Timeless Tartan

By Ana Zuravliova

Trend Specialist at Blinds Direct

Fri 13 Jan 2023

There won’t be many unfamiliar with the checks and stripes of tartans.  With a history that reaches back 1,500 years tartan is iconic, and a much loved style in both clothing and interiors.  And, yet again, this fabric style is experiencing a resurgence, with both modern and traditional tartans marching over the border to feature in homes up and down the country! Read on to learn how to use tartan in both modern and traditional interiors…

Tartan in interior design

Tartan has been synonymous with clothing for centuries. From the kilts of highlanders to jumpers available from Ralph Lauren, tartan is an eye-catching alternative to vertical or horizontal lines, and a bit bolder than the more delicate gingham checks.

Tartan is synonymous with robustness, quality, and relaxation. Popular as a winter pattern, tartan can instantly make a space feel more homely, cosy, and inviting. While well known as a fashionable addition in classically inspired interiors, you can use tartan in modern or contemporary homes with equally elegant effects.

Modern tartan in interior design

Tartan has a natural connection with classic interiors, but with the right choice, you can use tartan to put a contemporary home at the cutting edge of interior design.

Most traditional tartan patterns feature dark, rich shades often of noble reds, dark greens, or inky blues, but they are not limited to these colours. At Blinds Direct we offer a range of high-quality fabrics featuring tartan in vibrant, youthful colours perfect for the modern home.

Take for example our Katrine Teal Roman blind. This striking blind captures the charm and sophistication of tartan print, but features teal, a modern classic. Teal is expected to become even more popular in 2023 and we explore it in depth in our blog, The Enduring Appeal of Teal!

Traditional tartans

While you can enjoy modern twists on tartan, classic patterns remain as chic and welcoming as ever.

When we think of tartan, one of the first colours that springs to mind is red. Red is the embodiment of warmth and welcome, and when arrayed with other colours in a tartan print, will transform any home. Red tartans are ideal for living rooms, and bedrooms, but even Cottagecore kitchens too! Consider a red tartan curtain or Roman blinds in relaxation rooms, and waterproof roller blinds for the kitchen.

Red isn’t the only colour to consider, you can find a fantastic array of classical blues, greens, greys and orangey browns. These colours are equally inviting and fashionable, while opening up a range of alternative supporting colours.

A quick note about other checks

Tartan might be the king of checks, but it isn’t the only style. There are several other checked patterned materials to consider from Blinds Direct. For decorators looking for something a little more whimsical you can consider gingham checks which are smaller in scale to those in tartans.

For a mid-point print between the two, there are also window pane checks such as the Windsor Pewter Roman Blind.

Finally, from our in-house Sonova Studio, we have fused the styles of checks and floral patterns in our popular Cottagecore and Sorrento collections. Available in a range of trendy colours, they also showcase pretty floral print designs! Moreover, you can only find these fabrics with Blinds Direct.

Tartan is the king of checks. Stylish, inviting, and easy to add into modern and traditional homes alike, it can transform your décor. Explore the range of colour combinations today on the Blinds Direct website, and if you’re not 100% sure on which colour is best, you can order up to eight free samples from the website!

Shop some of our favourite products that go well with tartan: