Home decorating: wallpaper and patterns

Create an environment that sings of rich textures and a sense of depth through clever layering of colour and pattern. The trend towards luxury and detail in interiors is a lasting one that will repay your investment. Developing a scheme needn’t be expensive if you start with what you have and build upon it. Use your favourite piece of furniture as the starting point for ideas about the colours, shapes and styles you would like to combine.

Successful layering of patterns depends on balance. Too many contrasting designs looks chaotic; yet too much repetition creates an over-coordinated arrangement. Start with some elementary guidelines to simplify the process:

• Stripes and checks are an excellent starting point, especially when selecting your colour palette. 
• Mix various widths of stripes for a coordinated base with a difference.
• Florals and complex patterns are easy to introduce as a complementary accent, such as framed fabric (above).
• To ensure patterns work together, select them at the same time.
• Balance patterns with strong pieces of furniture in a plain weave and colour.

The beauty of wallpaper

Hanging modern-print wallpaper or a reproduction from an earlier era is a simple and effective way to update a room. Using a strong pattern on one wall to lift a room is a design feature that has fed through from restaurant design to domestic interiors. Finding a pattern that suits your room has never been easier.

The interest in designer Florence Broadhurst has driven the reissue of many of her classic prints, both as fabric and wallpaper. This trend has also driven interest in classic papers from design houses such as Nina Campbell and Osborne & Little (both are featured on this month’s Calendar tab).

A flush of new designers turning their talents to wallpaper is a blessing for those who prefer an unusual or modern look. If your room is very contemporary, consider using oriental prints or botanical prints, metallic geometrics or op art prints. Classic retro reprints, florals, stripes and flock work in both modern and classic rooms. Hanging paper is a serious job that is best tackled by the professionals.

However, if you want to try doing it yourself, visit http://interiordec.about.com/od/wallpapering for tips and tricks.

 

Styling: Rachel Brown. Photography: Scott Hawkins.