Patterned Landscapes: From New England Coastal to Rocky Mountain Rustic

Key Takeaways

• The extraordinary range of Morris & Co. colourways means there is a perfect design for every American regional aesthetic, from the coastal blues of New England to the warm terracottas of the Southwest.
• The key is to draw on the colours and textures of your local landscape when choosing your Morris colourway.
• New England coastal interiors call for the cooler, more restrained Morris colourways — blues, greens, and soft neutrals.
• Rocky Mountain and Southwest interiors are best served by the warmer, earthier tones — terracottas, ochres, and deep greens.
• Whatever your regional aesthetic, there is a Morris design that will feel entirely at home in your landscape.

America is a country of extraordinary landscape diversity — from the rocky, salt-sprayed coastlines of Maine to the sun-baked mesas of New Mexico, from the misty forests of the Pacific Northwest to the rolling prairies of the Great Plains. And yet, for all this diversity, one thing remains constant: the human desire to bring the beauty of the landscape indoors, to create a home that feels rooted in its particular place on earth.

This is where Morris & Co. wallpaper excels. With its extraordinary range of designs and colourways — each one rooted in the observation of the natural world — it offers a palette that can be matched to almost any American landscape. The key is to look outward before you look inward: to understand the colours, textures, and rhythms of your local environment, and to choose a Morris design that speaks the same language. Read more about the Arts & Crafts tradition in the US on Wikipedia.

New England Coastal

For the New England coastal home — the shingled cottage, the Federal townhouse, the converted barn — the cooler Morris colourways are the natural choice. Willow Boughs in Blue brings the colour of the Atlantic into a sitting room or bedroom, while the Campanula in Peacock/Opal captures the iridescent quality of light on water. Pair with bleached oak, linen, and driftwood accessories for a look that is quintessentially New England.

Rocky Mountain Rustic

For the Rocky Mountain or Southwest interior — the log cabin, the adobe hacienda, the mountain retreat — the warmer Morris colourways come into their own. The Acanthus in Terracotta echoes the warm, earthy tones of the landscape with extraordinary fidelity, while the Campanula in Sunburst brings the golden light of a mountain afternoon indoors. Pair with dark timber, leather, and hand-thrown ceramics for a look that feels rooted in the land.

Pacific Northwest

For the Pacific Northwest — the cedar-clad house in the forest, the craftsman bungalow in Portland or Seattle — the deep, mossy greens of the Morris palette are the obvious choice. Willow Boughs in Green captures the colour of the forest floor with a precision that feels almost uncanny, while the Pimpernel in Weld/Leaf Green brings a note of botanical richness that is perfectly suited to a region where the natural world is never far from the door.

Whatever your landscape, whatever your home, there is a Morris design that will feel entirely at home within it. That is the genius of William Morris — and the enduring gift of his archive.

Further reading: Arts & Crafts in the US on Wikipedia | Style at the New York Times | William Morris on Wikipedia