Decorating
This is How to Get Pattern and Texture Right in Your Home
Want to give your rooms some added warmth and character? Try these ideas for adding interest to a scheme
The key to using pattern and texture successfully in a room is getting the right balance. You can add texture with textiles, natural materials and architectural features, and use pattern to define zones and bring a space to life. Read on to find out how to give your home added impact without going overboard.
Expose a brick wall
Consider using the original structure of your home to add pattern by showcasing a wall of exposed brick, stone or plaster. A surface left in its original state will add texture and another dimension to a room.
An entire wall may feel too daunting for some, so you could consider stripping back a chimney breast instead. As a rule, the older your property, the more attractive any raw surfaces will be.
There are a number of benefits to leaving a wall in its natural state: if sealed well, it should be easy to clean; it won’t need touching up with paint, and it will conceal stains well.
You decide: is this the new exposed brick?
Consider using the original structure of your home to add pattern by showcasing a wall of exposed brick, stone or plaster. A surface left in its original state will add texture and another dimension to a room.
An entire wall may feel too daunting for some, so you could consider stripping back a chimney breast instead. As a rule, the older your property, the more attractive any raw surfaces will be.
There are a number of benefits to leaving a wall in its natural state: if sealed well, it should be easy to clean; it won’t need touching up with paint, and it will conceal stains well.
You decide: is this the new exposed brick?
Break up pattern with shelves
Temper bold patterned wallpaper by using it behind open shelving, as these homeowners have done. The glimpses of print and colour peeking through the books give this space an interesting feel. This print is strong, but the colour palette in grey and warm yellow is nicely muted, so it doesn’t fight against the books and shelves.
This is a great idea for an office area, as the graphic print wallpaper livens up the view from the desk.
Temper bold patterned wallpaper by using it behind open shelving, as these homeowners have done. The glimpses of print and colour peeking through the books give this space an interesting feel. This print is strong, but the colour palette in grey and warm yellow is nicely muted, so it doesn’t fight against the books and shelves.
This is a great idea for an office area, as the graphic print wallpaper livens up the view from the desk.
Mix natural and tactile textures
The colours in this scheme are neutral, but the layers of natural texture add a depth and warmth that bring an otherwise ‘flat’ scheme to life. The sheepskin, natural-fibre flooring, linen and painted brick wall work really well together to make the room more tactile.
Don’t forget the importance of touch as well as looks in a room – texture can dampen sound and give the room a cosier feel.
Here’s why you should add some terracotta to your interiors
The colours in this scheme are neutral, but the layers of natural texture add a depth and warmth that bring an otherwise ‘flat’ scheme to life. The sheepskin, natural-fibre flooring, linen and painted brick wall work really well together to make the room more tactile.
Don’t forget the importance of touch as well as looks in a room – texture can dampen sound and give the room a cosier feel.
Here’s why you should add some terracotta to your interiors
Go for a statement floor
Adding pattern underfoot directs the eye downwards, creating a visual delight in your home. So take the opportunity in your dining or kitchen space to be creative with your flooring.
Consider your colour scheme carefully when playing with such a big area of pattern. The pale greys and blues in these tiles work beautifully with the whitewashed, weathered wood in this calming, coastal-style space. You can complete the look by picking out an accent colour in your lighting, as here, or accessories.
Adding pattern underfoot directs the eye downwards, creating a visual delight in your home. So take the opportunity in your dining or kitchen space to be creative with your flooring.
Consider your colour scheme carefully when playing with such a big area of pattern. The pale greys and blues in these tiles work beautifully with the whitewashed, weathered wood in this calming, coastal-style space. You can complete the look by picking out an accent colour in your lighting, as here, or accessories.
Make the most of window dressings
These Roman blinds in a bold patterned fabric show how you can make a stunning design feature using just a small amount of material. With curtains, the design would have been lost in the folds, but the flat surface of a Roman blind allows you to appreciate the pattern in its entirety.
