Decorating
Decorating Ideas: 9 Ways to Pack a Punch With Pattern
Whether a swathe or a small suggestion, a touch of pattern used creatively can add oodles of style to your scheme
If pattern makes you panic, don’t switch off just yet. We’re not talking chintzy sofas, fussy window dressings and swirly pub carpets. These days, eye-catching pattern can be used in numerous ways to add personality and warmth to your home, whether in the form of a feature wallpaper or statement rug, or something more inventive. From florals to stripes, spots and geometrics, there are countless ways to liven up your décor with pattern. Dive into this selection and be inspired…
Get your stripes right
Teaming a monochrome striped wall and zigzag flooring isn’t for the faint-hearted, but it is incredibly effective and a great way to visually elongate a short, narrow room. The trick is to run both patterns in the same direction and keep the colours in the rest of the space neutral.
Explore the Chevron trend
Teaming a monochrome striped wall and zigzag flooring isn’t for the faint-hearted, but it is incredibly effective and a great way to visually elongate a short, narrow room. The trick is to run both patterns in the same direction and keep the colours in the rest of the space neutral.
Explore the Chevron trend
Go up and over
Take a bedroom feature wall to the next level by extending it onto the ceiling. Here, it’s used to zone the sleeping area. The bedroom is a great place to use a really striking print – because you won’t see it all the time, there’s less danger of you getting bored of it.
Take a bedroom feature wall to the next level by extending it onto the ceiling. Here, it’s used to zone the sleeping area. The bedroom is a great place to use a really striking print – because you won’t see it all the time, there’s less danger of you getting bored of it.
Fashion a focal point
You don’t need a huge expanse of pattern to make an impact. In this all-white kitchen, a diamond-tiled splashback turns the cooker into a focal point and attracts just as much attention as a full-on feature wall would.
You don’t need a huge expanse of pattern to make an impact. In this all-white kitchen, a diamond-tiled splashback turns the cooker into a focal point and attracts just as much attention as a full-on feature wall would.
Create pattern with light
As the sun hits it, this intricately water jet-cut aluminium screen casts dazzling light patterns across the room. At other times of day, the walls and floor are pattern-free. Genius.
As the sun hits it, this intricately water jet-cut aluminium screen casts dazzling light patterns across the room. At other times of day, the walls and floor are pattern-free. Genius.
Get hip to the mix
Mixing tiles in different sizes and shapes allows you to create a unique tile pattern in your bathroom. Here, a narrow border is used between every row of brick-shaped tiles for a more interesting finish.
Mixing tiles in different sizes and shapes allows you to create a unique tile pattern in your bathroom. Here, a narrow border is used between every row of brick-shaped tiles for a more interesting finish.
Be creative with voile
These unlined voile curtains let in plenty of light, so there’s no need to open them when the sun comes up. Keep them closed and you can admire their eye-catching circle print day or night, as well as the wonderful patterns they cast when the sun is shining.
These unlined voile curtains let in plenty of light, so there’s no need to open them when the sun comes up. Keep them closed and you can admire their eye-catching circle print day or night, as well as the wonderful patterns they cast when the sun is shining.
Keep it minimal
Sometimes less is more. The only pattern in this minimalist scheme is on the sofa cushions, and it’s all the more striking for it. The circle print echoes the curves of the coffee table, lamp and vase, and contrasts beautifully with the clean lines of the sofas.
Sometimes less is more. The only pattern in this minimalist scheme is on the sofa cushions, and it’s all the more striking for it. The circle print echoes the curves of the coffee table, lamp and vase, and contrasts beautifully with the clean lines of the sofas.
Envelop for a full-on effect
It’s often said you shouldn’t use busy patterns in small spaces, but this branch-print wallpaper adds a sense of depth to an ultra-narrow room. It’s a clever visual trick that’s all down to the paper’s pale background and delicate, barely there print.
Browse 11 different ways with wallpaper
TELL US...
How do you incorporate bold patterns in your home? Share your tips and photos in the Comments below.
It’s often said you shouldn’t use busy patterns in small spaces, but this branch-print wallpaper adds a sense of depth to an ultra-narrow room. It’s a clever visual trick that’s all down to the paper’s pale background and delicate, barely there print.
Browse 11 different ways with wallpaper
TELL US...
How do you incorporate bold patterns in your home? Share your tips and photos in the Comments below.
Worried that a full-on floral sofa will make too bold a statement? Start small by upholstering just the base and arms, keeping the back and seat plain. The crisp white and wood backdrop means nothing fights with the flowers, giving them space to shine.