The Face-Print Decor Trend Is Still Going Strong, Here's How to Bring It Home
Category Design Tips
Portraiture has always been big in interiors, probably because we're all vain enough to want to see our faces in paint and photographs—and to put them on display. But these works used to be pretty much confined to the walls. Or maybe you'd find a piece on an easel or tabletop. And most of this "mugging" was photorealistic, that is, until, people like Picasso came in and totally changed the game with abstract, cubist likenesses in the early to mid-20th century.
Since then and especially as of late, designers and makers have been all about putting full faces on different types of decor, from vases and mugs to bedding and even bath mats. According to Etsy, on-site searches for "faces" are up 38 percent compared to 2017 (over the same period of time). So there you go. Most of the renderings I'm seeing are flat and linear, perhaps for their universality and nondescript qualities. Anyone can see themselves in a sketchy line drawing, right? But you can certainly find ceramics with facial features in relief and a creepy disembodied head or two serving as a planter.
Why all the face time? Hard to say exactly. The popularity of emojis could have something to do with it. We're so used to seeing facial expressions on our phones these days, maybe it was only a matter of time before they took over textiles, art prints, and more. There's nothing really offensive about abstract face motifs, and most are rendered in a black-and-white color scheme, so they kind of go with everything. I guess all those eye motifs that were popular a year or two ago had to lead somewhere, right? Let's check out some ways people have been decorating with faces and heads, so you can decide whether this trend is for you or not. Because it's showing no signs of slowing down out in the market.
I'm into the winky face pillow above. Or maybe I'm just obsessed with that tufted green velvet couch and would like anything that was put on top of it. But you have to admit. There's something whimsical and lighthearted about a face throw pillow.
You can't go wrong with a black-and-white line face drawing. This piece fills the small stretch of blank wall area well but could also hang in a gallery wall arrangement.
ARTICLE COURTESY APARTMENT THERAPY
Author: Danielle Bundell c/o Apartment Therapy
