Decorating
7 Ways to Inject Bold Prints Into Your Decor
Using prints and patterns in your home is not for the faint of heart. Here are some tried and tested ideas with their pros and cons
Even if you are inspired by the most minimalist of aesthetics, you more than likely have a print or pattern lurking in your decor – whether it is a tiny pinstripe, a mute floral print, or a simple two-tone or herringbone material on the couch. Yes, it’s official: prints are everywhere.
And while a minimalist aesthetic is A-okay, so is the alternative: big and bold prints. Imagine an oversized polka dot taking over your walls, or thick statement stripes making their way across your bed, or a Marimekko-style floral print – in the brightest of colours, naturally – on your sofa.
It doesn’t matter which way you look at it – or which print or pattern you choose – because going bold is going to make your space stand out from the crowd. To get started, here are a few ideas to consider, and their pros and cons…
And while a minimalist aesthetic is A-okay, so is the alternative: big and bold prints. Imagine an oversized polka dot taking over your walls, or thick statement stripes making their way across your bed, or a Marimekko-style floral print – in the brightest of colours, naturally – on your sofa.
It doesn’t matter which way you look at it – or which print or pattern you choose – because going bold is going to make your space stand out from the crowd. To get started, here are a few ideas to consider, and their pros and cons…
CONS: Wallpaper is a long-term commitment. In other words, don’t opt for something that feels like a fleeting fancy. Instead, think hard about your taste and whether it will change down the track.
BONUS TIP: For those non-committal types among us – and the renters – don’t despair, there is still the option of using removable wallpaper or decals instead of gluing wallpaper.
BONUS TIP: For those non-committal types among us – and the renters – don’t despair, there is still the option of using removable wallpaper or decals instead of gluing wallpaper.
2. Feature it small
If you can’t bring yourself to wallpaper an entire room, you can still incorporate a bold print by placing it in just one section of your room.
PROS: This is a particularly great option for those who have small or dark rooms. To be more specific, a small room will feel quite boxy if covered in one big bold print. Likewise, a dark room will feel even darker. Setting aside a section of the room for your pattern still allows you to show off your personality without turning the room into a cave.
If you can’t bring yourself to wallpaper an entire room, you can still incorporate a bold print by placing it in just one section of your room.
PROS: This is a particularly great option for those who have small or dark rooms. To be more specific, a small room will feel quite boxy if covered in one big bold print. Likewise, a dark room will feel even darker. Setting aside a section of the room for your pattern still allows you to show off your personality without turning the room into a cave.
CONS: Again, wallpaper takes commitment, so you should carefully consider your options. If you don’t want to make that commitment, hang oversized artwork, like this gorgeous floral example, instead.
3. Get furnished
Bold print soft furnishings can really lift a room and inject your personality in spades. Keep in mind that you will need to keep other items in the room fairly neutral so that they don’t compete with the main pattern.
PROS: Using printed furniture is a great way to focus on the essence of a room. The key is to apply the print to the main furniture – for example, the lounge suite in the living room or the dining setting in a dining room. If you do this, you give the room a “centrepiece” from which to work out from. Everything else in that room will orbit that furniture.
Bold print soft furnishings can really lift a room and inject your personality in spades. Keep in mind that you will need to keep other items in the room fairly neutral so that they don’t compete with the main pattern.
PROS: Using printed furniture is a great way to focus on the essence of a room. The key is to apply the print to the main furniture – for example, the lounge suite in the living room or the dining setting in a dining room. If you do this, you give the room a “centrepiece” from which to work out from. Everything else in that room will orbit that furniture.
CONS: Recovering furniture once you tire of a fabric pattern can be expensive. Meanwhile, because your furniture will be the focus in a room, all your decor will have to work with the colour scheme you have chosen.
4. Tile it
Bold prints aren’t just for your main living areas. On the contrary, you can use wild patterns in every room of the house as evidenced by this bold bathroom.
PROS: Bright tile work in the bathroom is unexpected, so it will certainly catch the eye of anyone who enters. Additionally, because bathrooms aren’t spaces that contain a lot of decor items, this is a fun way to give your bathroom character.
