How to decorate with Fornasetti

To encounter the work of Italian painter, sculptor, interior decorator and engraver Piero Fornasetti is to tumble into a surreal and kaleidoscopic world of flying machines, suns with moustaches, playing card cities, vegetable faces, birds and butterflies. Where Alice in Wonderland meets Giovanni Battista Piranesi. Where a chest of drawers looks like a neoclassical building, a chair back is a Greek pillar, a screen evokes a forest and a Doberman is an umbrella stand. Fornasetti's imagination knew no bounds...

Lend a playful tone to your interior scheme with architectural details, antique plaster or marble, and witty illustrated ceramics

Decorative Fornasetti side plates displayed on a slate-grey wall — Walls painted in ‘Tallanstown Grey’, £42.50 per 2.5l, Paint & Paper Library. ‘Palloni’ plates, c1955, £6,800 for a set of nine, Holly Johnson Antiques & Design. ‘Sole’ table, £1,100, Themes & Variations.On table (from left): ‘Harlequin’ cup and saucer by Fornasetti, c1950, £1,500 for six, Holly Johnson Antiques & Design; antique books, from £30 each, Maison Artefact; set of plaster intaglios, £350 for 23, Lassco; ‘Casa con Colonne’ vase, £185, Milk Concept Boutique; ‘Labbra’ scented candle in a jar, £115, Amara; vintage Fornasetti tray, £95 for two, August Interiors. Marble columns, from £414 each, Retrouvius. Glass ball from ‘Still Alive’ desk set, £270, Amara. - -

Arrange a coffee table with trinkets and trays, incense and books. Make it an interesting place to pause and gaze

A black coffee table peppered with Fornasetti curios — ‘Greek Key’ rug, £2,795, Jonathan Adler. Vintage coffee table, £795, Emmett & White Antiques & Interiors. On table (from left): gold-edged dish, £95 for two, August Interiors; ‘Flora’ incense box, £145, Milk Concept Boutique; musical coasters, £425 for eight, Emmett & White Antiques & Interiors; Fornasetti: The Complete Universe book, £180, Milk Concept Boutique; ring dish, £125, Emmett & White Antiques & Interiors; trinkets, stylist’s own. Leaf tobacco box, c1950, £500, Holly Johnson Antiques & Design. - -

Curate a cosy and curious sitting room, starting with a backdrop of dark moody walls. Layer with Grecian and Roman patterns then accent the space with stylish gold and brass on mirrors or lighting

A dark grey living room featuring a green velvet sofa and armchair, plus Fornasetti plates and a Fornasetti drinks cabinet — Walls painted in ‘Down Pipe’, £39.50 per 2.5l, Farrow & Ball. ‘Greek Key’ rug, £2,795, Jonathan Adler. ‘Tango’ armchair in ‘Marble Butterly Jade’, £1,138; ‘Tango’ sofa in ‘Estella Teal’, £1,859; small cushion on sofa (just seen), £168, all Duresta for Matthew Williamson at Barker & Stonehouse. Fornasetti cushions (on sofa), £210 each, Milk Concept Boutique. ‘Celia’ cushion (on armchair, just seen), £72, Rockett St George. ‘Bristol’ easel floor lamp, £650, Jonathan Adler. Vintage plate (on lamp), £245, Emmett & White Antiques & Interiors. ‘Architettura’ console, £3,750, Milk Concept Boutique. Plaster capitol (on console), £114, Retrouvius. Pocket watch mirror by Fornasetti, £1,995, August Interiors. Vintage coffee table, £795, Emmett & White Antiques & Interiors. On table (from left): Fornasetti chess board, £700; ‘T&V 1’ teapot, £325; ‘Cammei’ cup and saucer, £175; ‘Flora’ incense box, £145; ‘L’Antipatico’ gold vase, £840; ‘Pennini’ candle jar, £125; ashtray, £150, all Milk Concept Boutique. - -

Entertain your guests with a humorous and captivating dining room. Introduce optical illusions into mirrors and rugs, play with scale on oversized vases and statues, and produce a 'peep show' of Fornasetti's famous faces

A two-tone yellow and grey dining room with a large dining table and Fornasetti dining chairs — Main walls painted in ‘Tallanstown Grey’; top wall painted in ‘Morning Room’, both £42.50 per 2.5l, Paint & Paper Library. Geometric rug, from £165, Rockett St George. Rosewood Italian dining table, c1950, £850, Circus Antiques. On table (from left): ‘Harlequin’ cup and saucer, c1950 by Fornasetti, £1,500 for six, Holly Johnson Antiques & Design; antique books, from £30 each, Maison Artefact; ‘Still Alive’ desk set by Seletti, £270, Amara; ‘Campana’ urn, £1,650 for two, Lassco. ‘Ionic’ chair, c1970, £4,950; ‘Sole’ chair, c1950, £12,000, both Holly Johnson Antiques & Design. For a similar violin try Hobgoblin Music. ‘Gstaad’ chair, £3,500, Themes & Variations. On mantelpiece (from left): glass ‘Morpheo’ candelabra by Seletti, £135, Amara; Italian green pressed glass vase, £80, Lassco; ‘Losanghe’ candle jar, £125, Amara; ‘Sole’ vase, £225, Milk Concept Boutique; antique confit pot, from £145 each, Cubbit Antiques; pyramid storage set, £398, Jonathan Adler. ‘Dionysus’ plaster figure, £800, Cubbit Antiques. On wall: ‘Cammei’ mirror, c1950, £6,800, Holly Johnson Antiques & Design; plates, £200 each, Milk Concept Boutique. - -

