One easy way to liven up any decor is with pattern and texture in wallpaper and fabrics for upholstery, drapes or cushions.
The classic combination, of course, is a solid-colour furniture piece with patterned fabric on cushions or accent chairs.
Over the past few years, there has also been a tendency to incorporate strong, bold colours into rooms (think neons, bursts of yellows and oranges), but now they’re getting softer in tone. As for patterns, what the experts are predicting in 2015 is florals, metallic accents, geometric shapes and mosaics.
There are still big, statement-making designs, of course, they’re simply being introduced more subtly with designers using them in discerning ways — on pillows, walls and armchairs — for shots of personality and colour.
Some ideas to create texture:
Embroidery: this is one way to add points of interest to your decor in a nuanced way. Incorporating intricate detail allows for a subtle colour diversity and is a low-key, yet highly-styled embellishment.
Layering looks: Linens are still super popular, soft, and a staple in most schemes since they are easy to integrate into any décor. Silks also work as a layering fabrics for textural surface interest. Fur and Rawhide are also an option employed by those looking for unique and hard-to-get natural fibres from unusual animals, and add a touch of the exotic.
Fabric on walls: Not just for pillows and throws, fabric is backed with paper or laminated for use as a wall covering. At the high end, exquisite silks and suedes are being incorporated into luxurious interiors. And of course, wallpaper is always an option; there is a demand now for textures; geometric and metallic touches.
Return to nature: Rustic woven textures, lariat braid, or anything that has a hand-made, natural texture is back in a big way. Accessories and textiles that evoke handcrafted influences in pattern and design are very on trend at the moment, as are nature motifs incorporating branches, trees, and vines, or paired with pastoral birds.
Going natural has a classic, unpretentious appeal. Faux bois, wood grain, and organic, naked wood tones are also making their way back into our rooms.
