A pattern is an arrangement of a repeated decorative design or visual motif. We can create patterns inspired by nature, with a more mathematical approach, symmetrically or asymmetrically. The pattern can be with a precise repetition or more artistic approach. It can be a simple dot or line, floral or geometrical.
Via, from left to right: trendland - Pink Pagoda Studio - Think Make Share - Victoriana - Moorish Architectural Design - Cate St Hill
Patterns can bring your home to life, make it more joyful or create an artistic ambiance. A question I often get is: how many colors can I combine? You will find some rules but it all depends on your style. To be sure you play with 2 or 3 colors, in combination with black or white and you can’t go wrong. Combine flowers with stripes and add a graphical design. As you stay in the same color harmony they will fit together and create an interesting combination.
kitchen via Pinterest - fridge wrap Etsy - marble tile Tile Bar -cups Suzanne Sullivan
This is your first exercise to combine patterns? Keep it simple in black and white and it will fit a modern interior. You love the Scandinavian interiors, than this is a winner for you. What we see here is a repeated classical motif in the tiles of the kitchen island, in combination with the more poetic lines and dots on the ceramic cups. All very stylish and the fridge wrap will bring in a more industrial touch. Perfect for the city lover who wakes up and will rush out of the house to grab a cup of coffee on the way to work.
Bar Palladio Jaipur - blue and white fabric Saffron Marigold - artisanal tiles by Bert&May via Dezeen
A more feminine look with amazing ethnic touches. India, Morocco, Turkey and other countries will give you infinitive patterns to play with. The block prints from India, the geometrical patterns from Morocco. A bright color with white will be perfect for a summery ambiance. When you want to decorate with patterns, starts with a simple color combination and once you get more confident you can go one step further.
bathroom via Seasons in Color - terrazzo washbasin via Archiproducts - shower curtain Urban Outfitters
Combine leaves from trees or plants with geometrical motifs for a very modern look. Motifs from nature will bring a relaxing mood in to your home. The color green, as well as the color blue, are the perfect colors for a serene interior. Green is a bit more vivid than blue, it will give more energy to you.
ceramic side table Anthropologie - Hawaiian dinner plates House of Andaloo - Ziggy rainbow striped tablecloth Anthropologie - spoons Leif
Summer is the season to add color and patterns. Inside the house or outdoors, specially bright colors will bring you in a summer mood. Here no limits of combining colors, just play around and combine stripes, flowers, and graphical motifs, it will never be to much. Summer is the time for joy, parties and fun. With the sun high in the sky and sparkling colors surrounding you, you will feel instant in a holiday mood even without traveling to an exotic destination.
Croquet stripe wallpaper Cole & Son - Janta Bazaar wallpaper Thibaut - bedlinen Zara Home - pillows via Your House is Yalls House - Moroccan zellige mosaic Tiles of Ezra
I love combining stripes with flowers. Put the accent on the floral design, the stripes will enhance it. You can use the floral wallpaper on one wall and than add stripes on other walls, or use striped bedlinen, some decorative pillows, or a striped rug. Could be very nice to have a floor with a geometrical mosaic, combination of terra cotta and zelliges.
Terrace seating Home Beautiful - embroidered fabrics via Turbulences Deco - carved wall pane Nordic Housel
No style will be better suited with a rich mix of fabrics than the bohemian style. This is a very artistic style with a lot of ethnic influences. Combine here embroidered fabrics with woven stripes, sculpted wood panels. The colors will be rich and muted. Heavy linens with with embroidered motifs. The ethnic kilims will be a perfect fit.
How to decorate with patterns
start with combining black and with
choose 2 or 3 colors and use those to combine different motifs
flowers with stripes, a classical combination
plant leaves combined with geometrical motifs to bring nature inside
for a summery look: don’t hesitate to use more than three bright colors
get inspired by ethnic motifs
What do you say, you will give it a try?
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