As a lover of all patterns and colors in interior design, I am mostly asked to decorate advice and help from people in my life who have a neutral home. The most common complaint I’ve had about enlisting to help me resolve it is how can I make the room interesting? It’s easy to tell just to add colours and fun art and patterns, but that’s not what they’re looking for. So I work for people in my life and readers of this blog and think about all *good* neutral room sports: quiet patterns. See, I’m not here, I’m not trying to convince anyone that I need to color block and make my house a patterned donki in the name of “funny.” Rather, we are here to help you explore what will make a warm, welcoming and entertaining room, whether it’s a colorful * or *neutral space.
For some reason, when designing in neutral, non-experts and enthusiasts tend to overlook how much impact they can add to the space in some pattern while not increasing energy. The key is the “quiet” part of the equation.
So, what is a quiet pattern? Well, that’s (obviously) a non-noisy pattern. It can be either subtle, neutral colors or simply created from textures rather than contrast. It can act through building materials (such as the image of 1stdibs below) and fabrics, textiles and furniture within the space.
Let’s take a look at this image above. 1stDibs Account. It was designed by Nina Farmer And it’s the perfect example of the magic of “quiet patterns.” It’s a room that is so lively, so complicated, yet feels like there’s no neutral colour from this vantage point other than rust and artwork. The texture and “pattern” of the brick fireplace, the wall panels, round squares with edges on the surface of the coffee table, the neutral plaid of sofa fabric, and even the heavy texture of the rug are interesting.
Here are a few more all-purpose examples that have been pulled from the EHD archives.
The image of Nina Farmer above was packed with “quiet patterns,” but all you need is one or two injections to bring a homey feel to the peeled back room, like the Portland Project’s primary bedroom above. Without the quiet pattern of bedspreads (and even the spots on the rug), it might have felt a bit more than a notebook.
For those who have been around for over a decade, throw it all the way into Sotheby’s Paris Suite. There is a lot of contrast in this black and white boudoir, which certainly helps, but moments of quiet pattern simply include the herringbone floor, the tranquility design of rugs and other textiles, as well as the fireplace enclosure.
EHD alum Brady Tolbert is a kind of quiet pattern and an interesting neutral room. Here in his previous living room, the texture promotes a lot of interest, but the patterns created by the textures of the throw pillows and blankets bring about movements and unique punches that only the pattern can offer. Shagulag chevrons, side chair stripes throw blankets, and a few other details complete the story.
This bedroom by fellow stylist Lea Johnson takes into account several different, quiet pattern moments, including patterns created by table lamps and even grooves in the nightstand.
Now that we’ve established what the “quiet pattern” is and seen it work in a neutral room, let’s break down each element further and shop a little.
Quiet Pattern Details #1: Rug
One of the greatest ways to bring in a quiet pattern (HA) is through a rug. It has a large floor area that tends to be very grounded to the room. If you don’t want to think too much about other quiet pattern elements in the room, it can easily be one situation.
If appropriate, this beautiful entrance (or perhaps a hallway?) Studio Lifestyle. Of course, taking your hands and covering the rug is still a stunning room, but moving your hands and recreating the rug will tell you how much life and warmth will be introduced.
Another from our friend Bradythis time at his current home (I think he’s reopened ever since, but even if his home wasn’t constantly becoming a creative move, it wouldn’t be Brady). For the dual pile rugs that create checkerboards, I love this example. You don’t need other colors to create the pattern, but add a lot of interest without stealing the show from the others.
Even more subtle is this rug located in a very monotonous room. Rob Johansen. The floor-level maze-like motif breaks the cream color palette almost completely. Genius (like such a very interesting couch, I’m sure my husband and I were more than what I collectively owed student loans at the end of my college career).
Now there are picks that can be shopped at different price ranges:
1. Mets Hand Knot Wool Rug | 2. Checker Heart Jute Rug | 3. AGEN Wool Hand Woven Grid Ivory Area Rug – 8’x10′ | 4. Barlow Hand Knot Rug | 5. Safavieh Handmade Kenya Pisti South Western Wool Rug | 6. Mallory Hand Tuft Area Rug
Quiet Pattern Details #2: Curtains
I love a good rug, but perhaps my favorite way to bring in a quiet pattern is through the window. That’s one of the more unexpected moments I find very interesting. Even something as simple as a barely pinstripe can draw attention to you.
I don’t know why, but this little vignette is so appealing to me. The faint whispers of warm sunlight and the way you filter through the patterned curtains feels magical. thank you, Husband’s wife A moment of visual relief.
Amber Lewis Amber Interior is a master of warm neutral spaces, taking advantage of a quiet pattern that the master baker uses sourdough starters. Instead, it becomes a good bread made of yeast, but man, this method is special. For this room, to finish off the analogy, if the curtains are merely beige, the dining area does not have any beauty, but the block print takes it to the next level.
