It’s about time that we talked about our favorite patterns to use when designing spaces. There are some patterns that are just so timeless we never see them going out of style.
The Stripe
Stripes are always in style. These fabrics are super versatile and can be used in almost any design style. Many of you may associate stripes with coastal design (which we always love to see) but they can also be used beautifully in transitional and modern traditional spaces among others.
Chevron & Herringbone
You’d be surprised how often chevron and herringbone are used in design. Herringbone actually dates back to the Roman Empire, and herringbone was their layout of choice for building roads. Eventually these patterns moved their way into textiles and interiors. We see these patterns everywhere! Embroidery fabrics, flooring and tile layouts, and simple tone-on-tone fabrics for upholstery, just to name a few examples. We tend to use tone-on-tone chevron fabrics for sectional upholstery a lot. It’s just a little more interesting that a true solid without being too busy. We also love to use bolder chevrons in pillows and window treatments as a way to add movement to a space.
Floral & Botanical
Florals are currently trending due to the popularity of grand millennial, modern traditional, and other “grandma-chic” styles … but in traditional design, of course it is classic! Florals and botanicals are not just for traditional design, however. We are seeing more and more transitional to modern florals that work perfectly for transitional spaces. One of our favorite ways to use florals is for window treatments and pillows. We particularly love embroidered florals for these applications!
Diamond
Another pattern we like to use is the diamond pattern. There are diamond fabrics ranging from traditional to modern so you can really do anything with these patterns. No matter the style, we feel that diamond patterns add just a little touch of elegance and interest to the space.
Dots
Dots are another one of those versatile and playful patterns that we tend to use a lot. They can range from modern to traditional in style. We love to use dots to add a sense of excitement to the space. Dots aren’t just for kids’ rooms either. Dotted fabrics do not always mean colorful or cute – we have used some gorgeous cut velvet dotted fabrics for upholstery pieces that adds a touch of luxury.
Honorable Mentions
Greek Key: The Greek key is as timeless as it gets. It’s pretty much been in style since ancient Greece. We love a good Greek key fabric and are particularly fond of Greek key tapes as trim for window treatments (Schumacher makes some gorgeous ones). This is the perfect pattern for traditional interiors, but we also love to use traditional patterns such as this in juxtaposition with modern pieces- in styles such as French Modern.
Plaid & Houndstooth: We tend not to use plaid or houndstooth very often due to the projects we are currently working on, but it is such a cozy pattern to use! Plaid is perfect for mountain retreats and is a staple if you like the Ralph Lauren look. These patterns add a perfect amount of moodiness to any space, and we particularly love plaid in libraries, studies, and dens.
Toile: Toile is always gorgeous for traditional homes. This style of pattern has been around for centuries, and we love it more than ever. Toile is better suited for traditional spaces and is not as versatile style-wise which is why it is not higher up on our list. However, that being said, Margery loves to use toiles as a juxtaposition and placed on a modern club chair. What a fresh idea!
What are some of your favorite patterns to use?
Stay Inspired!
The MWI Team