10 ideas for romantic living

In spring, our need for warmth and sunshine increases. We long for the warm season, a little idyll and romance. A romantic interior design style is the perfect basis for bringing a little cosiness into your home. So, you can welcome spring into your home right now.

In this article, we present our ideas for a romantic interior. Away from pink and rose, we would like to introduce you to contemporary ideas for romantic living. These include idyllic country house ideas, elegant living trends, vintage furnishings and much more. We also provide tips for choosing the right wallpaper and floor coverings.

Romantic furnishing style - contemporary living ideas away from pink & rose

Previously, romantic interior design often relied on the abundant use of pink and rose tones. However, there is a growing shift away from bold romantic stereotypes towards a focus on contemporary subtleties. While shades of pink still complement romantic interior design, their usage now requires a nuanced and carefully measured approach. This is to avoid appearing overly bold or kitschy.

A subtle pink wall colour is of course still a good choice for romantic living ideas. For the rest of the room design, you should choose other colours if you want to create a contemporary interior.

Our romantic living ideas are based on pastel shades such as light blue. The Pantone colour of the year 2024 "Peach Fuzz" and subtle tones in light grey, beige, taupe and cream are also included. Light terracotta tones can also look very romantic. Peppered with a few pink flowers, candles or lamps, the result is a contemporary, romantic furnishing style.

1. Floral decoration: Dried flowers instead of bouquets of roses

Whether contemporary and minimalist or classic in pink: flowers are an essential part of a romantic interior design style. Floral wallpapers are a simple and expressive way of integrating floral elements into the room. Discreet designs are also becoming increasingly popular here. Country-style wallpapers with small flowers are particularly suitable for an idyllic, romantic interior design style.

Fresh flowers are also a must. In the past, roses were the classic choice for romantic living ideas. However, the changing times have made them feel here too. The bulbous peonies look much more modern, especially as the pastel colour palette is ideal for modern rooms.

The Japandi and minimalist trends have notably influenced the romantic furnishing style. Therefore, incorporating dried flowers such as cotton, lavender shrubs, camomile, or other herbs to evoke a sense of romance. These preserved plants convey a timeless allure, symbolizing a pause in time and creating an enchanting space for contemplative reflection.

2. Romantic furnishing style in cream & beige

A romantic interior design style that radiates serenity and calm can be ideally created with cream or beige tones. A beige wall paint or cream wallpaper works wonders when it comes to modern interior design with a romantic flair. The colour palette looks both natural and modern and remains discreetly in the background. This gives you plenty of scope for combining it with rugs, flowers, murals, candles and vases. To give room to romance, it is best to choose light colours that create a friendly atmosphere.

A floor in cream and beige also creates a contemporary basis for romantic living ideas. In addition to engineered wood flooring, vinyl flooring is also a good choice. With its slightly soft texture, design flooring provides more cosiness than hard flooring. Numerous authentic stone and tile looks can be wonderfully styled in a romantic look.

3. Heavenly beautiful living ideas in light blue

Light blue is also suitable for a romantic interior design style. The pastel colour palette always has a certain playfulness to it and has a very relaxing and calming effect. A wall paint or wallpaper in light blue is reminiscent of a summer sky and the expanse of the horizon. This association alone makes the colour suitable for romantic living ideas. Very flowing designs convey an airy lightness with wallpaper in blue

But it's not just in terms of wall design that the colour light blue can be used for romantic furnishings. A carpet in blue, for example, creates a real feel-good ambience. A very soft pile layer or a velour carpet creates a contemporary ambience that combines romance, elegance and cosiness. Another plus point: blue colour tones often make rooms appear larger.

4. Sage & eucalyptus for refreshingly romantic living ideas

For wedding decoration, flower arrangements and home accessories that are currently popular show that eucalyptus is very much on trend. While the shade of sage is used in the form of green wall paint or green wallpaper on the walls. One can find that eucalyptus can now be found in vases, flower arrangements, garlands and more. They are not only at weddings but also at home.

The petite circular leaves seamlessly complement minimalist interiors, exuding a modern yet natural aesthetic. In the modern romantic interior design style, understated combinations are preferred over extravagant blooms.

Eucalyptus and sage green pair harmoniously with white, beige, and cream-coloured furnishings. Hence, creating an ideal blend of hues for a contemporary romantic ambience. Herringbone parquet flooring and a beige carpet form an attractive basis for the romantic furnishing style in sage or eucalyptus. It is also possible to use plain-coloured wallpaper with simple, textile designs, for example.

5. Herringbone flooring: revitalising romance

Based on interior magazines or browsing social media focusing on furnishings, you'll find herringbone flooring to be a prominent trend. Originally known as parquet flooring, this type of floor covering is now available in various materials including vinyl and PVC. Other examples include designer flooring, laminate, and wood-look tiles. It involves laying individual planks or "strips" at a 90° angle in a zigzag pattern. Unlike traditional 1-strip parquet planks, herringbone flooring typically is shorter and narrower. It is also known as multi-strip parquet, to achieve its distinctive look.

The herringbone pattern infuses the flooring with a vibrant yet harmonious aesthetic, radiating both dynamism and subtlety. Light-coloured floors with a tranquil grading, minimal knotholes, and subtle colour variations are preferred for herringbone floors. Ensure that a natural oak parquet is particularly sought after.

