Who says that designing a home has to be monochromatic? Have some fun with it and think outside the box. Pattern and different color schemes have made their way into homes all across the world with great results.

What are patterns?

In interior design, they are shapes, lines and repeating series that draw your attention. When working with patterns it is necessary to find one that you like. There’s nothing worse than sitting in a family room staring at a pattern you can’t stand. Make sure whatever you pick is one you can live with and actually enjoy.

Patterns used to be just vertical or horizontal lines. Things have certainly changed since then. Now, you can find tons of patterns to choose from and finding one that fits your personality and your home’s theme is fairly easy.

A pattern that works in your home could be horizontal lines with alternating blocks of complementary colors. If you like the pattern, the next step is finding ways to incorporate it into the scheme of the room. Everything doesn’t have to exhibit the pattern. Your living room will look like a page from an M.C. Escher book.

Let’s say that your pattern features beige and a shade of green. Use those two colors throughout the room as solids. If this is the pattern for wallpaper, try furnishings that have green upholstery to make the beige stand out. In contrast, buy a beige area rug.

For floral patterns, pick out several colors from the print and use them throughout the room. The floral designs will jump out but not too boldly. The other colors help to keep it from overpowering every feature of the room.

Sometimes, your pattern could come from a piece of furniture or a picture. Use it as the focal point of your room and decorate around it.

Color Talk

First, let’s get something straight: Primary colors are for kindergarten classrooms and toddlers. For your living spaces, go a bit bold with the colors. Different colors evoke different feelings in us. For example, yellows may remind you of a spring day in your garden. Orange may bring to mind the pumpkin you decorated for Halloween last year.

Use your emotions to choose the colors you want to fill your home. Purple may be vibrant and alive in the room on Extreme Makeover but it might fall flat and actually look hideous in your own home. Use color swatches and hold them up to your walls and see how you feel. One color can take on different subtle shades depending on the level of light present in a room.

Mesh color and pattern together to create the home of your dreams. Each room doesn’t have to be the same color but within the room, let color and pattern flow effortlessly. To avoid feeling awkward in your own home, choose color associated with pleasant emotions and memories.