Decorating with Color and Pattern

Information about decorating with color and pattern.

Liven up your home with some vibrant colors and joyful patterns. Create a home you love. Ideas and how to make it a success...

After so long with interior design going down the 'minimalist' or 'neutral' path, it comes as a great relief, as a lover of color, to see how new interior design trends, and contemporary interior design ideas are embracing bright, vibrant colors and bold pattern.

Contemporary interior design is currently a riot of color - and better still, some fantastic and beautiful color combinations are really coming to the fore...

• You might be a bit nervous of using color, after so long being told that creams and magnolia were inoffensive, tasteful and would sell your house...


• Well, this might well be true, but now, whether by choice or not, we get the chance to reclaim our houses and start to look at them, not as a valuable commodity to be sold, but as something more valuable still - our homes...

  ...where we and our families can be happy, safe and protected - and where we can all express and develop our personalities to their full potential.










• And what better way to express our personality than through color - color is expressive and joyful - and we all need more of that in our lives!


• Take a look how these beautiful color and pattern mood boards mix together vibrant jewel tones, that you perhaps never thought of mixing together - it still looks good though, right?











• In this case, it really does seem to be the more the merrier - but not any old color can get in!


• The colors and patterns are all carefully chosen to all look good together, and to give a vibrant, expressive, yet relaxing and welcoming look.


• Patterns are picked with due attention. Contemporary interior design trends are for bold patterns, but they are not overwhelming.


• Patterns also stick to a 'theme' - whether that is the color, the size, the shape or the 'theme' (such as floral, foliage, stripes, spots etc) itself.

  Find out more about using patterns with confidence and flair



• Although patterns are 'everywhere' these days, they are not to be used 'all over the place'. Keep patterns to an accent wall (or walls), and for sofa, furnishings, curtains, cushions, throws etc.


• But do experiment with mixing and matching - it's the best way to get that unique design look that expresses your own self.


• There is no need to be backward in bringing color forward. This look is not for 'shrinking violet' pastels - choose bold, bright and deep colors, especially these beautifully vibrant, jewel tones.









• All over color isn't a good idea for every room. If your rooms are very small, or if you like a paler, or more neutral look, mix your colors with neutrals - varying from deep chocolate browns, to whites and creams.


• Bright colors still make fantastic accents in mainly neutral rooms.


• The whole look is about mixing colors successfully - but I do know that this can be hard to do, so here are some great suggestions for cool color combos just right for this look...
  • teal and fuschia
  
  
  

  

  
  
  
  • green, amber and purple
  
  
  

  

  
  
  
  • green, teal and pink
  
  
  
  • green, teal and purple
  
  
  
  
  
  • turquoise or teal, red and chocolate

  

  
  
  ...Or experiment with many other color combinations of your own.

This look is a fun look that gives a relaxing, cosy and comfortable room, that should be just perfect for you to live with!

Go with your gut instinct when selecting colors (definitely try out tester areas in sample pot sizes).

There are no strict rules for decorating with color and pattern, so just go with what you like best, and what makes you feel good - after all, you're the one that will have to live with it!

Get more information about:

• color combining for decorating color schemes


• using the interior design color wheel


• choosing colors right for you and your home

Find out more about decorating with color (main color page)

More hot new trends and contemporary interior design ideas

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