Pattern can be such a powerful tool used to weave your story into your home interiors. Dive into your interests and tastes and look for patterns that evoke a fond memory and make you happy.

It might be a pattern that reminds you of a book cover from one of your favourite books or a place you want to visit, or just a pattern that you’re naturally drawn to. Be sure to represent the many parts of your story as you make your selections.

How to find patterns that tell your story:

• Look for fabrics with patterns that tell your story and use these fabrics to create soft furnishings such as cushions, drapery or upholstery
• Look for “off-the-shelf” objects and furnishings from retailers that have a pattern from your story
• Get a custom fabric made from a pattern that you have created. https://www.spoonflower.com/ will create a custom fabric based from a photo or image.
• Create a custom rug with your pattern on it. For example, our client had taken a photo of Lupines while out on her favourite walk. We took this photo and simplified the pattern using photoshop and created a custom rug. Most rug suppliers will be able to do this for you so you don’t have to be a photoshop wiz! ;)

Use a combination of different sized patterns within each room; small, medium and large. Go beyond considering just the cushion scheme; it’s everything within a space. It could be a rug, the flooring, a brick or stone wall, wallpaper, furniture, drapery, blinds, lighting, ceiling mouldings, wall mouldings and so on. Pattern is everywhere and not just in fabrics.

Have at least one or two large scale patterns per space and then the rest can be made up of small to medium scale patterns and plains or textures.

I’m not always one for sticking to interior design rules but one I do follow is focal points – every space needs at least one or two. If everything sings the same chord, then it’s boring. To bring harmony and x-factor to a space, you need elements that stand out and shout “here I am!” and elements that hum more quietly in the background.

Aim to have at least 1-2 positive focal points and highlight these as much as possible and avoid or detract attention away from negative focal points. Negative focal points are things that stand out even though you do not want them to such as a TV, an unpleasant view, a furnishing, a finish or an architectural feature that you don’t like. If you can not avoid or remove a negative focal point, you can draw attention away by highlighting a positive focal point.

Pattern is an effective way of manipulating the eyes’ attention within a space. Use large scale pattern for items or areas that you want to be a focal point and use smaller scale pattern for items you want to recede.

Oh and try throwing something dis-coordinate and unexpected into the mix and you might be surprised just how much it enlivens the space. So, let’s say most of your patterns follow a general theme; whether it be through similar colours or style, shake this up and throw something odd ball, wild or entertaining in amongst the pigeons and watch the magic happen.

Contact Auckland Interior Designer Hayley by heading over to the Strategy Session booking page.

AKA LOU