Pattern Madness!

Usually I prefer to rave about design trends that are simply fabulous, but in the case of this newest pattern madness, I must issue caution: Stay away!

Everywhere I look, including all the home magazines I’m seeing rooms with the same fabric repeated on multiple elements – imagine a bedroom with the same fabric on the window treatments, bedding,  pillows and rug. Yikes! It doesn’t take much creativity to use one pattern repetitively and just as important, how long could you live with it?

Photo Courtesy of blog.decoratorsbest.com

Photo Courtesy of architecturaldigest.com

As professional designers we can do better. I’d like to think that we have progressed beyond the matchy-matchy excess of the past and towards a more sophisticated, imaginative aesthetic.  Too much of the same pattern overwhelms a room and leads to sensory overload and boredom. Your eyes have no focal point so you can’t discern the individual elements that collectively make up the room.

I prefer a room that’s edited, collected and layered just enough that you don’t see everything right away. I like clean lines, simplicity and mixed patterns in moderation. If you have the urge to go matchy-matchy, just call me and I’ll talk you down!

Photo Courtesy of Sweet Peas Design