DECOR: Best Bunting

Vintage silk bunting from PlumoFAR FROM BEING twee and patriotic, the latest bunting has kicked off its British war-time associations and has become a sophisticated way to enhance a neutral room without making significant cosmetic changes.

Bunting has become a symbol of what many of us we want from our interiors accessories today: what Beth Smith, Deputy Editor of textile-centric Selvedge magazine calls: “instant, inexpensive cheer. Put simply, it makes you smile. It speaks of street parties, birthdays and summer fetes - and it seems people have decided to celebrate all year round. Perhaps it is the interior equivalent of nailing your colours to the mast and defying current circumstances… (Let’s celebrate managing to hang on to our homes!)”

Just remember to pin ‘em high to keep them out of reach of tiny hands…

Our current favourites include:

1. Plumo’s silk bunting (pictured above left). £25 for a 5 metre length, it is made from 80 per cent vintage silks so each length has its own individual charm. Buy at www.plumo.com

Fabulous Garlands2. Sophie Cuvelier’s ‘Fabulous Garlands’ - a cult range of hand-dyed paper shapes (including flags, large or small, circles and squares) make these garlands made by French designer Sophie an ethereal deluxe product. Buy from Selvedge Drygoods, from £25 for a 3metre length of small flags. www.selvedge-drygoods.org. Or see Sophie’s website for more details: www.sophiecuvelier.com

Cox & Cox boys bunting3. Cool boys’ 10m-long bunting from Cox & Cox features an inspired fictional take on international flag motifs. Great colours. £30 from www.coxandcox.co.uk

Recycled African fabrics from Shak Shuka4. Fashionable African textiles feature in these urban ethnic flags by Starfish from Shak-Shuka. They’re made from recycled fabrics so are eco-friendly too. 19.50 Euros from www.shak-shuka.com who deliver internationally.

Cox & Cox\'s transparent bunting5. Transparent, delicate coloured cotton voile flags from Cox & Cox - on a zingy lime green string. 5m long. £14. From www.coxandcox.co.uk

Crochet garlands from WoodWoolStools6. We love these crochet flag bunting lengths from Dutch designer Ingrid of WoodWoolStool, for their originality: a ten flag garland starts at $35. Click on the image for a closer look. Buy at www.woodwoolstool.etsy.com

Origami garlands7. French-Canadian designer Sylvie of The Butter Flying produces delicate alternatives to flags with her pretty ribbon and origami garlands made from vintage French book pages. $US17 from www.leptitpapillon.etsy.com. Custom designs also available.