This old-fashioned pattern is set to be one of the biggest interior trends this year - interior designers can't get enough of it

Gingham suddenly got a whole lot more stylish. This season, we need to re-evaluate everything we think we know about this quaint chequerboard pattern as it moves from our grandma’s table cloth to the forefront of our homes. 

Yes, your old-school summer uniform really is one of the biggest interior design trends of the year.

What are the reasons behind gingham’s increasing desirability? The pandemic may have to answer to this trend, just like many of the nostalgic crazes to emerge during the current lockdown. The craving for check comes as homeowners look for ways to inject elements of a rural escape into their homes, and the pining for natural charm will only grow as spring arrives. 

The success of Netflix series, The Queen’s Gambit, may have also had an impact on the pattern’s return, as fans look for ways to pay homage to fictional chess champion Beth Harmon through their interiors. 

London-based furniture suppliers, Arlo & Jacob, have notably jumped on the trend, and have recently released a gingham collection which could sit comfortably in any modern home, as their Buying and Merchandising Manager, Laura Barnard, shared: ‘Gingham is a very confident upholstery choice, and rather than being too frilly it’s bringing attention to an interior.’ 

If you are still not convinced that we’ve reached the end of gingham’s frilly days, luxury interior designer Rebecca Hughes, Founder of Rebecca Hughes Interiors, further emphasized the versatility of this ever-enduring pattern. 

She explained: ‘Gingham is a big interior trend and personally I love how this simple pattern can change an interior scheme. Although gingham is nostalgic and traditional to many, it certainly doesn’t have to be confined to country homes.’

‘The great thing about this timeless print is that it enhances almost any interior,' the designer continued. 'Whether it be a simple lampshade, a ruffle trim cushion, or an upholstered chair, with the right choice of color, size of the pattern, and style, these beautiful checks will suit both classic or contemporary settings.'

Meanwhile, Ceraudo - the furniture brand who were one of the first to use lacquer before it became a trend - have added ruffles to their brand new gingham chair designs.

Alternatively, designer Sarah Peake, of the London-based Studio Peake also suggests interpreting gingham into your home through your curtains.

'One of my favorite places to use gingham in projects is on curtain linings,' she explains. 'If curtain linings are seen from outside through the window, it is lovely to use a contrast lining for that element of surprise, and ginghams work well with most patterns.'

Curious as to which other crazes are taking over our homes during this year? Read how 1970s inspired interiors are the retro fuelled trend taking over our homes this year.