Whimsical interior design ideas as mooted on my Interior Design Directions 2023 post have now well and truly arrived. This quirky, interior design style that transcends the generations is what some might consider a much needed, mood-boosting tonic. With a playful sense of humour, design companies are putting us back in touch with our inner child, suggesting that decorating with cartoon and storybook designs isn’t just for the nursery.

Quirky interior design ideas

Key decorating elements to look out for are designs with a playful use of scale based on childhood stories, films and cartoons such as Andrew Martin’s Wizard of Oz 1920s board game mural. Combine these with some top stripes, bobbin furniture and accessories in a bold mid-century inspired colour palette.

Interior design for all the family

As with all the best children’s books and films, a good storyline with excellent visuals should have an equal ability to appeal to adults too. If I am honest, I didn’t expect to like the 100 year anniversary of the Disney Home x Sanderson collection as much as I have.

Sanderson’s recently released collection is based on the original designs commissioned by Disney back in 1928. It serves as a reminder of the magic of some of the original Disney concepts and drawings but also the power of good styling to communicate how to use the designs today.

Inter-generational living

The Disney Home x Sanderson collection are designs that were essentially created for decorating children’s rooms. But here we see them being used in adult settings such as a home office, kitchen, dining and living rooms. Intuitively, this shouldn’t work or be remotely appealing to an adult audience, but somehow they are.

Birdie Fortescue x Sarah Corbett-Winder

Birdie Fortescue (who draws on her career in antiques and interior design for her luxury homeware collection) and Sarah Corbett-Winder (stylist, wardrobe whisperer and founder of Kipper Club) have collaborated on a fun new capsule collection of home accessories that include useful ottoman and side table storage in striped fabrics, along with table lamps, candlesticks, cushions and trays.

The playful collection marries the traditions of British decorating with plenty of appealing quirky elements.

Stripey ottoman storage

I love the squishy storage stripey fabric ottoman at the bottom of the bed which can hide (stylishly) lots of kids clutter. Also, although it isn’t for sale the indoor treehouse is pretty inspiring too!

Decorating with playful stripes

Stripes, as you may remember from my post Top Stripes, are back on top form. Sarah has used striped wallpaper to create a tented effect in this room which works beautifully as a background for the new collection’s lampshade, side table storage, cushions and tray.

Broad stripes and bobbin

The combination of playful broad stripe painted walls accessorized with bobbin picture frame and mirror is a lovely bit of styling. Again, I can imagine this room appealing to all generations.

Creature comforts

We mostly put away childish things as we reach adulthood but perhaps we could all boost our sense of wellbeing by adding an appealing menagerie of creature cushions in our homes?

Whale bolster cushion 159 x 42 x 14 cm, knitted in Scotland from 100% wool. This sea creature would look smart dressing a double bed or hugging the shoreline of a sofa. Donna Wilson.

Christopher Farr Cloth x Donna Wilson

Christopher Farr Cloth have collaborated with Donna Wilson for a collection of quirky cloth creatures using their fabrics. Donna Wilson says “They’re not too cute, but I didn’t want to make them too ugly or scary either. They’re somewhere in between, and that’s what I think has made them so recognisable.”

Comic book decoupage

Another sustainable and budget friendly way to connect with favourite childhood characters in your home is to decorate walls and furniture with a decoupage patchwork of pages from old comics such as the Beano.

Styling Box

Styling Box is my interior design service that offers bespoke designs, and samples all wrapped in a beautiful and useful Styling Box. The perfect Christmas gift for you, for friends and family. Please get in touch if I can help you with a bespoke interior design and follow Styling Box on Instagram.

Shop the blog

A pair of early 20th-century wooden bobbin turned candlesticks are newly available at £70 plus £5 shipping in my online vintage shop.  They are 11.5 cm diameter at each beautifully turned base and are 24.5 cm high with metal insert candleholders.

Thank you

Thank you so much for reading the blog, I hope you have enjoyed it as much as I have enjoyed writing it this year. This is the last post for 2023 but you can look forward to more interior stories in 2024. So don’t forget to sign up to follow the blog using the free subscribe button either at the beginning or end of a post!

With many thanks and best wishes,

Charis x