Renowned for its insatiable fascination with colour and pattern, the world of is a haven of exciting eclecticism and energetic collaborations. Less-than-fussy florals sit comfortably side by side with dip-dyed, animal printed and gold foiled damask patterns without difficulty. Naturally, founder and creative director Tricia Guild is just as excited by the wealth of pattern possibilities out there. We caught up with the designer to ask her advice on working different looks in the bedroom.
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Bedroom Decorating Tips with Tricia Guild, Designers Guild
The textile maven teaches a thing or two about bedroom pattern etiquette
By Jon Sharpe, Chief Creative Officer
- Tricia, Designers Guild is partly known for its refreshingly patterned bedroom spaces (amongst other things). Do you tend to use patterns as extensively when designing your own bedroom?
Yes, absolutely. The bedroom is a wonderful space for pattern and it can be brought into the space in many different ways. I find it really interesting to combine different designs and patterns together on the bed, perhaps a with a delicate, embroidered flat sheet and pillowcases, or maybe a striped or plain design. Then I like to add a beautiful silk or stitched quilt, a soft blanket and perhaps a few cushions. Bedlinen and accessories are such a great way of providing an instant change to a room and I think with a bedroom one can really have fun and experiment with the patterns you bring in. - When thinking about patterns to include in a bedroom, which considerations should one bear in mind?
When approaching using colour and pattern in general, it is not easy to combine a multitude of colours and patterns. I tend to work with a palette of four or five maximum in a room. If you’re nervous a good way is to start with limiting yourself to three or four ensuring that one of them is natural and to keep your patterns within this group of colours – this is key. Keeping floors and ceilings neutral and combining colour with lots of white, and pattern with plain will help to maintain a sense of harmony.
For me a combination of textures, colour and pattern is what gives a space life and personality, but it is a very personal thing and there are no set rules. Each space and person is unique and I would tend to approach it in this way. I think the main thing is that the bedroom (perhaps more than any other room in the home) is your own space and an escape from the bustle of daily life. That is for me, what makes designing a bedroom such an exciting prospect because it is a space that is very much your own. Therefore, if you are drawn to a particular pattern or colour then why not try it in your bedroom? I find that often people opt for neutral schemes for fear of colour or pattern when the result can be a space that is bland and uninteresting and will bring them no joy.
Pattern can be introduced easily through bedlinens, providing a wonderfully easy way to instantly update your bedroom. There is a wealth of options to choose from beautiful large scale florals to soft washed linens, ombre designs and smart stripes. These can be combined together – floral with a striped pillowcase, or a plain ombre duvet with a damask inspired blanket. It is a room that can be adapted to make it truly unique.
