This Once-Dated Print Is Back for 2026 – Here’s How to Decorate with Block Prints to Add Charm to Any Room

Once associated with traditional or bohemian interiors, block prints are returning for 2026 in a far more refined, versatile form. Designers are embracing them as both bold statements and artisanal layers that bring warmth, character, and visual softness to modern homes.

At their core, block prints are defined by process. Traditionally made by hand using carved wooden blocks pressed onto natural fabrics, each design carries subtle irregularities – a slightly uneven line, a softened edge, a variation in color density. These imperfections are not flaws, but the very thing that gives block prints their appeal. In an age of hyper-clean lines and digitally perfect finishes, they offer a refreshing counterpoint: pattern that feels crafted rather than manufactured.

That handmade quality is exactly why block prints are a big vintage trend for 2026. As interiors lean increasingly minimal, designers are looking for ways to soften spaces without cluttering them – and block prints provide more of a maximalist personality without visual heaviness. Used thoughtfully, they feel timeless rather than trend-driven.

Here are five ways designers are using block prints today, proving that this traditional craft feels more relevant than ever when applied with intention.

1. Let Block Print Be the ‘Quiet Hero’ Pattern

Instead of treating block prints just as bold statements, let them act as the anchoring pattern in a room. Choose a soft, timeworn motif in a limited color palette and repeat it subtly as the ‘quiet hero’ – on a bedspread, sofa cushions, or a single upholstered chair. The irregularity of hand printing adds depth without dominating the space, especially when paired with solids, stripes, or natural materials like linen and wood.

Since an unforgettable trip to India, interior designer Jessica Helgerson describes block prints as the element that ‘gives life, warmth and visual interest’ to otherwise simple spaces. In her work, a block-printed pillow can transform a modern leather sofa, while a bedspread by Les Indiennes becomes the focal point of a bedroom when layered with calmer textures and smaller-scale patterns. The effect of choosing one block print to lead the room, then supporting it with calming textures is relaxed and elegant – proof that even a restrained use of print can carry visual presence.

2. Layer Block Prints With Other Patterns

Block prints reveal their full potential when layered thoughtfully with other patterns. For example, this bedroom is dressed in printmaker and textile designer Molly Mahon’s Dianthus block-printed cotton across the bed’s headboard and matching canopy, paired with her Berry block-printed frill cushion. All sit within a cohesive palette of blue, red, and cream, so rather than competing, the pattern mixing feels rhythmic and balanced – rich in detail yet visually collected.

Scale is doing much of the work here. Medium-scale block prints sit comfortably alongside finer florals or polka-dots, while the hand-printed irregularity of the fabric gently softens the mix, stopping the room from feeling overly formal or too perfectly styled. As Molly explains, ‘Block prints are incredibly sociable patterns – they come alive when layered with others. Pairing them with stripes, florals or subtle checks creates depth and balance, especially when the color palette is cohesive.’

This approach resonates with Jools Cornell, founder of Pukka Print, whose collections are intentionally designed to layer with ease. ‘Each wooden block we use carries a different color,’ she explains, ‘so the more blocks involved, the richer and more nuanced the pattern becomes. That natural layering gives decorators enormous freedom – colors echo one another, making schemes effortless to pull together.’

Within Pukka Print’s ranges, fabrics such as Apollo Stripe, a robust cotton-and-jute weave, are designed to sit alongside more expressive prints like Indian Poppy or the finer Dani design, while newer ranges such as the Bagh Collection, as seen in this vibrant living room, refine the approach further through a palette of blues and greens with motifs inspired by 17^th century Indian palampores and palace architecture of Mughal India. ‘We focus on providing a thoughtful mix of scales and patterns,’ says Jools, ‘so the pieces can be used together or paired with existing designs without feeling forced.’ The result is pattern mixing that feels intuitive rather than intimidating, and interiors that appear layered, lived-in, and naturally evolved.

3. Create a Moment of Pause With a Single Block-Print Statement

Rather than spreading block prints throughout a room, concentrating them in one deliberate moment can be just as impactful. A wallpapered powder room, a headboard niche, or an accent chair upholstered in block print allows the pattern to breathe.

Designer Rhiannon Hageman of Hageman Homes & Interiors often uses block prints this way, noting that their handmade effect feels timeless in bedrooms and bathrooms alike, such as this shower curtain in a block-printed fabric by Les Indiennes.

Molly Mahon echoes the sentiment: ‘Sometimes less really is more. Concentrating block print in one intentional moment allows the pattern to be appreciated. It creates a visual pause that feels very special.’ Because block prints carry strong visual energy, isolating them provides space for the patterned element to shine while giving the eye somewhere to rest.

4. Use Block-Print Table Linens as a Low-Commitment Design Layer

Block prints don’t have to live permanently in a room to make an impact. Table linens – tablecloths, runners, napkins, and placemats – offer a flexible, low-commitment way to introduce handcrafted pattern into everyday spaces like kitchens and breakfast nooks. A block-print tablecloth can instantly soften built-in seating, modern cabinetry, or streamlined furniture, adding warmth and personality without overwhelming the room.

This is beautifully illustrated in Ariel Okin’s tabletop collection with Pomegranate, which is inspired by a vintage suzani textile from the designer’s own home and blends florals, scrolls, and crisp gingham into a versatile, mix-and-match dining selection in blue and green hues. The appeal lies in the flexibility: these designs can be changed seasonally, layered casually, or used only when entertaining. Table linens are inherently adaptable, making them an ideal entry point for experimenting with block prints. So, if you’re pattern-shy, start at the table – it’s one of the easiest ways to test the look.

5. Think Beyond Pillows with Unexpected Applications

While cushions and bedding are classics, block prints truly stand out in unexpected places – from lampshades and wall hangings to oversized drapes and framed textile panels. These applications turn everyday objects into focal points and highlight the craftsmanship behind the print itself.

Textile curator Jules Haines has used block-printed fabric remnants to create a half-tester canopy in her own home. ‘The block print becomes a form of hanging wall art,’ the founder of Haines explains, a sustainable fabric sourcing platform dedicated to rescuing surplus designer textiles, wallpaper, and home accessories that might otherwise go to waste. ‘I love how people respond to this room: they’re instinctively drawn to touch the draped fabric, and the block-printed fabric becomes the elegant focal point of the space. The result is romantic and cocooning, almost tent-like, with a hint of exoticism and escapism – exactly the atmosphere a bedroom should offer.’ Treating block prints as art ultimately highlights the craftsmanship behind them.

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Block prints work the way good design often does: slowly, subtly, and then all at once. One piece leads to another, confidence builds, and suddenly a room feels warmer and more personal without ever trying too hard. Looking ahead, it’s easy to see why this centuries-old craft feels right again – it aligns with a shift toward homes that prize handmade crafts and human touch.