This image released by Portland, Oregon-based interior designer Max Humphrey shows framed bandanas that serve as decorative wall art.
If ever a 22-inch square of cotton could tell stories, it would be the bandana.
This simple piece of cloth has swabbed the sweat off the brows of sailors, farmers, miners, soldiers and factory workers for generations. And you’d be hard-pressed to find a Western film without a cowboy sporting some version of it.
Around midcentury, bandanas evolved from a strictly utilitarian item to a fashion statement. In recent years, rappers and other celebrities including Rihanna, Christina Aguilera and Hailey Bieber have rocked bandana fashion. Louis Vuitton, Saint Laurent, Coach and Japanese designer Hidaeki Shikama have employed the motif in collections.
And as is often the case with fashion trends, bandana prints have gravitated from the wardrobe to the rest of the home. These days, they fit comfortably in many décor styles, including farmhouse, vintage and cottage core.
Here are some ideas of how to incorporate the bandana motif in your home:
Photos: Bandanas add twist to home decor
This image released by interior designer Max Humphrey shows a room with a wallpaper design inspired by bandanas. “I was working with a client who said it would be cool to have a bandana print for a room we wanted to wallpaper,” he said. Humphrey “collaborated with a graphic designer to take bits and pieces from my own vintage bandanas” and found a printer to manufacture it. He now offers the paper on his website.
This image released by Zazzle shows a wall clock that features a bandana print. Zazzle has melamine plates, ceramic mugs, and ceiling and table lamps featuring the bandana paisley motif, in vibrant hues of red, blue, purple, turquoise, green or gold.
This image released by Zazzle shows a lamp with a shade that features a bandana paisley motif. The lamp also comes in blue, purple, turquoise, green or gold.
This image released by interior designer Max Humphrey shows a room with a wallpaper design inspired by bandanas. Humphrey has turned pieces from his bandana collection into pillows, tablecloths and napkins.
This image released by designer Max Humphrey shows framed bandanas that serve as decorative wall art. Humphrey transitioned to design from the film and music industries several years ago and describes his aesthetic as “cowboy high style.” He goes for an easy, welcoming vibe with spaces filled with vintage collectibles and eclectic furnishings.
This image released by interior designer Max Humphrey shows a room with a wallpaper design inspired by bandanas. His latest project is a book, “Modern Americana” (Gibbs Smith, 2021), with a whole chapter on bandanas.
“The versatility of the (bandana) trend allows designers to stretch themselves with fresh takes, while preserving the integrity of this timeless classic,” says Sarah Ward, senior vice president of brand marketing for Spoonflower, the digital printing marketplace for indie designers.
She’s seeing artists using the motif on fabric, wallpaper, throw pillows, curtains and bedding.
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