Why every home needs a pop of pattern

With an apparently unlimited number of guises, patterned surface applications hold the ability to completely transform a room into a space with wow factor. Wallpaper, fabrics, patterned ceramics and more – there’s a wealth of different ways to hone a print you love and bring it home. Here, we’ve chosen a few of some of the most inspiring ideas.

Wallpaper remains one of the most relied on and effective tools in the interior designer’s palette of tricks to inject character and personality into a home. Traditionally, it’s the wall-to-wall approach – wrapping the room from floor to ceiling – that’s considered the most transformational. 

However, there’s actually an abundance of different ways to apply a decorative wallpaper – from much smaller details to surprising surface coverage options – all of which have the ability to change the look and feel of a home in a slightly more inventive and playful way.

So, whether you’re looking for a petite, delicate floral or a contemporary, bold new print, it might be canny to consider just how you want to apply the pattern that’s caught your eye.

Ceilings are now being referred to as the ‘fifth wall’. Applying a wallpaper to the ceiling surface in a room – whether that’s as well as or instead of the vertical wall surfaces – will add an undeniable style factor. Abstract patterned wallpaper prints without a defined top and bottom work best!

If you have exposed stair risers, try jazzing them up and giving your hallway an eye-catching focal point by applying a pattern to those stairway slithers. Choose a wallpaper design that can be used horizontally, so you don’t have to pattern match. To enhance the longevity and reduce the impact of wear and tear, protect the wallpaper with a final coat of clear varnish (matt or gloss), which will guard against heel and toe marks. 

Instead of overlooking unusual wall space alcoves or cut-ins, see them as an opportunity. View these unusual or unique little character traits of a room or hallway as a way to create character, enhancing them with a patterned wallpaper or eye-catching printed wall art. Place an item of furniture in the alcove or in front of the wall to help create a ‘zone’,  which will give the area an enhanced idea of personality and identity.

In a neutral room, inject colour and pattern by wallpapering sections of a panelled door. Select a design with a vertical repeat and, for best results, sand down the door before applying the wallpaper so you get smooth overall finish. Consider adding a final coat of lacquer, a decadent touch if you’re looking for a glamorous entrance.

The tiniest room in the house is the perfect place to embrace the maximalist look. Wallpaper walls above painted panelling, picking out a colour from the paper for the paint.

Searching for more interiors inspiration? Pick up the newest issue of At Home magazine, out now and free to collect in your local John Lewis and Waitrose shops