What Is Chintz? A Flowery History of ‘Chintzy’ Decor and Why It’s So Hot Today

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Chintz, a textile featuring flowery patterns on curtains, couches, and wallpaper, was all the rage in the 1980s. Since then, it’s fallen from grace, hard. In fact, after its long history of ins and outs in fashion, the word “chintzy” has become synonymous with decor that’s considered gaudy or cheap.

But as trends tend to do, the pendulum has swung back. Chintz is coming back strong, baby!

So don’t knock chintz until you’ve taken a good look: Here’s a brief history of this bright, attention-grabbing fabric and the fresh new ways it’s being used in modern-day home decor.

A brief history

Based on the Hindi word for “spotted,” chintz originated as calico cottons in 17th-century India. “It began as quilts and curtains [there], then later spread throughout Europe,” says Amanda Evans, an interior designer and home stager based in Salt Lake City, UT.

While chintz originated in home furnishings, these cheery patterns soon migrated to clothes, although they got there in an unusual way.

“It didn’t become wearable until the furniture was replaced and the discarded fabrics were given to maids and servants, who ended up transforming them into clothing,” Evans adds.

Remember when Julie Andrews turned curtains into play clothes for kids in “The Sound of Music”? Yeah, just like that. But usually without the singing.

Julie Andrews wasn’t the first to turn curtains into clothes.

20th Century Fox

In the United States, chintz bloomed amid the rise of “shabby chic.” Think: Molly Ringwald’s bedroom in “Pretty in Pink.”

Molly Ringwald’s bedroom in ‘Pretty in Pink’

Paramount Pictures

But chintz soon reached its saturation point, as evidenced by Ikea’s memorable “Chuck Out Your Chintz” ad in 1996.

Ikea’s 1996 “Chuck Out Your Chintz” ad

Ikea

While many today still associate chintz with grandma’s house, the times are a-changin’, thanks in large part to Gucci’s creative director Alessandro Michele—whose fall 2015 and spring/summer 2016 runway fashion lines came with a generous dose of chintz.

After that, chintz started popping up everywhere again, particularly for the young ’uns—and not just in clothes, but full-bore in home decor.

“Today, the people who are embracing chintz the most are millennials,” says Mimi Su, a professor at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles.

But that doesn’t mean these hipster homeowners are using chintz the same way grandma did.

“Today, it’s best done in moderation,” says Evans. “I don’t want to feel like I’m actually in my grandparents’ home, but a little bit can bring femininity and subtle nostalgia to a space. If nothing else, having chintz in your home will give you plenty to discuss at dinner parties.”

Chintz decorating ideas for the modern-day home

One of the easiest ways to incorporate chintz into your home without a ton of commitment is with decorative throw pillows on your bed, sofa, or chairs.

You can also honor the history and beauty of chintz by framing it on your wall and really putting it on display.

And it works really well in bathrooms. if yours needs a serious pick-me-up, a carefully chosen bath rug or shower curtain in a chintz pattern will give the space a nice touch of pizazz.

One of the most exciting ways chintz is being updated for the contemporary home is by using bold, bright colors—rather than the expected been-there-done-that pastels—in the traditional floral chintz designs.

For color-phobic decorators, a black-and-white chintz pattern is the perfect modern take.

The fun thing about chintz is that it can appear practically anywhere in your home: If your decor generally lacks patterns and uses solid colors, consider going big with a chintz wallpaper or curtains (but probably not both!). If you pick one that ties in colors already present in your home decor, you’ll have a winning look that’s clean yet bold. For a feminine touch, you’ll achieve the same effect by dressing up a mostly white bedroom with a headboard upholstered in chintz.

And of course, you can always go all out with generous sprinklings of chintz throughout your decor. But a word of caution: This approach is probably best left to decorators experienced and comfortable with mixing prints. Chintz is best in small doses, at least if you’re starting out.

 

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