very Botticelli at all! So get everything you love out on display against bold wallpaper and embrace all the florals, shadows, colours and shell shapes you can.
We’re always being told to be more minimal these days, but that’s not very Botticelli at all! So get everything you love out on display against bold wallpaper and embrace all the florals, shadows, colours and shell shapes you can.
Keep it strong
For all Botticelli’s use of pastels, skin tones and shadowy blacks, he also employed a wide range of bolder colours, from burnt oranges to yellows and bright reds. Don’t be scared to add shots of bright colour in a darker, moodier scheme. This orange chair and the painted line above the skirting board on the stairs really lift this hallway.
Botticelli Reimagined runs until 3 July 2016 at the V&A.
TELL US…
Love Botticelli’s style? Would you ever decorate with reference to your favourite artist? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
For all Botticelli’s use of pastels, skin tones and shadowy blacks, he also employed a wide range of bolder colours, from burnt oranges to yellows and bright reds. Don’t be scared to add shots of bright colour in a darker, moodier scheme. This orange chair and the painted line above the skirting board on the stairs really lift this hallway.
Botticelli Reimagined runs until 3 July 2016 at the V&A.
TELL US…
Love Botticelli’s style? Would you ever decorate with reference to your favourite artist? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
There are very subtle hints in this room of the Botticelli look, demonstrating how you can be inspired by the artist, but still keep it very contemporary.
The colour tones – fresh green, dusty pink, black and antique white – nod to the artist’s palette, while the giant shell is an obvious homage to Venus, should you wish to deconstruct it this way! Neon pink candles and modern art bring it bang up to date.