Lively Living Spaces: Patterns and Motifs

Plenty of people are happy decorating their home with neutral colours with the occasional splash of something brighter. It’s a classic style that works well. 

If you think that style is a bit boring, though, try incorporating some fun patterns into your space. 

There are plenty of ways to do this to give each room a different type of feel. However, you have to be aware that too many patterns can clash and make the room look garish. It’s important to find the right balance for you.

The Basics

Before you go crazy buying items for your home, you want to start with some of the basics. First, you should stick with similar motifs . For instance, plaids and florals don’t usually work well together. It’s smart to find a common theme to the patterns. You could mix-and-match if there’s a single colour tying them together.

Try to stick to the 60/30/10 rule. People often use this when selecting paint colours, but it works with patterns as well. The idea is that 60 percent of the space should use one pattern, 30 percent of the items can use a complementary pattern, and 10 percent of the space can be something that “pops.” This can be an excellent way to decorate open concept spaces.

Patterns and Motifs on the Walls

There are plenty of ways to incorporate patterns into your walls. Wallpaper can seem dated in some older homes, but there are modern versions that can look really nice, such as the geo mosaic pattern at Anthropologie. If something like that is too bold for your tastes, it could be fun to incorporate a patterned border at the top of the walls.

Patterns and Motifs on the Floors

You might also like to incorporate something on the floors. Some people choose to pay a lot of extra money for a patterned tile floor in the bathroom or a chevron pattern on their hardwood. Many people, though, brighten up the room with a eye-catching carpet or throw rug. For instance, this multi-coloured floral area rug is incredibly cheerful, and ECARPETGALLERY has a number of oriental rugs in various motifs.

Patterns and Motifs on the Furniture

Having patterns on the walls and floors might feel a bit overwhelming to you. Instead, you could keep those things a solid colour while choosing furniture that has patterned looks. For instance, the design on this loveseat would work well with those who like antiques, while this striped sofa would work well with a light and airy beachside theme to the décor. If you’re feeling even more daring, this patchwork sofa incorporates a lot of different patterns. It would be ideal for someone who loves the shabby chic look.

Pattern Size

When making interior design decisions, keep the pattern size in mind. Mixing and matching different types usually works best when the two motifs are similar in size. For instance, some of your throw pillows could have small flowers, and the others could have small polka dots. It wouldn’t work if the flowers were large and the polka dots tiny. When in doubt, try putting the two items together to see how it feels.

Choosing a Pattern Style

Settling on a particular theme can make it easier for you to purchase items when you’re out and about. There are a few ways you can do this:

• Geometric patterns. This idea is easy enough. You want to incorporate circles or sharp lines into the design.
• Floral patterns. Consider narrowing your theme down by selecting a particular flower, like roses.
• Country-specific patterns. You may want to incorporate some of the patterns from your country of ancestry, such as the ikat patterns from Indonesia, the beautiful motifs found in Indian architecture, toile prints from France, or tartan plaids from Scotland.

For more inspiration, Wayfair offers examples of types of patterns.

Finding Your Balance

If you want your home to look like it’s been designed by a professional, you have to find the right balance. The patterns you use should be spread evenly throughout the room. It’s smart to balance the use of patterns with some solid colours so they don’t feel too overpowering. However, you shouldn’t feel that you need to use patterns sparingly. You can go big with your patterns as long as you tone it down in other areas.

Using patterns and motifs in your home design is a fun way to brighten up your place. When you find a style that fits your personality, you’ll love the way your new home looks.

Living in a lively home can be incredibly energizing; if patterns aren't your thing, think about using saturated colours to spice things up.