The historical connection of herringbone flooring with old mansions gives it a romantic connotation. Art nouveau villas and cosy Parisian penthouses are also some of them. Therefore, it is well-suited for romantic interior styles, whether in the form of parquet, laminate, or vinyl flooring.

6. Backward-looking romance: vintage & shabby chic

Shabby chic is a romantic furnishing style that stands for pure romance. This style focuses on the passage of time. Ornate furniture, a used look, roses, old candlesticks and more lend shabby chic its romanticism. The look also often draws on the world of baroque and rococo. Damask wallpaper is therefore increasingly used here.

Shabby chic tends to drift into kitsch. So, the romantic furnishing style often eschews pink in favour of light grey, beige, or taupe. Hence, it creates a more modern look. Additionally, the shabby chic with a few contemporary home accessories prevents a complete immersion in the past. Vintage-style PVC flooring and classic wooden floors serve as excellent choices for shabby chic.

Incorporating the passage of time into the interior typifies a romantic furnishing style. This is because romance often evokes a sense of longing. Utilizing vintage and shabby chic elements helps create a nostalgic space where one can dream of bygone eras. However, caution is advised, as romanticizing the past can veer into kitsch. Therefore, maintaining a connection to the present and the future is essential when embracing this romantic furnishing style.

7. Creating places of longing

The romantic furnishing style often evokes nostalgia. Note that the quintessential romantic living style and shabby chic styles are for good reason. However, it doesn't necessarily entail mimicking past living styles.

You can incorporate dreamy elements without entirely disconnecting from the present. For instance, it's feasible to blend vintage wallpaper with modern elements. The resurgence of past designs is exemplified by the popularity of herringbone flooring and retro vinyl tiles. They showcase individualised reinterpretations of bygone trends.

Photomurals are also a great way to create a place of longing. Today's photo wallpapers no longer show kitschy and poor-quality mountain landscapes. However, they make real statements in terms of wall design. It doesn't necessarily have to be the photomural with the Eiffel Tower for a romantic interior design style. Numerous artistic motifs, graphic designs, collages, patchworks and much more are waiting to provide more romance as an accent wall.

8. Romanticism = cosiness

A large portion of cosiness is essential for creating a romantic furnishing style. Here, too, it is important to keep things in proportion. Blankets, cushions and rugs are important components of a romantic interior. In contrast, too many cushions and cosy elements can overload the room. Not only cosy rugs in pink are suitable for the romantic furnishing style, but modern rugs with a used look. To name a few, the natural wool rugs or simple rugs in grey are also ideal for decorating this style.

The romantic living style is also often interpreted in a hygge look. The cosy trend from Denmark can also be styled in a very romantic way. The colour palette in light grey or beige allows for a very modern interpretation of romance. Light brown parquet flooring or light wood-effect vinyl flooring can form the basis for a cosy and romantic hygge ambience. Subtle patterned wallpaper, beige curtains and dried flowers round off the look.

9. Elegance meets romance

A contemporary romantic furnishing style does not necessarily have to be styled with a lot of naturalness. A very elegant interpretation is also possible. In this case, a marble-look vinyl floor, classic striped wallpaper or the popular herringbone parquet are often used. French herringbone parquet, known as chevron flooring, is often used here. Its planks are bevelled at the sides so that they touch directly when laid. Additionally, the individual decorative strands are delineated from one another.

For an elegant and romantic furnishing style, it's advisable to opt for long curtains that gracefully touch the floor. Incorporating metallic gold effects is also encouraged. Note that it's important to balance them with an abundance of textile elements such as velvet furniture. Additionally, luxury linen wallpaper serves as a fitting choice for this style.

10. Romantic interior style with idyllic flair

"Embracing the countryside" serves as the guiding principle for our living ideas. This is tailored to a romantic furnishing style with an idyllic ambience. The country house style has seamlessly integrated into the realm of interior design. Therefore, it can be artfully infused with romantic elements. It is not without reason that "cottage core" takes the idyllic to the extreme, and has recently been in demand. Ideally, you should use parquet or vinyl plank flooring for your romantic country house style. Vintage floral wallpaper with small flowers is an ideal choice for this look.

As far as decorations and furniture are concerned, you should again opt for dried flowers, linen, and clay pots. You may also consider the earthenware, rustic wooden tables and chairs, white tablecloths and woollen carpets. In addition to rustic parquet flooring, tiles with a natural stone look are also a good choice.

Conclusion

A romantic furnishing style that moves beyond pink and rose offers various interpretations. The current trend leans towards enhanced cosiness and minimalism. Instead of vibrant hues, there is a preference for light grey, beige, and pastel shades, with dried flowers supplanting pink roses, and a focus on the essentials. Floral wallpaper, parquet flooring, herringbone floors, cushions, rugs and blankets are still popular elements. However, to realise a contemporary romantic interior design style, we are now keeping things measured and trying to bring romance to the present instead of looking for romance only in times gone by.

We hope we have been able to help you design your romantic interior style. You can find the right wallpapers and floor coverings for your style of living at BRICOFLOR, the wall and floor experts!