Decorating & Design
Why We’re Craving Plaid This Season
Author: Jen Masseau
Published on October 24, 2016
Assistant design editor Jen Masseau shares her favorite plaid picks.
Plaid is such a classic print for fall and winter, and I start thinking about it it as soon as the temperature dips. I love that it can lend itself to a variety of styles, and promises to make a space feel warm and cozy. I rounded up my top picks for the season, which prove the cold weather print can work for traditionalists and modernists alike.
These soft lambswool throws have an authentic heirloom feel backed by some serious pedigree: Avoca, the family-run weaving mill that makes them, is Ireland’s oldest, established in 1723.
Sip hot cocoa (or coffee) from this cute vintage-inspired enamel camp mug.
Perfect for a cozy den or elegant powder room, this traditional tartan wallpaper would look mighty handsome matched with warm lighting, dark wood and reflective accents to bring out its rich green hue.
Products: Caledonia Dark Green Plaid by Beacon House , part of the Oxford collection, $100 per roll
Done up in lustrous silk, these luxe toss cushions put a modern twist on a classic tartan simply by angling the print 45 degrees.
Products: Tartan Printed Silk Pillow Covers in
Red ,
Castlebay , and
Stewart , $79USD each
Crisscrossed strips and rods of copper and brass in varying widths make up the organic grid of this decorative tray. Designer Neelima Rao’s reimagining of this traditional pattern was inspired by Indian handloomed textile weaving.
Products: Plaid Metal Tray , $249
From the smell of pine needles to a whiff of spice-filled baked goods, the role of scent in our love of the holiday season is undeniable. Set the scene for festive gatherings by lighting up a deliciously fragranced candle. This one — housed in a plaid-adorned jar — is Pumpkin & Nutmeg.
Set out Santa’s cookies — or just wrangle keys and loose change — on this glass decoupage tray.
For a luxe hostess gift, present this Tiffany tartan-cut lead crystal decanter along with a fine bottle of — what else? — Scotch to fill it with.
Products: Plaid Decanter , $260
Black and white buffalo check doubles down on the comfort-focused, easy-going hipster vibe of this chair’s mid-century modern inspired design.
Conjure the mood of a cozy mountain ski chalet by outfitting your bed with this yarn-dyed cotton duvet cover in heathered plaid.
Products: Bentwood Plaid Duvet Cover , $355USD for Queen size
Serve your best showstopping holiday dinner dish in this limited-edition take on the iconic enameled Dutch oven. Dressed in a traditional red, green, blue and white plaid, the print is hand-appliquéd and double fired for a durable, textured finish.
If subtlety is more your style, this nylon tufted rug’s finely crosshatched plaid in a graphic grayscale palette has a modern, abstract feel that works year-round.