Designing with patterns

Patterns are created when one or more elements of design such as lines, shapes etc are repeated.  Fabrics form one of the largest components in Interior Design. Together with rugs, they are considered as softs. Fabrics may be Synthetic or Natural depending on their raw materials. Natural fabrics are made from plant and animal-based fibres. These fabrics are silk, cotton, bamboo, linen and wool. Synthetic fabrics also referred to as “man-made” fabrics are made from chemical-based fibres. Such fabrics include nylon polyester spandex etc. To read more on this, check out my blog Fabric and its application “Fabric and its application “

 

Over 20 types of fabric patterns exist. These patterns can be floral, geometric or abstract.

Patterns on Window treatments

Windows and doors form a big part of the Architecture. More often than not, these elements are selected and decided by the Architect as they form part of the building structure. As interior designers, our job is to decide on the framing or the treatment to be done. For residential houses, the most common type of window treatment is curtains. In most cases, curtains are used together with sheers but sometimes can be used alone. Sheers also can be used alone depending on the type of design style one wants to achieve. As windows can be large, curtains are a strong feature and therefore need to be carefully selected. Beautiful patterned curtains can greatly improve the Interior Design of the home.

Patterns on Furniture

Fabric pattern and design can also be appreciated on furniture. Most of the time, designers run away from patterns when selecting upholstery fabric. This is because, patterns easily become outdated and will be difficult to change if upholstered to a sofa. Plains are always more practical and if desired, patterns can be brought in on other elements such as scatter cushions.  However, in certain styles of design such as African and Victorian, patterns can be used because they form part of the design elements and will never become outdated.

Patterns on scatter cushions

Scatter cushions are the easiest elements to implement when using patterns. They are smaller, more geometric and can be moved around. Rectangle, square and diamond are the most common shapes however bolsters and round pillows are sometimes used. Scatter cushions can be used on the couch, armchair, sofa bench, hallway bench, bed, and even on outdoor chairs. The size of scatter cushion can determine the size fabric pattern. Fabrics such as Ikat have big patterns and therefore look better in larger scatter cushions such as 600mmx600mm as opposed to 200mmx600mm or 450mmx450mm cushions.

Patterns on Throws (Throw blankets)

Throws are ideally the “cherry on top" when designing and styling homes. Throws can be decorative or functional. On brightly coloured sofas, throws are used to protect the headrest area from dirt brought about by hair oils. They can also be placed on the arms to protect them from food spills . Throws can be woollen, satin or even cotton. In luxury homes, fur is considered. Fur is by far one of the most expensive fabrics in Interior Design. Throws are also used on the bed as a design element or as a spare cover for cold nights. 

Patterns on Rugs

Rugs come in both large and small pieces and can practically be used in every part of the house. The beauty of rugs is that they can be used to decorate the empty spaces in the home such as corridors and entry halls. Rugs are used both indoors and outdoors. As in the case of scatter cushions, rugs can easily be changed if need be or can be moved from room to room if the style changes. One can also easily get rid of them and bring in new to uplift the ambience of the space.

Patterns on Wall art

Canvas paintings and photo frames are the most common type of wall art used. As creativity has no boundaries, beautiful fabrics have sometimes been used in photo frames or wrapped on frames and mounted as wall art. The beauty about these types of wall art is that they are limitless and can be used as very large pieces. The variety of patterns, prints and fabric composition also brings diversity. In bedrooms, one can use large fabric mounts as headboards for box beds.

Inspiration pour le Journee 

Textile designers enjoy coming up with new patterns. World trends influence patterns; the reverse is also true. Fabrics are one of the first things that interior designer Anne-Marie Barton uses to see what her clients like and to help decipher their design style. Watch as Anne-Marie gives you a tour of her own home and client projects, sharing her favourite fabric selections and the three elements that she always keeps in mind: colour harmony, texture and pattern rapport.