Balancing Bold Patterns

Big bold patterns are quite the design trend right now. You’ll see them on walls in stencils or wallpaper; on sofas and chairs in fabric; on floors as area rugs; and even in curtains and bed linens.  This trend toward big bold patterns in decorating can be intimidating, that’s for sure. It can be daunting to look through wallpaper patterns to choose one for an accent wall. Adding strong color and pattern on the floor will change the look and feel of the entire room.

Using bold patterns in a room design is about creating a balance between the bold pattern and the rest of the design elements.  This contemporary living room is a good example of how to use a bold pattern in a room, but to counterbalance it with solid floor color.  Two panels of brightly hued bold pattern could be wallpapered walls or curtains. Either way, the rest of the room’s design ties into the patterned panels to create a balanced space.  The room’s color palette is based on the pattern: grey, apple green and white. These colors are used throughout the room on the flooring, walls, and furniture.  They are all done in solid colors that create a place for the eye to rest. It is important when using bold patterns to create places for the eye to rest in the room. Solid color can do this. Too much pattern in a room can be visually dizzying.  A smaller pattern could be added as an accent pillow to the chair if you didn’t want to be as bold as this room.  Try a few different ideas out and experiment until you find what fits you best!