Five Ways to Punch up your Place with Pattern

Looking for a quick and inexpensive way to update your home’s décor? Why not try adding a bit of pattern to your walls, floor, and window treatments? From sleek swirls and cutesy curly q’s to old fashioned toile and modern geometric patterns add texture and visual flair to any space. It’s one of the simplest ways to update the look of a décor without completely re-doing its look.

You also don’t have to spend a fortune to involve your favorite patterns into any space of your home. Between stencils, inexpensive decals, and even some discount rugs for your home, it’s easy to punch up your style without breaking the bank.

Here are five fun ideas to get you started!

1. Curtain call– add a little whimsy to any room with patterned curtains. From stripes to toile to polka dots, a room’s window treatments are a great way to add visual interest with little effort. If you’re a do-it-yourself type of person, you can use stencils and acrylic paint to create one-of-a kind curtains using solid-colored sailcloth panels. Find a design you like and trace it onto craft paper. Then, cut out your newly made stencils and paint them onto the cloth using a stencil roller. Use just a few drops of paint to keep the image from bleeding and be sure to stagger the pattern for a designer effect.
2. Floor it – the floor is a great place to embrace pattern whether you want a temporary change or a more permanent fix. Striped rugs in colors that coordinate with your solid wall colors will provide an instant update to hardwood or tile floors. An area rugin a geometric pattern can add a sense of drama to a room without the investment of new carpet. But, if you want something more permanent, consider having an in-lay put in when you refinish or install hardwood flooring. In contrasting wood grains, inlays provide an elegant and unexpected touch that never goes out of style.
3. Light it up– Lampshades are another great way to add a little bit of pattern that will spice up a room’s look. Just like with your curtains, it’s a little thing that can take a room’s look a long way whether you get crafty and make your own patterned shade or purchase one to replace what you already have. If your lamp came with a regular white shade, consider using stencils, fuzzy decals, solid-colored ribbon, or even glued-on paper roses for a 3D effect. Visit your local craft store and see what ideas you can come up with. With a little imagination and a glue gun, there’s little that you can’t do!
4. Go on and stare – Create a staircase that makes your guests say wow by using stencils. Wooden stairs in a solid color can benefit from a stencil pattern that mimics a carpeted stair runner rug. Pick out a stencil pattern at your local craft store and then use good-quality painter’s tape and stencil brushes to continue up the steps. (And if that sounds like too much work to you, don’t worry, you can still inject that same idea with a patterned runner rug.)
5. Detailed decals – On your walls, there’s no easier way to add an instant, eye-catching update than with decals. Type “wall decals” into any search engine and you’ll come up with dozens of decal retailers. Since they’re removable, you can play with paisley, swirls, art deco dots, branches – basically any pattern your heart desires — and still peel the decal back off when you’re ready for something new. And since many retailers offer these decals in colors, the options are endless! For best results, use a level to ensure the top line of your decal is straight and get help from a friend when applying.

These ideas are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to getting pattern into your home’s existing style. From the bedroom to the basement, the kid’s rooms and beyond, there’s really no place that you can’t use these ideas. How will you put a little pattern in your place today?