Colour and pattern in interior design
At Kelling Designs, colour and pattern are key to the appeal of our portfolio of design projects and staged properties and our collections on KD2. We thrive when it comes to nailing the brief with an intelligent colour palette and an impactful hit of pattern, bringing contemporary twists to characterful, period properties or adding an unexpected focal point to a room.
We understand the reluctance many people have when it comes to adding colour and pattern to the home. Although it breaks our hearts, we see that grey sofas, white walls and beige carpets feel like safe, timeless investments in a home, working on the ‘nothing to hate’ principle. However, this approach also means there’s nothing to truly love about your home. Rooms devoid of colour and pattern also lack personality. Without urging readers to strive for out-and-out maximalism, perhaps it's time to think about more ways to bring unique nods to your own sense of style into the home using colour and pattern as vehicles to achieve this.
This month, we’re breaking down some design inspiration for different ways of bringing colour and pattern into the home. Whether you’re ready to commit to statement-making changes, open to a little more colour and pattern in your life, or making peace with a few pops of colour in a neutral home, read on to discover new ways of introducing our two favourite elements of design.
Ready to commit?
Having colour confidence or a propensity for pattern is no easy feat. Some people have an innate understanding of how to bring colour and pattern into any room in the house with flair and style, while others stumble over the first hurdle, which often resembles a boldly upholstered ottoman. However you identify, if you're ready to make the leap towards a more colourful, pattern-filled home, think about statement-making. Start with larger swathes of surface area or bigger pieces of furniture and consider how they might serve as a vessel for colour or pattern or both. Walls, for example, can completely transform a room if you dress them in a patterned wallpaper or an unexpected wash of paint.
If that feels like too much too soon, why not start by reupholstering your sofas or your headboard in a beautiful fabric to bring colour and pattern to the space in a tactile, softer way?
When it comes to painting, remember that you can always repaint. From walls to kitchen cupboards and even ceilings, don't be afraid to try out new colours that don't just get you out of your comfort zone, but elevate your comfort zone. Wallpaper can be rehung and sofas can be reupholstered, so there's no reason not to try something new, especially if it will make you smile each time you see your latest update.
Go easy on me
While repainting, rehanging and reupholstering are doable, amendments like these require extra time and money. For those new to the wonderful world of colour and pattern, there are ways of introducing these design elements without making any huge commitments. For example, rugs provide a great way to layer up colour and pattern in any room, from stark, colourless living rooms to cold, hard kitchen flagstones. There are so many styles to choose from, such as vintage kilims or Berber rugs, contemporary abstract options and even landscape styles.
The usual suspects like cushions and throws can also add an instant, impactful combination of pattern and colour to the home. They'll also help you to get comfortable with styling different prints and colours together, which should give you a flavour of curating the colour and pattern scheme of an entire room, or even a whole house.
Dipping a toe…
For those totally averse to colour and pattern experiencing a persistent whisper of curiosity, it's all about the small, colourful accessories. Lampshades will bring pockets of pattern to any space, especially if you opt for an ikat print or a sari fabric pleated shade.
