A beautiful mix of patterns in magazines and Pinterest are often the thing of dreams, but adding pattern to your personal space can sometimes be a daunting task. How much pattern is too much? What will clash? The key elements to remember are scale, proportion and balance. Repeating colors in patterns will also help link them together. In addition, repeating shapes beyond fabrics and soft goods help link a room. For example, an X pattern in a rug could be repeated on an X base table.
From low commitments to bigger projects, here are a few ideas that are perfect for adding pattern to your home:
1. Go bold with wallpaper.
The larger the scale, the greater the impact. Florals appear less fussy when larger in scale. Ellie Cashman creates beautiful wallpaper in bold and dramatic florals. The pattern takes center stage when paired with a neutral color scheme that echoes the tones of the wallpaper.
2. Use pattern under foot.
Encaustic and cement tiles feature beautiful, stunning patterns. If you can’t commit to the time or budget of new tiles, stencil a new floor or backsplash for a big impact in any color you choose. In our workshop and meeting space at The Back Porch Mercantile, I stenciled our commercial grade MDF floors using Graphite and Pure White Chalk Paint by Annie Sloan and sealed it floor lacquer using this stencil from Royal Designs Studio. It has held up wonderfully against high foot traffic and spills.
3. Add pattern with accessories.
Pillows and throws can easily be changed without a high commitment. Try pillows with a tone on tone pattern for a more subtle look. Try pairing a smaller scale print accessory to a larger scale accent in the room.
4. Add vintage textiles.
I love using vintage whenever I can. A vintage ikat, kilim and suzani textile are beautiful mixed and matched for a more contemporary look. The vintage kilim rug above adds a base of color and texture in a neutral space.
