Accessories & Furnishings
6 pretty patterns to use in your home
6 pretty patterns to use in your home
Accessories & Furnishings
6 pretty patterns to use in your home
Adding a burst of pattern in your home can make a big impact without busting your budget!
Here’s a secret: patterns don’t have to come with a big commitment or investment.
How to choose pattern
Gorgeous pattern is a conversation-starting element that can pull together disparate colours in a room, or freshen up a piece of furniture with the simple addition of a boldly printed toss cushion. First, know that there is no hard-and-fast rule to choosing patterns and graphics. But if you truly don’t know where to start, think about the interior colours you’ve used already in the room you’ve chosen to inject with patterns, and work from there, finding a design that will combine those colours. Let’s say your room has oatmeal-coloured furniture and light blue walls. The safe money is on a pattern that combines these shades. Then, consider your design style. Modern types might be drawn to lattices or polka dots or chevrons. Lovers of French antiques may gravitate to toile prints or delicate bird prints, whereas collectors of English antiques might veer toward florals and damasks or even stripes. Midcentury modernists might go for tone-on-tone curvy geometrics. Transitional-style devotees have it easy; they can mix in pretty much any pattern they like, from animal prints to ikats.
Still feeling lost? Nothing will take the place of legwork; look at lots of patterns in magazines, in your friends’ homes, at decor boutiques and even big box stores, and eventually you’ll figure out what you like. Ask for second opinions from friends you trust. It’s almost a guarantee that the stylish people in your life love to give their opinions about pattern. And lastly, start small. You don’t need to wallpaper the living room. Throw cushions, side plates, glassware and bed sheets are all inexpensive ways to add beautiful pattern into your home.
How to mix pattern
The received wisdom is that mixing pattern in interior decorating isn’t for the faint of heart. But it’s really not so tough. Keeping different colours at the same saturation level is one way to go about it, for instance, such as mixing pastels with other pastels. Another trick is to stick to one colour--all burgundy prints, for example. Yet another is to introduce only one bold pattern and let the others of the same colour family be subtler. Again, if you’re in doubt, solicit some opinions. Ask friends, post your inspirations to social media and ask for input, talk to knowledgeable staffers at your favourite furnishing stores.Pattern is meant to inspire happiness, so above all, be sure to have fun. Find inspiration for your home with these patterns you're sure to love.
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