Leave the walls plain for a neutral backdrop, and choose a vibrant and symmetrical pattern with a large repeat for your blinds, treating it much like a piece of artwork on the wall.
These Roman blinds in a bold patterned fabric show how you can make a stunning design feature using just a small amount of material. With curtains, the design would have been lost in the folds, but the flat surface of a Roman blind allows you to appreciate the pattern in its entirety.
Leave the walls plain for a neutral backdrop, and choose a vibrant and symmetrical pattern with a large repeat for your blinds, treating it much like a piece of artwork on the wall.
Design a decorative splashback
Patterned wall tiles are an effective way to give your kitchen the wow factor and will be the first thing people notice when they walk into the room.
Tiles not only serve the practical purpose of protecting your walls from sink and hob splashes, they’re also a great way to instantly update an otherwise neutral scheme.
Pick a tile design that complements your kitchen, and consider the finish and colour of your cabinets and worktop. It’s always worth testing out plenty of samples and checking how the colour looks in your kitchen at different times of the day. The grey and blue joinery in this scheme makes the perfect backdrop for a stunning wall of pink pattern.
Take a tour of this kitchen
Patterned wall tiles are an effective way to give your kitchen the wow factor and will be the first thing people notice when they walk into the room.
Tiles not only serve the practical purpose of protecting your walls from sink and hob splashes, they’re also a great way to instantly update an otherwise neutral scheme.
Pick a tile design that complements your kitchen, and consider the finish and colour of your cabinets and worktop. It’s always worth testing out plenty of samples and checking how the colour looks in your kitchen at different times of the day. The grey and blue joinery in this scheme makes the perfect backdrop for a stunning wall of pink pattern.
Take a tour of this kitchen
Get creative with wall stickers
Wall decals are a fun way to brighten up a kid’s room, and will help your child express their personality without commitment. Wall stickers are affordable and easy to apply – you can choose to decorate all over, create a feature wall or use them to frame a piece of furniture.
This organic scattering of colourful dots above the bed creates a striking focal point and helps to define a zone in the room. If you get tired of the look, or your child grows out of them, most stickers can easily be removed without marking the walls. Apply heat using a hairdryer to help peel them away.
Wall decals are a fun way to brighten up a kid’s room, and will help your child express their personality without commitment. Wall stickers are affordable and easy to apply – you can choose to decorate all over, create a feature wall or use them to frame a piece of furniture.
This organic scattering of colourful dots above the bed creates a striking focal point and helps to define a zone in the room. If you get tired of the look, or your child grows out of them, most stickers can easily be removed without marking the walls. Apply heat using a hairdryer to help peel them away.
Add drama to a plain staircase
A great place to add a shot of pattern and texture in your home is up a staircase. A runner won’t cover the full width of your stairs, so you can afford to be bold. The strips of plain wood down either side act as a frame and help to contain the pattern, so it doesn’t overwhelm the space.
There’s a stair runner out there to suit any taste and style – choose from geometric patterns, simple stripes, Asian influences or bold florals.
How have you introduced pattern and texture into your home? Share your ideas and photos in the Comments section.
A great place to add a shot of pattern and texture in your home is up a staircase. A runner won’t cover the full width of your stairs, so you can afford to be bold. The strips of plain wood down either side act as a frame and help to contain the pattern, so it doesn’t overwhelm the space.
There’s a stair runner out there to suit any taste and style – choose from geometric patterns, simple stripes, Asian influences or bold florals.
How have you introduced pattern and texture into your home? Share your ideas and photos in the Comments section.
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It might seem intimidating, but don’t be afraid to mix different patterns in a room. To get the look right, try a few designers’ tricks. Use at least three patterns in different scales – one large, one medium and the third small.
Also try mixing colours of the same intensity but in a limited palette, and temper the look with one large area of solid colour, be it a plain wall, a sofa or the floor. If you’re going to include a statement wallpaper in your room, use it on just one wall as opposed to all four.
Still don’t know where to start? Choose one pattern you love and build the look from there. Pick a colour from the pattern, then choose a second fabric that highlights that shade.