Restraint is elegant and always a safe bet. This applies to life, but also to interior design. For some time now, we have been seeing interior design in hotels and private homes that creates beautiful spaces with elegant understatement: with beautiful woods, calm textures and colours from the immediate surroundings. The landscape outside the door is often brought inside, sometimes even literally. Interiors thus become a reflection of nature.
This has its merits. And it has produced many beautiful rooms. The more and the longer you look at such rooms, the more you start to question them. A counter-movement is emerging, subtly expressing a different opinion. Designers are increasingly moving away from the idea that interiors must be neutral in order to be appealing in the long term. Instead, another goal is becoming more important, and that is to express personality.
Spaces should go back to telling stories, and they should be permitted to take a stand. And that's where patterns come into play. Using them requires real expertise, but also courage, and it's a lot of fun. Patterns instantly create atmosphere.
• Patterns are a key design element in interior design.
• They give rooms personality, structure and distinctiveness.
• Scale, repeat, motif density and colour concept determine their effect.
• Clear rules make it easier to combine several patterns in a room.
• Patterns are also being used again deliberately in hotel interiors.
A room designed with multiple levels never feels flat. This applies to architecture as well as to fabrics. Heavy curtains can be placed next to transparent voiles, coarse bouclés next to smooth velour. The principle of layering makes rooms clearer and more accessible.
This is precisely what has been done at Peternhof. Pure and textured plain fabrics are the basis, complemented by patterned accent pieces – such as cushions, upholstery fabrics and wall coverings. It is important not to use all of these elements at once, but rather gradually, depending on their function and effect on the room.
Floral designs, geometric lines, traditional weaves – can you really mix them all? Yes, but you need to exercise restraint. The key point is not the type of pattern, but how it interacts with other patterns. When working with different patterns, you should pay attention to proportions: small motifs create a scattered effect, while large patterns make a statement.
Patterns alone don't tell us much. Only when combined with the material do they create an overall statement. Velvet, for example, has a dramatic effect even on its own. Linen can make a pattern appear more rustic or elegant, depending on the weave and yarn thickness. And shiny fabrics reflect light, adding another dimension to the narrative.
Fabrics do not work on their own. Their effect changes with each neighbouring fabric. A good example of this is when a coarse wool fabric is placed next to a slightly shimmering jacquard; this can work well if both fabrics are of a similar quality and have a similar effect.
What works in hotels can be an inspiration for private homes.
The trick is this: although you can simply use the same patterns at home, it is definitely more important to understand how they work together: it's not about uniformity, but about clever combinations.
A textured sofa, a patterned curtain, a rug with organically shaped colour patches. Just three elements are enough to add excitement and character to a room. The decisive factor is how they work together, not how similar they are.
Wallpaper, fabric and upholstery are tools. They feature patterns, create proximity or distance, and influence acoustics and haptics. The actual effect is not created by the material itself, but rather when you choose a specific pattern and its placement.
This is particularly evident with large-scale patterns, which are often used on wallpapers today. Their strength lies in their scale rather than the material itself. Used correctly, they give rooms identity and depth.
Courage that pays off. The fact that patterns are being used more and more in projects reflects a trend: interiors are moving away from pure neutrality. They show personality, tell stories and take a clear stance. This requires courage, but it's worth it.
Patterns can create something that is difficult to achieve with great restraint: a characterful ambience that is memorable.
With her eye for textures, colours and the delicate balance between functionality and design, Teresa manages interior design in a wide variety of projects. In her articles, she shares insights from her professional experience, inspirations from the world of interior design and tips for a clever planning process.
‘For me, good interior design begins where materials have a subtle effect and shape the ambience.’
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