There are times when even interior purists tire of a blank canvas, with prints and patterns the only way to add interest. It can, however, be a little frightening to find yourself in a world of colour, shape and swirling geometric form. Here’s our advice for those taking the plunge into 2023’s most fashionable prints and patterns.
How to use dark prints & big patterns: dark backgrounds, rich accent colours and oversized motifs are very in vogue for 2023 but it can be tricky incorporating something very decadent into the average home.
Printed wallpaper is a good place to start as it can be cut and pasted to fit confined areas. Examples such as the botanic Bohemia Black from Graham & Brown and all-out floral Superfresco Easy Isabelle in navy, sold by Wickes, work well in cloakrooms or applied to shelved alcoves so just a peep of the pattern shows through. Alternatively, use the wallpaper like a work of art – buy the biggest frame you can find and cut a piece of wallpaper to fit.
How to accessories with spots & stripes: some patterns can’t help but belong to certain seasons. Just as tartan is synonymous with winter, spots and stripes herald the arrival of spring and summer.
To avoid saturation, patterns can be confined to accessories. Even the smallest dash of stripes can conjure up a theme, from Pop Art with this neon striped cushion from Rockett St George to coastal chic with this blue and white striped tablecloth from La Redoute. Monochrome spots, as featured on this tall vase from Amara, keeps the look classy, while anything from Emma Bridgewater’s Polka Dot collection will lend a country vibe to kitchens.
How to embrace the mosaic trend: tiles featuring geographic motifs conjure up images of lazy days in the Spanish sun or mint tea sipped in Moroccan souks. It’s easy to replicate the atmosphere back at home this season, thanks to widely-available mosaic-patterned homewares.
The Alma candle from Oliver Bonas not only looks the part, in its mosaic-print ceramic pot, but its bergamot and mandarin scent will instantly transport you to sunnier climes. And this set of four Sass & Belle Santorini coasters are a practical nod to classic Mediterranean patterns. For something more authentic, why not tile a small area, such as a table top or a splashback behind a vanity basin? The Maroc Mulai and Marrakech tiles from Your Tiles are ideal.
How to add animal print without overkill: less is definitely more when it comes to animal print and, thankfully, product designers have found highly sophisticated ways of adding these very ‘marmite’ patterns to homeware products.
Dalmatian print is everywhere in 2023 and there are some small, stylish ways to add this big dog pattern to your home. Try the Eleanor Bowmer Dalmatian Dot sugar bowl, creamer and spoon set, or the objet d’art apple and pear set from Pretty Little Home. Leopard print has been given a modern makeover by designer Matthew Williamson, whose bathroom towels for John Lewis come in unconventional blue, pink and mustard colourways. Finally, zebra print is perhaps the chicest of them all, as seen on this Margo & Plum trinket tray.
If you’re inspired to think about all things home, talk to us about where you’re currently living and whether you have any future moving plans.
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