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My ‘Design Desire’ blog is aiming to share my interior design knowledge with anyone who is interested in the subject. Also available in Malay translation (2011 – 2015). I hope you will follow my DESIGN DESIRE journey...

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DESIGN DESIRE TOPIC OF THE WEEK:


Wednesday 30 September 2020

THE WOW FACTOR USING PATTERN & COLOUR IN YOUR HOME


Happy September to all my Design Desire readers!

It’s a new season and it’s autumn, and a lot of people have plans in their diaries. Some of us might want to re-decorate our home or even thinking of injecting a fresh look into the interior design of the home. 

For this issue of interior design tips, I will talk about how we can incorporate pattern and colour into your home. Some of you may be afraid to express yourselves by creating the ‘SAFE LOOK’ to please others. So, let’s just think of ‘YOU’ and get the ‘WOW’ factor in your home. So, follow me on a journey with regards to the subject and have a look at some photographic examples I have selected for you.






PATTERN 

There are many ways we can incorporate patterns into our homes, from wall treatments, furniture, rugs, soft furnishings and accessories. Firstly, do remember that the pattern should be suitable for all your moods and occasions. Once you have decided on the pattern, work on the scheme for the rooms you are designing. Most of us use walls as a focal point by using wallpaper with floral, graphic and even textured designs to create an impact. Some may use their own creativity to create a pattern on a wall as an artwork. Tailor-made wallpaper commissioned by a designer, or even by you in some cases,is an interesting way to create an individual look. These are not novel methods, as wall pattern decoration dates way back to the Ancient Egyptian and Roman times. In those days walls were painted to create a story and make statements, not only for decoration. Besides using wallpaper and bespoke wall treatments, you can also incorporate patterns in your furniture. For example, a sofa can be produced in a matching pattern fabric with the wallpaper or the curtains in your home. However, you do not have to create a matching soft furnishing scheme in the room. Curtains or blinds can be used alone with an elaborate pattern to make a statement in your design scheme. The pattern, the weight of the fabric and the texture will provide a different look. In the Victorian period they used fabric designs to get a certain look and also for practical reasons to cover windows to keep in heat, maintain privacy and keep out light. Using floor coverings such as carpets or rugs is another way to introduce pattern into the home. These floor treatment designs have evolved over the years. New carpets and rugs have been produced with attractive and modern designs and also interesting textures. Finally, you can use accessories to add pattern. For example, a mirror with an attractive decorative frame will add another focus of interest to a wall. Another example of how to create patterns is to use artworks of differing sizes displayed together on a wall. Free standing individual vases or any art objects can also be used to add pattern to a room design. 


COLOUR 

We use colour palettes in many ways and colour has different meanings in different cultures. Colour forms a vital part of our environment and we use this in all aspects of design and decoration. Colour adds individuality and can also make a dramatic statement in your home. It can give the impact you wanted in a particular room. However, some of you may just go with neutral colour schemes in designing your rooms, which is fine, but do use an accent colour with cushions, throws or artwork. Here I will mention a few choices of colour for you to consider. A different mood can be created by selecting the favourite colour of your choice. The room could look sexy, calm and warm. If you want a romantic feel then red is the colour.

The colour is bold, represents heat, passion and love, which promotes excitement and action! Red is the most powerful of colours. There are of course many different tones of red. For a calmer room, green would be ideal. It is a universal colour and represents nature. Green is a soothing and uplifting colour. Yellow produces a warm feeling and leaves a satisfying impression. It is the colour of light, lively and stimulating and adds a summery feel to a room. These are just some examples of how the use and choice of colours can have a real impact on the mood and atmosphere in a room. 




COLOR AND PATTERN RECOMMENDATIONS 

The recommendations here will be for wall treatments. Every year new colours are introduced. You can also create the colour of your choice by having sample pallets. Many paint shops and DIY stores will custom mix the colour to your brief and this creation will be a one-off bespoke colour which creates that individual look in your home. Neutral colours are always very popular as they avoid bold statements and avoid personalizing a room too much. It is easier to please an individual with neutral colours. For example, some of you may use safe pastel colours just because you are thinking of selling your home, thinking of putting your property onto the market even though you just moved in! However, if you intend to live somewhere for some time just remember - it is your home! So be bold, brave and yes, go crazy and use the colour palettes that you like and work within the room to compliment the furniture and accessories of the room. Experiment with colours such as red, brown, green, yellow, silvers and greys, and use accessories to compliment the colour. As for pattern, floral designs still dominate but there are designs that represent the floral motif in a graphic style. Try and look at some graphics design wallpaper or fabric. If you want to create a matching scheme, look for soft furnishing suppliers that feature wallpaper and fabric collections that have been produced to complement one another. If you want the wild look use clashing mismatched prints and weaves to give the crazy but stylish look. Do not worry, a good interior designer will be able to bring out what is in your mind and what you need no matter what your preference is. At times let’s mix up the two looks because there are so many fresh and outstanding new designs available to date. 


FOR THIS YEAR...

So many predictions going on every year! I personally say this is a very subjective topic. If you wish to follow the trend, I say use them only as a tool for your home design. The function of a room and personal choice will play key roles in choosing the design concept for a room. Black, white or grey are regularly hailed as the new ‘must have’ colours, but bright colours such as red, orange, green and yellow will always be popular if you are looking to make a statement. However, neutral and subtle colours are still a popular choice for many people. With regards to pattern, fabrics and wallpapers are produced in new designs every year. Floral designs still dominate, with a twist of graphical elements and touches of exciting colours. Graphic design patterns are increasingly popular. Experiment with textured patterns that will provide you with three dimensional looks, either with fabric or wallpaper. Research carefully and decide what really compliments the design brief and your personal tastes. 










HOME DESIGN TIPS 

It is all about good research and sometimes help from a qualified interior designer. With pattern, do not start by throwing everything at your home! Use it step by step and understand the functional and practical aspects of the pattern. Choose a focal point to introduce pattern, for example a wall, curtains, furniture or a few accessories. Do not clutter the room with too many diverse patterns. Work within the pattern of your choice and develop the concept by introducing some elements from the pattern into the room. Colour is important in-home design as often it is used to create different zones within a room, especially if you have a large open plan layout. Colour also makes an individual statement and can create different moods in your home. We are spoilt for choice with endless possibilities. New colours come out each season. However, to avoid any colour catastrophes in your home, choose carefully. Use chart pallets or use a simple colour wheel and paint a small area with a few colours of your choice and select the colour that works for you and the room. Take account of all aspects of the room, from the furniture and soft furnishings to the accessories that you are going to display in the room. All have to complement one another. Finally, don’t be afraid to ‘borrow’ any ideas from a book or any publication you have seen. But remember do not copy. Try to introduce your own ‘WOW’ factor to produce that individual look within each room in your home but remember that no one has a monopoly on ideas and very few ideas or styles are genuinely new, but usually developments or variations of styles that have been around for a long time. Always consider how your chosen pallets work together. The one key is to work with what you need and what suits your individual style and also the look of your home. So, enjoy the journey!





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Note: Pictures taken from Google Search