What is a bold pattern?
Photography Becky Craven, Becky Craven Creative
Bold patterns are visually striking designs that immediately catch the eye. They often feature large-scale shapes, vibrant colours, and a sense of movement or rhythm that draws attention. These types of patterns can dramatically transform a space—whether it’s wallpaper, upholstery, or accessories—by injecting personality, energy, and style.
That said, there are no hard rules when working with bold patterns—what feels bold to one person might feel balanced to another. It’s a deeply personal design choice, and the beauty lies in how you interpret it. However, there are a few helpful guidelines to make the process easier and more enjoyable.
Start With Your Vision
Before you dive in, think about the mood and feel you want to create in the room. Do you want the space to feel airy and open? Or intimate and cocooning?
As a general rule of thumb:
• Large-scale patterns can make a room feel more expansive.
• Small-scale patterns tend to create a cosy, more intimate atmosphere.
So, a bold, oversized floral print might be perfect for a grand hallway, while a tighter, busier pattern could work beautifully in a snug reading nook or guest loo.
Stick to a colour palette
Photography Becky Craven, Becky Craven Creative
Bold doesn’t have to mean chaotic. One of the most effective ways to bring bold patterns into a space without it feeling overwhelming is by sticking to a clear colour palette. Many interior designers recommend the 60-30-10 rule:
• 60% of the room should be your dominant colour (think walls or large furniture),
• 30% a secondary colour (rugs, curtains, feature chairs),
• and 10% a bold accent colour (cushions, lampshades, trims, or accessories).
This ratio offers a good balance and gives your room harmony—even when you’re working with loud patterns or clashing prints. You can always break the rules later, but if you’re new to working with bold interiors, this is a solid place to start. In one of our recently decorated cloakrooms, for example, we used our Kitito wallpaper as the main feature wall. The ceiling was painted in Farrow & Ball's Brinjal, a rich plum shade that added warmth and drama. Green accents in the form of an aloe plant and a simple soap dispenser tied it all together with subtle sophistication.
Choose Patterns with Multiple Colours
Photography Becky Craven, Becky Craven Creative
When selecting bold wallpaper, it's helpful to pick a design that includes several colours. This gives you more flexibility when building your room’s overall colour scheme.
Take our Kirimiri wallpaper in Olive, for instance. It features rich greens, vibrant blues, and bright orange tones—pulled from the feathers of the sunbirds in the design. In the accompanying room, we used a vibrant art deco-style sideboard in blue, orange accessories, and neutral lampshades to break up the intensity of the pattern. The result? A cosy space that’s lively yet thoughtfully curated.
Play with Scale and Pattern Mixing
Mixing patterns might sound intimidating, but it can bring so much character to a space when done well. The trick is to play with scale—don’t have everything at the same size or intensity. Pair a large-scale wallpaper like Kitito with smaller-scale prints on cushions, upholstery, or even flooring.
As long as you stick to your chosen colour palette, the patterns will complement each other rather than clash.
Start Small and Use Pattern to Zone Your Space
If you're not quite ready to commit to a whole room in bold pattern, start small. Try wallpapering an alcove, the back of a bookshelf, or even a single feature wall. These smaller-scale projects are a great way to build your confidence and get a feel for what you like. Here is a good example of our Kitito (Teal) wallpaper being used on one wall in a kitchen, the client brought in pops of complimentary orange in the form or Le Creseut mugs and sugar bowls throughout the scheme. This use of wallpaper and pops of colour helped to give a long narrow kitchen focus.
Bold pattern and colour can also be a clever tool for zoning open-plan spaces. Use wallpaper or paint to visually separate areas—like a dining corner, reading nook, or workspace—without needing physical dividers. This approach works particularly well in modern homes where rooms often serve multiple functions.
Create Visual Breathing Space
When working with bold pattern, it’s important to give the eye somewhere to rest. Introduce blocks of solid colour or neutrals to balance out the visual intensity. This could be in the form of a painted wall, a neutral rug, or clean-lined furniture.
And don’t forget the power of mirrors, artwork, and furniture to break up walls of pattern and add depth to your room. A mix of materials like wood, metal, or glass can also help temper bold design elements.
Use Pattern to Express Personality
Ultimately, interiors should reflect your personality and passions. Bold pattern is a brilliant way to tell your story.
• Are you a keen traveller? Choose wallpaper designs that echo your favourite destinations.
• Love nature? Botanical prints, bird motifs, or jungle-inspired themes might be perfect.
• City dweller with a modern aesthetic? Opt for geometric patterns, stripes, or graphic monochromes.
This is your chance to be bold, literally, and let your style shine.
Feeling Inspired? Embrace Maximalism
If you’re really ready to embrace bold patterns, take a page from the maximalist playbook. This style is all about layering colour, pattern, and texture in a way that feels collected, personal, and full of life.
The Country Living article on maximalist interior design offers some fantastic insights. Interior designer Sophie Robinson shares tips on creating interiors that are "joyful, rebellious and full of personality.” You’ll find useful advice on trusting your instincts, mixing old and new, and embracing pattern without fear.
Read the full article here.
Decorating with bold pattern should be fun, not daunting. Trust your eye, start with a clear colour scheme, and don’t be afraid to break a few rules along the way. Whether you go full maximalist or simply add a splash of pattern to an otherwise neutral space, let your interiors reflect you.