3 min readPictured Above: A pattern-rich living space by Taylor Hill Interior Design.
Experimenting with newfound maximalism after so many years stuck in neutrals can feel liberating. Taylor Hill, owner of an eponymous design firm in Charleston, South Carolina, is welcoming this shift, and she gives a lot of credit to those across the pond for its current popularity.
“British-inspired design is in the spotlight right now,” she says. “This style is not overthought and feels less intentional. Instead of striving for overly stark and buttoned-up spaces, I find people are trying to take things less seriously and have some fun.”
But just because the overarching trend for more design whimsy feels like a welcome change doesn’t mean that it isn’t a challenge. Hill is no stranger to curating a kaleidoscope, and she says that in order to pull it off, there are casual guidelines to follow. Here are her three secrets for incorporating a variety of prints and patterns seamlessly into a design, no matter how many you choose.
Focus on the Feeling of a Room
When you’re giving a blank or dated room a refresh, it’s a good idea to start with the basics: How do you want to enjoy these surroundings? Hill says that the answer will help determine the extent of your maximalist design.
“Layering isn't centered on color or texture; it focuses more on the feeling of the room,” she notes. “If you want a space to feel lively and dynamic, use more colors in your layers. If you want a space to feel more subdued and quiet, then focus on layering patterns within a similar color palette.”
Your plans should also include ways to contain your layers, since you want the finished results to come across as intentional—not messy. “It is always nice to give the eye a break when moving across a room,” Hill notes. But keep in mind that subtlety doesn’t necessarily have to be plain.
“A break can sometimes mean introducing a solid or stripe,” Hill says. “We prefer patterned textiles on upholstery more often than not, so it's not uncommon for us to use a solid or stripe as a pillow or stool selection. In my book, stripes are most often lumped into the solid category.”
Hold Your Palette to an Anchor
In a recent project, Hill designed a living room to be cozy and colorful from floor to ceiling. When embracing a more-is-more approach, an important guideline is to stick to a theme that will ground the room in continuity.
“Wallcoverings can be a very powerful tool for this,” she says. “We used a lively foliage wallpaper as our anchor.”
The repeating pattern of this room’s wallpaper is bold, but it’s also versatile. The green variations lend themselves well to natural materials, including wood and jute, while the splashes of light-toned leaves provide a chance to use neutrals (like the ever-so-slightly striped ceiling). With this verdant base in place, Hill then chose complementary and contrasting shades to fill out the rest of her palette.
“We piled additional texture with the marigold floral stripe club chairs, dynamic art, and punchy plum cabinetry,” she notes. “The inclusion of neutral but interesting shapes like the tree trunk coffee table and African stool provides depth without overwhelming the room with more color.”
Sprinkle in the Unexpected
If you’re thinking, “Well, I don’t know if I would’ve picked purple to go with green,” that’s OK. Hill says that pattern actually comes first.
“Try to diversify the size, scale, and type of pattern,” she notes. “Color palette can be pretty irrelevant, but it is important to vary the pattern.”
In a different area of this home, Hill covered a great room’s walls with dark wood planks, and the different tones of the grains are their own intriguing pattern. But then she wove plaids and botanicals into the furnishings to provide a surprising feeling of playfulness to the rest of the room.
As you fill out your own mood board, notice how many patterns you have and the ways in which they work together. Are there stripes and squiggles in your fabrics, as well as diamonds or polka dots? No matter which shapes you pick, you want to make sure there’s a variety.
And don’t forget to incorporate some unexpected features, especially ones that have a personal history. “The light fixture is rather baroque and feels just enough out of place to still work,” Hill says. “It came from the homeowner's childhood home.”