Bold prints aren’t just for your main living areas. On the contrary, you can use wild patterns in every room of the house as evidenced by this bold bathroom.
PROS: Bright tile work in the bathroom is unexpected, so it will certainly catch the eye of anyone who enters. Additionally, because bathrooms aren’t spaces that contain a lot of decor items, this is a fun way to give your bathroom character.
CONS: These eye-catching tiles might be a bit hard to handle first thing in the morning, when you haven’t even had a coffee. Let alone in 20 years time…
5. Get floored
For those whose tastes change on the daily, the quickest and often the cheapest way to adhere to your whims and incorporate prints at the same time is via floor rugs.
More: Floor Art: 16 Patterned Floors That Pack a Punch
For those whose tastes change on the daily, the quickest and often the cheapest way to adhere to your whims and incorporate prints at the same time is via floor rugs.
More: Floor Art: 16 Patterned Floors That Pack a Punch
PROS: Anyone can try this look, whether you’re a renter or owner – and better yet, you won’t break the bank doing so, especially if you buy a rug made of synthetic materials rather than pure wool. In fact, it’s probably one of the most versatile ways to use prints.
CONS: While you may be able to change patterns on a whim, changing colour schemes is a whole new ball game, especially if you have made it a point to use one theme throughout the room.
CONS: While you may be able to change patterns on a whim, changing colour schemes is a whole new ball game, especially if you have made it a point to use one theme throughout the room.
6. Do the unexpected
If you love surprising people with your decor and design ideas, you don’t have to look too far to find areas of the home in which to unleash your creativity.
PROS: It’s one thing to use a bold pattern, but it’s another thing altogether to do it in an unexpected way. For example, keeping the kitchen rather plain, but adding a surprising pattern on the island bench (as seen here), shows that you’re not afraid of trying something new.
If you love surprising people with your decor and design ideas, you don’t have to look too far to find areas of the home in which to unleash your creativity.
PROS: It’s one thing to use a bold pattern, but it’s another thing altogether to do it in an unexpected way. For example, keeping the kitchen rather plain, but adding a surprising pattern on the island bench (as seen here), shows that you’re not afraid of trying something new.
CONS: Any time you try something new or different in decor, such as painting the ceiling in a pattern, you can be looking at a premium price tag.
7. Every pattern, everywhere
If you’re all about prints and patterns, but you can’t choose a favourite, you can still buy into this fun decor idea.
PROS: Mixing and matching prints will instantly give your room an eclectic twist. Perhaps, more importantly, the key is to mix and match, which means if you lack focus, or you like decor items from a whole range of styles, you can still incorporate these prints into your space.
If you’re all about prints and patterns, but you can’t choose a favourite, you can still buy into this fun decor idea.
PROS: Mixing and matching prints will instantly give your room an eclectic twist. Perhaps, more importantly, the key is to mix and match, which means if you lack focus, or you like decor items from a whole range of styles, you can still incorporate these prints into your space.
CONS: Mixing prints can quickly turn into a hodgepodge of ideas if you don’t have one element that ties everything together. Generally, every print needs one or two colours in common to give your room consistency.
SHOW AND TELL
Have you dared to try a bold print in your house? If so, share your photos or describe how you made it work in the comments section.
MORE
Mix Master: How to Clash Prints and Patterns Like a Pro
14 Patterns to Partner With Chevron
Safari Style: Decor That Roars
SHOW AND TELL
Have you dared to try a bold print in your house? If so, share your photos or describe how you made it work in the comments section.
MORE
Mix Master: How to Clash Prints and Patterns Like a Pro
14 Patterns to Partner With Chevron
Safari Style: Decor That Roars
A quick look around Houzz will reveal that wallpaper is having a revival right now. Better yet, it is one of the easiest ways to bring a bold print into your house.
PROS: A bold wallpaper print brings a room to life in an instant. All it takes is picking out your favourite pattern and applying it, and your room immediately has personality.
Discover more ways to use bold wallpaper