Finding compromise in bedroom patterns
Q My husband and I plan to redecorate our bedroom this spring. We’ve had our furniture for at least 20 years. The walls are forest green and the bedding and draperies tie in burgundy and gold tones. I desperately want something brighter, more modern and with pattern.
I would like to wallpaper the walls with a modern pattern in light blue or lavender but my husband has vetoed this idea. He prefers earth tones and despises wallpaper.
A I like the colours you were hoping to use, but I know only too well that decorating with a loved one involves compromise. I’m disappointed to learn your husband doesn’t like wallpaper. It’s an ideal way to infuse an updated hit of pattern into your room. Do you think he might entertain the idea of a feature wall in paper?
The obvious spot would be on the wall behind your bed. This way he’d see it only when he enters the room and not when he’s in bed. Showing him variations might be a great starting point for you.
The inspiration photo here is a master bedroom I designed for a client last year. And even if it’s not the overall look you’re after, there are elements I want to single out as points of discussion.
Draperies: Whether you like roman blinds or full-length drapes, stripes or floral prints, windows are the ideal spot to place pattern.
If you prefer the pattern compressed but not when it’s open flat, then consider hanging stationary decorative panels (never to be pulled closed) with roller blinds mounted on the inside of the window frame
Artwork: The Indonesian woodcarving hung above the bed brings pattern to the room in a textural way without infusing an overload of colour. Remember, pattern doesn’t necessarily have to mean colour. Alternatively, you could hang a bright, oversized abstract painting or print above the bed and use the colours from the art as inspiration for your bedding and window treatments.
Bed: As the largest piece of furniture in the bedroom, your bed provides the greatest opportunity to add pattern. In the room seen here, I added soft pattern with the duvet and shams and then a bolder graphic pattern with the two decorative pillows.
Rug: Though I didn’t place a rug in this room, it would be a great way to add pattern to yours.