Easy and cost-effective ways to refresh – using pattern.
The kitchen is one of the more heavily used rooms in the house – a space that is used regularly throughout the day for preparing, cooking, eating, doing laundry, socialising, even working or studying. For this reason, neutral tones are often chosen in the kitchen for walls, floors, cabinets, and worktops as they are timeless, and let’s be honest, inoffensive.
However, incorporating pattern is often on the design wish-list. Pattern indicates a degree of confidence. Pattern and prints can enliven a room adding interest and personality or enhance an existing interior style. Pattern often receives attention and admiration from others. From chintz to florals, geometrics to fruit motifs, patterns in the home have a well-established history.
So, what is the best way to add pattern to the kitchen and what are the pitfalls to avoid?
It is easy to get carried away with incorporating pattern, but the first rule is not to go overboard. Stick to one type of pattern and work with your chosen colour scheme. Choose tonal or complementary coloured patterns. Varying shades of a similar hue or colours opposite each other on the colour wheel are best. Also think about the mood you are trying to create which will help define the pattern as well as the colour. Warm, cream shades will be calming while fresh greens will be energetic and hot pinks even more so! Likewise jacquard patterns give a more opulent feel while folk prints are lively and botanical patterns, restful.
There are many ways and styles of decorating with pattern. The key thing is to understand what works best for your home. If you’re feeling confident then consider making a bigger more permanent commitment such as introducing patterned wallpaper, a splashback behind the hob or floor tiles. If adding pattern feels a little daunting, start with a low-key element maybe create a feature wall or feature shelving - painting one element different to the rest – or introduce pattern into the space via soft furnishings.
Here are some ideas:
Patterned flooring:
Whether you decide on ceramic or porcelain tiles, laminate, or peel and stick floor tiles, the choice of patterned design is vast from mosaic to herringbone, geometric to bold modern designs.
Patterned wallpaper:
Wallpaper has come a long way in terms of innovation in recent years and is now very much on trend in kitchens and bathrooms with the practical element being far less of a concern. For a kitchen with tall ceilings, add a patterned wallpaper to the top half of your walls to make your room feel cosier. For a smaller kitchen, use patterned wallpaper as a feature wall to blur boundaries, providing the illusion of a larger room.
Patterned splashbacks:
The area directly above the hob, range or sink catches the eye instantly. Incorporating pattern into such a functional area is a great way to add a statement. They are the perfect height to draw the eye and easy to get creative assuming the rest of the kitchen remains unfussy. If the rest of the kitchen is neutral, then you can choose any colour splashback and any design. Self-adhesive glass splashbacks are a good choice as no grouting is required which means the pattern is undisturbed and remains clean and fresh.
Patterned furnishings:
Add personality to furniture by over painting a pattern or if you’re looking for something a little more subtle add wallpaper as an accent to the back of display units or dresser. If you have a larger kitchen and a larger budget, consider incorporating a patterned sofa or chair into the space.
Patterned accessories:
If there is little other pattern in the kitchen, then use accessories to introduce colour and design. This could be anything from crockery, to textiles, plant pots to cushions – just make sure you stay within the same colour group to prevent a feeling of clutter.
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