Sure, we all love a minimalist design, but there’s nothing like throwing in some prints to give it a little twist. While the idea of introducing prints into your home might seem intimidating to many homeowners, the good news is, it is not as difficult as many of us conceive it to be, with the help of some simple tips. Here, we take a leaf from textile designer Rebecca Atwood’s book to help you get started.
Take Baby Steps
There’s no need to jump into the deep end right from the start – for print beginners, we encourage you to start out small and test what works for your home. Instead of rushing out to buy new printed furniture, play around with pieces that can be changed, for example, sheets, rugs, curtains and so on. This is a great way to get initiated into the experimentation process of finding out what suits your home décor best without committing to purchases that you may later regret.
For starters, keep the rest of the colour palette simple and chic while introducing one printed item into the mix.
(Picture credit: H&M)
Ratio and Scale is Key
When mixing prints, one of the two most important factors to keep in mind are ratio and scale. Always consider the proportion of the print in relation to the room you are decorating. Atwood suggests that around 40-60 percent of a room can be patterned. When choosing your prints, be sure to pick out prints in a variety of sizes as they can help to draw your guests’ attention to where you most want them to be – as a rule of thumb, bigger prints help to draw attention, while smaller prints help to recede areas.
Don’t be afraid to exaggerate and play with proportions. This wallpaper featuring an oversized plant print helps to draw one’s attention towards the room’s high ceilings.
(Picture credit: Tumblr)
Unconventional choices like this oversized print for a floor rug can help to bring good visual surprises to your room.
(Picture credit: Domino Magazine)
Keep the Colours Consistent
This one’s almost a no-brainer – as you’re already mixing it up with the prints, keep the rest of your colour palette consistent and tight to unite the prints with the overall décor. You’ll be surprised at how this simple principle can help to tie in elements that seemingly don’t fit together.
A neutral colour palette on the walls and floor helps to tie the prints together with the overall design of the room.
(Picture credit: Interiors Addict)
The neutral palette of white and wooden tones is a perfect complement for the yellow and blue accents brought about by the prints.
(Picture credit: Housetohome)
Let Your Imagination Run Free
Perhaps most important of all, just have fun and embrace the prints! Not only are prints the perfect addition to liven up any room, they can also be a great way for you to express your own personality in your home interiors. Enjoy the entire process of picking out the right print and finding out what goes together with them in your home. And the best part is, this would make a great housewarming story to share with your guests when you’re done.