Mix and mismatch both old and new pieces. The monochrome colour and quirky illustrations will hold the look together

A brown breakfast table featuring a Fornasetti tray and tea cup, plus glasses filled with flowers and breadsticks — ‘Mykonos’ place mat, £28 each; ‘Nixon’ napkin ring, £128 for four; ‘Malachite’ napkin, £28 each, all Jonathan Adler. ‘Keytlery’ cutlery by Seletti, £245 for a set of 24, Amara. Porcelain plate, c1990, £450, Holly Johnson Antiques & Design. ‘L’Antipatico’ cup and saucer, £150, Milk Concept Boutique. Owl tray, £980, by Atelier Fornasetti, Holly Johnson Antiques & Design. Monkey candle holder, £29; black candle, £2.95, both Rockett St George. Find a similar glass for flowers at Rockett St George. Mid-century Italian cocktail glasses, from £35 each, Lassco. Vintage Fornasetti coasters, £95 for two, August Interiors. - -

Enrich your scheme with clever decorative illustrations to enchant and charm the viewer

A Fornasetti umbrella stand in the shape of a dog against green malachite wallpaper — Walls papered in ‘Malachite’ (77/7024), £90 per roll, ‘The Fornasetti Collection’ at Cole & Son. Woodwork painted in ‘Studio Green’, £39.50 per 2.5l, Farrow & Ball. ‘Diamond’ runner, £60, Rockett St George. Vintage Fornasetti ‘Spinoni’ umbrella stand, c1950, £5,750, Holly Johnson Antiques & Design. ‘Libri’ magazine rack by Fornasetti, £1,200; umbrellas from £25 each, both Amara. - -

Sculpt yourself a space for creative exploration that is anything but sterile. Decorate the walls with a textured malachite paper and introduce colour with vintage seating, lighting and accessories

A yellow Fornasetti dining chair at a glass-topped writing desk against green malachite wallpaper — Walls papered in ‘Malachite’ (77/7024), £90 per roll, ‘The Fornasetti Collection’ at Cole & Son. Woodwork painted in ‘Studio Green’, £39.50 per 2.5l, Farrow & Ball. ‘Sole’ chair, £12,000, Holly Johnson Antiques & Design. ‘Compass’ table by Matthew Hilton, £1,110, SCP.On table (from left): Bronze ‘Dionysus’ Italian sculpture, £2,200, Lassco; ‘Porta’ bookends, c1950, £1,250, Holly Johnson Antiques & Design; antique books, from £30 each, Maison Artefact; ‘Gedeo’ clay, £8; ‘Gedeo’ modelling tools four-piece set, £7, both Hobbycraft; ‘Strumenti Scrittura’ pen pot, £150, Milk Concept Boutique; red tools, £4 for a set of four; similar canvas, paintbrushes and pencils, all Hobbycraft; plaster intaglios set, £350, Lassco; vintage flags tray, £195, Emmett & White Antiques & Interiors; early porcelain lidded jar, c1960, £580, Holly Johnson Antiques & Design. 1960s Italian floor lamp, £875, Cubbit Antiques.On wall: framed architectural prints, £125 each, Emmett & White Antiques & Interiors. - -

Photographs: Katya De Grunwald

Styling: Ali Bradshaw

All prices and product names correct at time of publication.

How to decorate with Fornasetti

Lend a playful tone to your interior scheme with architectural details, antique plaster or marble, and witty illustrated ceramics

Arrange a coffee table with trinkets and trays, incense and books. Make it an interesting place to pause and gaze

Curate a cosy and curious sitting room, starting with a backdrop of dark moody walls. Layer with Grecian and Roman patterns then accent the space with stylish gold and brass on mirrors or lighting

Entertain your guests with a humorous and captivating dining room. Introduce optical illusions into mirrors and rugs, play with scale on oversized vases and statues, and produce a 'peep show' of Fornasetti's famous faces

Mix and mismatch both old and new pieces. The monochrome colour and quirky illustrations will hold the look together

Enrich your scheme with clever decorative illustrations to enchant and charm the viewer

Sculpt yourself a space for creative exploration that is anything but sterile. Decorate the walls with a textured malachite paper and introduce colour with vintage seating, lighting and accessories

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How to decorate with Fornasetti

Lend a playful tone to your interior scheme with architectural details, antique plaster or marble, and witty illustrated ceramics

Arrange a coffee table with trinkets and trays, incense and books. Make it an interesting place to pause and gaze

Curate a cosy and curious sitting room, starting with a backdrop of dark moody walls. Layer with Grecian and Roman patterns then accent the space with stylish gold and brass on mirrors or lighting

Entertain your guests with a humorous and captivating dining room. Introduce optical illusions into mirrors and rugs, play with scale on oversized vases and statues, and produce a 'peep show' of Fornasetti's famous faces

Mix and mismatch both old and new pieces. The monochrome colour and quirky illustrations will hold the look together

Enrich your scheme with clever decorative illustrations to enchant and charm the viewer

Sculpt yourself a space for creative exploration that is anything but sterile. Decorate the walls with a textured malachite paper and introduce colour with vintage seating, lighting and accessories

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