Chalet-style decor is trending

Chalet-Style Decor is Trending:

here’s how to get this rich and layered look in your home

Ellen Finch

Blog / 02 Chalet-style decor is trending: here’s how to get this rich and layered look in your home

Natural materials, plush textures and patterned wallpaper and fabrics are key to the eclectic style

Embracing the Italian sweet life is a mindset that can be encouraged through the magical colours of our maximalist collection, with each print emanating energy and pizzazz.

Let the warmth and joy of the Italian summer envelop you as vivacious palettes, playful patterns and hypnotising illustrations transport you to the historic palazzos of Venice and the dazzling coastlines of the Riviera. The diverse beauty seen in the country’s landscape and architecture is portrayed across the La Dolce Vita collection, with its fabrics, wallpapers and accessories bringing a touch of Italian flair to a vast array of interior styles and schemes.

Cubist-inspired graphics, full of colour and drama, invite you to step into a world where fantasy takes over and wanderlust sets in, as the home transforms into a dreamlike setting. Floral decorations, retro, geometric outlines, and abstract animal prints pay homage to the verve and glamour of a fashion-forward nation, where style and grace exudes.

Be it the coloured tiles of Amalfi, the rich florals of Giardino, or the luxurious tactility of sumptuous velvets, there is something for everyone. Find yourself lost in memories of warm, summer evenings where the sounds of street musicians and convivial gatherings float through the air, while the gentle breeze from the ocean fans the leaves of nearby palms and orange trees, enhancing the sweet scents of local flora and fauna.

Embracing this sweet life is a mindset that can be encouraged through the magical colours of this maximalist collection, with each print emanating energy and pizzazz. Merging heritage and authenticity with contemporary forms and colour combinations, the essence of Italy is brought directly into your home, wherever you are. This is escapism at its finest.

There is an undeniable comfort to be found in chalet-style interiors. At their best, they’re an effortless blend of natural materials, rustic textures, earthy hues and grounding patterns that make you want to stoke the fire, settle into an armchair and watch the flames. And with a boost in popularity over the last few years, it’s no longer just for snowy slopes and alpine lodges. In fact, you can introduce this brand of intimate elegance into any scheme.

Why is chalet style trending right now?

First there was cottagecore, which boomed in popularity back in 2020, perhaps because it was a way to romanticize staying at home, and even make it aspirational. Now, five years later, we’re seeing the rise of chalet-style decor. It is a cozier, moodier aesthetic that taps into our desire for warmth and comfort in the colder months. Both of these styles, I think, reflect our desire to escape to a fantasy life that is simpler, calmer, more aesthetically pleasing – especially in the context of an ever-busier, more connected world.

In short, a chalet-style interior scheme represents an escape from the stresses of everyday life into a space that feels comforting, cossetting, that envelopes you in its richness. It’s also a welcome change from the trend towards minimalist decor that we’ve seen over the past few years. Now, we want more color, more texture, more layers and, of course, more patterned wallpaper. Chalet-style interiors are a great way to do this.

How are designers using chalet style decor?

Weathered timber, rustic slate, tactile wool, boucle and shearling, and a palette of brown, taupe, grey, green and orange: there’s a lot to love about this decor style. And it’s perhaps no surprise that it’s enjoying popularity just as interior designers are experimenting more with warmer, richer tones of wood: used to clad internal walls as a backdrop for a living room or dining room; left as exposed ceiling beams for added personality; and transformed into chunky furniture pieces, sculptural yet simplistic in form, that celebrate the material’s raw character.

Alongside this, I’m seeing interior designers introduce color and interest through patterned wallpaper and upholstery to create a warm, eclectic feel that feels very chaletcore. For example, LA-based Jessie Lane Interiors used MINDTHEGAP’s SARKOZI Embroidery Herbal wallpaper, from the TRANSYLVANIAN ROOTS collection, in a woodlands retreat in North Carolina. The intricate floral pattern in a rich, mossy green pairs beautifully with the wood used on the floors, ceilings and beams of the cabin.

How can I bring chalet style into my home?

Even if you don’t live in a cabin with wood panelling and a log burner, you can still design your home to embody the modern-rustic ideals of chalet style. It’s a look that works well in almost any room, but consider trying it in a space you want to feel snug: a sitting room, dining room or bedroom all benefit from comfortable and intimate decor. The most appealing feature of chalet-style panelling is its ability to make a space feel instantly cossetting, so consider a wallpaper that will create a similarly rich and cocooning feeling. I love MINDTHEGAP’s JOCHBERG Juniper wallpaper for this purpose.

Next, focus on introducing a few sculptural furniture pieces with a sturdy wooden frame. An armchair like the Charming Chair in GIARDINO woven fabric makes for the perfect reading corner companion, the frame brought to life by the heritage-style diamond patterned fabric. Chalet-style interiors are all about craftsmanship, so incorporate vintage finds (a mix of mid-century and older designs work well together) with pieces from makers working with local wood for a sustainable approach. Finally, if you only want a touch of chalet style in your space, bring in natural, plush textures and warm, earthy hues with accessories. Soft furnishings are your friends here: sheepskins, wool rugs (I like the YADIGARI Anatolia red wool kilim rug for this look) and a mix of patterned cushions in mossy greens, burnt oranges, deep reds and browns will all lend dynamism to the scheme. Enhance the space with layered, low-level lighting. Wall sconces, floor and table lamps, like the FASNACHT Anthracite velvet lampshade, will create warm pools of light. Finish with plants to introduce a welcome touch of greenery.Curating a chalet-style scheme is all about layering texture upon texture, pattern upon pattern (yes, pattern clashing can work well here) and with plenty of soft touchpoints to make a space feel intimate and inviting. Balanced by modern furniture with clean lines, and uncluttered styling, you’re left with a space that feels grounded, calm and quietly luxe – a real retreat from the world outside your front door.

Chalet-style decor is trending