Add a dose of drama: Incorporating patterns into your home like a pro

Behind the front door of any home, a world of patterned possibility awaits. Big and bold or pared-back and restrained, the impact of pattern is undeniable.

From eye-catching wallpaper to graphic tiles and statement soft furnishings, a masterful and yet surprisingly simple makeover can be conceived. Little wonder that once again pattern is having a moment with interiors. 

Always evocative, pattern has the power to energise or soothe us. While it often goes hand in hand with intense colour, pattern finds equally effective expression in sophisticated monochrome and organic texture.

Interior designer Petrina Turner of Petrina Turner Design is in full agreement that pattern does not have to be overpowering.

“You can create beautiful, pattern-rich interiors without adding colour,” Turner says. “If you are into a more subtle, neutral palette, it’s a perfect way to add layers into your interior. Think tone-on-tone, nature-inspired cushions, a herringbone-weave rug and even a rattan detail or door on a sideboard to add subtle pattern into your space. Or go a bit bolder by throwing some black and white into the mix.”

A sense of consistency may be created by introducing pattern in a balanced and harmonious way throughout the home. Using a signature colour palette or perhaps a repeated theme when adding graphic detail can unify your interiors.

“I like to find a balance within a space by carefully considering different patterned elements that ‘speak’ to each other,” says Turner. “Consider the scale as well as the colour palette.”

That said, mixing and matching can also pay dividends. 

“You can successfully mix multiple patterns within a room if the colour balance is consistent and there is a range of scales in your pattern selections,” says Turner. “If you choose a large scale for everything, such as wallpaper, rugs, curtains and cushions, it can overpower, as each element is trying to compete with the next. But if you select a range of different scales, it can work harmoniously.

“Art can get you started on the road to pattern mixing, in the form of a great gallery wall of your favourite artworks,” Turner adds. “Rugs can also be a fabulous way to add pattern into a room if you need a place to start. Consider it ‘art for the floor’. I also love an awesome bathroom, and patterned tiles are certainly making a comeback.”

Wallpaper is another tried and tested way to successfully inject a dose of drama into a space.

“I prefer a whole room, rather than a single wall, and love using wallpaper in the smallest room in the home – the powder room,” says Turner. “It’s a great place to build your courage if you are wanting to give pattern a try. I’ve used it on walls, inside joinery and on the ceiling.”

So enjoy experimenting with colour, shape and detail when decorating the home. And, above all, allow pattern to express your personal style.

As Turner says: “This is a time to make our own rules because it’s more important than ever to really have our homes reflect what brings us joy. Whether you’re an adventurous type or more into the subtleties, now is the time to surround yourself with spaces and pattern that make you truly happy.”

Take the leap

Renowned for its colourful, quirky and unapologetically bold prints, iconic Australian clothing and homeware design brand Gorman has long celebrated pattern in all its vibrant glory.

For Gorman founder and creative director Lisa Gorman, spontaneity is the key.

“I think you can labour over a cushion, hamper or tea-towel print – the things that are exposed in the home – but if you like a print, then that’s your best choice,” Gorman says, “And if you get a bit of a mix of prints in there, you will end up with an aesthetic that’s really individual and shows your own personality.”

Certainly, Gorman believes, there is a case to be made in just going for it.

“Don’t overthink your interior styling,” she advises. “The value and game are often in the randomness.”