8 reasons we’re in a flap about flamingos

1. They give outside edge
Don Featherstone created his first plastic lawn flamingo for Union Products in Leominster, Massachusetts back in 1957. If you're nostalgic for the original designs, you can still buy them at getflocked.com. A pair (one flamingo with its head up, the other with its neck curved downward, as above) costs $23.99, plus approx $55 for shipping. Loving those crazy (non-rusting metal) legs...

2. They're a real home bird
Perched on a shelf, headboard or picture frame, who can resist Domingo the taxidermy flamingo?
Or for a more contemporary display, why not exhibit our fine feathered friend, £49, from Rockett St George, under a glass dome or cloche?

3. They're Miami nice
Bed linen featuring a photographic print of flamingos in a blue lagoon, did you say? Yes, we can get you that. We reckon Catherine Lansfield's Flamingo double duvet cover set nails the Miami Art Deco look. And at a very reasonable £10 from Very, what's not to like?

4. They're such love birds
A dash of shocking pink not loud enough for you? Up the ante with a clashing background of bright orange. Abigail Ahern/Edition's crafty velvet cushion, £40, featuring a pair of lovey-dovey appliqué flamingos and a vibrant pink fringe trim totally smashes it.

5. They're party animals
Flamingos can stand for hours on one leg (scientists are still arguing as to why - answers on a postcard...). Invite friends round to discuss and serve drinks in these groovily themed Sommarfint glasses, from 50p each at Ikea. Not too many drinks, though, or you may ruffle one too many style feathers and guests won't be able to stand at all...

6. They're a great bathroom buddy
This gorgeously bold Graham & Brown vinyl wallpaper from House of Fraser especially designed for bathrooms just seems so right. If the flamingo was ever going to be a fixture the house, where else but the bathroom would it live? The space is practically its natural habitat... Sort of.

7. A little and often goes a long way
If you feel wall-to-wall flamingos are taking you way out of your comfort zone, you could always experiment with these more accessible stickers by Ohongs Design Studio at Etsy, £17.31 for 40 flamingo decals (20 facing left and 20 facing right). Affix as many as you like...

8. You can still keep it real
And if birds really aren't welcome in your home... Go visit real flamingos, such as these from the Roof Gardens in Kensington, or flamingo parks across the UK. Truly stunning creatures, we're falling in love with them all over again...

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