Punch but neutral nursery Mindy Gayer Design I check out a lot of “quiet pattern” boxes here, but I love the curtains against wallpaper. Sweet (and cool).
Here are some of my favorite neutral pattern curtains (yes, even a pair of IKEAs is around $20 per panel):
1. Heritage Strip Blackout Curtains, Set of 2 | 2. Stefana Silver Print Linen Blend Curtain Curtain Pleated | 3. Linen Cotton Ladder Sheer Curtain | 4. Embroidered Artisan Ivory/Midnight Navy Organic Cotton Satin Window Curtain Panel | 5. Painter’s striped purinen curtain panel by Sarah Sherman Samuel | 6. Häckberberis Room Darkening Curtains – 1 Pair 50″x98″
Quiet Pattern Details #3: Wallpaper
EM farmers love quiet pattern wallpaper moments (remember this post?). Large area cover = big results.
Another thing Mindy Gayer (People who used the nursery school as previously shown). There is a little more colour here thanks to the green upholstered bench, but in my eyes it is a neutral space that is appealing through quiet wallpaper.
This dining room is a little more formal. Lily Taylor Interior It introduces movement through the print of ferns into the wall.
And again Lily Taylor Interior. I generally love window seating moments, but I’ve been particularly mitted to this for wallpaper.
As proven here, the dots of polka are not the right choice for the room Ritaconig.
Below are some picks on the wall, including #3 at Emily’s entrance.
1. Olof, Sandstone | 2. Dahlia Peel-and-Stick Wallpaper | 3. Raphael wallpaper by Scalamandre | 4. Bright beige new beet | 5. Mallow Morris & Co. Wallpaper | 6. Light beige bald rust
Quiet Pattern Details #4: Pillows and Throws
Want to make the smallest commitment in the quiet pattern field? Pillow and throw, my friend. It’s usually affordable, easy to play with, and certainly impactful.
Well, this is technically a bed cover, but it’s still in the slow area so I’ll slide it (same as in the next image). Here, it may not be that “quiet” to most of us, but it is still a neutral pattern, giving the same energy to my eyes.
Wow, that’s right Husband’s wife I know how to pack a wallop with some important factors. I’ve never needed a crochet blanket or a bedspread, but am I doing that now?
The mixing of patterns between throw pillows and sofa upholstery is great (rooms were shot by Nicole Freizen for Space exploration).
I found it much easier to find pillows and throws with a very trendy “warm neutral” colour palette and dark cream, beige and even brown tone mustard, but I picked some cooler neutral picks for those on that side of the neutral spectrum.
1. Laura pillow | 2. Ruella throws a blanket | 3. Sashiko Organic Cotton Velvet 20″ x 20″ Travertine Beige Throw Pillow Feather Insert | 4. Cross knit throw | 5. Striped Velvet Ball Pillow by Sarah Sherman Samuel | 6. Myrull Throw, Light Grey, 51″x67″ | 7. Paccia Pillow Ivory Brown 12″ x27″ | 8. Throwing cotton with tassels | 9. Flora Natural Print Pillow
Quiet Pattern Details #5: Furniture
And finally, we reached the furniture! This is the most obvious detail of all quiet pattern moments, but I think it is the most interesting. If you’re wondering how furniture (other than upholstery) can be a pop of patterns, read on.
Main example: Burlwood Veneer. Any case good heavy wood grain, especially burl wood like this Catalog cabinet taken by Jenni Kayne Homea gorgeous way to introduce patterns with more skillful hands.
This Squiggle Metal Furniture was famous for its design Freres (it was Meandre’s design). Similar tables can be seen by Nate Burks and Jeremiah Brent, photographed by Nate Burks and Jeremiah Brent Nicole Freizen.
The chair version of this stool is as follows (first slide only). The soft, wavy patterns created by metalwork draw out much weight to inject personality into the vignette.
Of course, quiet print upholstery – like this buffalo check bench in the room Kelly Belgine’s design– A surefire way to bring home the quiet pattern requirements of an interesting neutral room.
From sofas to benches, dining chairs and case merchandise, there are gorgeous “patterned” furniture picks for viewing.
1. Walter’s 82 inch upholstered sofa | 2. Pierce & Ward Iron Bench | 3. Briera Modern Classic Light Brown Wood 2 Door Sideboard | 4. Myers 72 inch sideboard | 5. Xavier Brutalist Armour – Vintage | 6. Taran Dining Chair
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At this point, you hope you feel good and confident about how to bring a neutral space back to life. Of course, there are many other factors (various tones and textures are paramount), but this is one topic I think is sometimes overlooked and simply not talked about. If colorful rooms aren’t that much of you, but you’ve never hit a minimal neutral room in the spot, then perhaps this post is a guided path to something in your lane.
Until next time, friends…
Opening Image Credit: Designed by Emily Henderson | Photo by Tessa Neustadt | From: Staging my dream Paris hotel suite at Sothebys
Source: Emily Henderson – stylebyemilyhenderson.com
