Color and pattern can have a significant impact on our mood and well-being. Embracing vibrant colors and interesting patterns in your home can uplift your spirits and bring a sense of joy to your day. I live by this mantra in my own home, and I am lucky enough to work with clients who appreciate that sentiment as well!
If you're looking for inspiration or a push to use that fun wallpaper or a bright color and pattern on your walls or ceiling, have a scroll through to see how we used both in some of our previous projects!
Use Your Favorite Color Unapologetically
Blue and white chinoiserie pottery has been a lifelong love for me - I have pieces from my mother that I treasure and I have happily continued collecting them over the years as I scour antique markets for clients. Its a passion shared by many southerners and since I moved to Texas, every time I see a piece of blue and white, it reminds me of home, so much so that when we did our own kitchen remodel years ago, I knew I wanted to use those colors as inspiration!
The rich peacock blue on the island gives the kitchen a vibrance that I love, while the rest is neutral white and can be worked around easily. An intricate pattern with the same tones brings it all together in the Chinoiserie inspired window treatment above the kitchen sink.
You only live once y'all - use the color you love!
Repeat a Color in Multiple Ways to Make a Space Cohesive
Rust is a great intro color because it goes so well with so many other tones. It's earthy and rich, and just scrumptious really - especially in luxe velvets, as you see below in the pillows! In this media room, we started with this incredible textured pattern print for the ottoman, which mixed a lot of cool neutral grays with warm browns and a touch of rust throughout.
The gorgeous velvet pillow was a no-brainer, but finding custom artwork that could bring in that color, and still be relevant to the client's interests, was a big undertaking. I was over the moon to find a company that produces these modern movie posters like you see below. I mean how perfect are they in their incredible media room, bringing in all that complementary color!
Be Inspired by Color and Pattern on Wallpaper
I looked for years for the perfect wallpaper for our dining room. As soon as I saw this one, I knew it was the one. Yes, the pattern is busy, there are a lot of colors, and it might be a lot for some of you. But the lesson to take from this is to lean into a gut reaction to a print - whether it's a vibrant, busy pattern or a more minimal look.
When I saw this particular colorway I knew it was the one I'd been waiting for. I know some may consider toile to be "out" or not on trend, but if you have been around here for any length of time, you'll know I encourage clients to ONLY use what they love, not what's "in" or currently on trend. Timeless and classic, with a twist, that's my style and my advice.
The blues and greens are very coastal and remniscent of where I come from, while the forest toile pattern is an ode to my husband's and my shared love of all things English. I had the ceiling painted a haint blue color many moons ago and knew that I wanted to keep it. It was my non-negotiable for the room.
I think you'd agree that the finished fifth wall of ceiling serves to make the space feel cohesive and special. The wainscoting allows for less of the pattern to be used as well, so we saved a bit of visual eye candy there which allows the eye to rest and enjoy the room as a whole without being overwhelmed.
Notice the deeper tone of the green of the trees in the wallpaper that I pulled out onto the velvet seats of the dining chairs (in performance velvet of course). This dining set was our first purchase as a married couple, and I love the history behind it, as well as the antique desk you see bottom left below. The green is so beautiful against the warm wood tones of the furniture pieces in the room. Every day I walk by this room and I swear I fall a little more in love with it every single time.
The More the Merrier
The wallpaper for this modern transitional powder room had me at hello because of the hip, fun feeling while working well with the herringbone pattern we used for the elongated subway tile we used as a wainscoted type base for the room.
While you could tone down the fun with more subdued tones and choices, this client was all in for pops of pink and peach for the accessories and bold brass on the fixtures and I am here for it. Ten years later, and I still think this is as fresh and timeless as the day we photographed it.
Pick the Unexpected
The unexpected choice leads to a layered, interesting space every time. I've always loved a good leopard print, and I found a way to bring a bit of it into my own living room because I have a lot of nuetrals like natural wheat and oatmeal tones already in the space that can handle the added punch.
It may not be for everyone, but it sure makes me happy, and it is the unexpected thing that makes me smile when I'm curled up on the sofa.
Live life out loud, friends! Embrace what you love and create a space that makes YOU happy - if that means bright colors or patterns, even better!
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