Decorating: How to Liven Up Your Home With a Beautiful Patterned Floor
It pays to be brave… Patterned floors can add beauty and energy to any room. Here's how to choose the right design for your space
From ceramic tiles to textured wood, livening up your floor with a pattern can create a striking effect. Whether it’s adding vibrancy and interest to a minimalist kitchen or bringing a modern touch to a traditional scheme, choosing a patterned floor over a plain one can take a space from so-so to sensational.
But how can you make sure you pick a pattern that will complement rather than clash with the rest of the room? Read on for some creative inspiration on floors that stand out for all the right reasons, and tips on how to achieve the look – from picking the right pattern to choosing colours that work together.
But how can you make sure you pick a pattern that will complement rather than clash with the rest of the room? Read on for some creative inspiration on floors that stand out for all the right reasons, and tips on how to achieve the look – from picking the right pattern to choosing colours that work together.
Mix and match
These colourful encaustic tiles have been mixed up to create a playful mood in this hallway. The bench, painted in duck-egg blue, picks out one of the key tones of the tiles to bring the space together.
These colourful encaustic tiles have been mixed up to create a playful mood in this hallway. The bench, painted in duck-egg blue, picks out one of the key tones of the tiles to bring the space together.
Add a contemporary edge
The clean, geometric lines of these Scallop tiles add a modern feel to this otherwise traditional kitchen. The storm grey floor provides the perfect counterpoint to the white range and pale grey kitchen cabinets.
The clean, geometric lines of these Scallop tiles add a modern feel to this otherwise traditional kitchen. The storm grey floor provides the perfect counterpoint to the white range and pale grey kitchen cabinets.
Pick the right-sized pattern
Patterned tiles work best when chosen with a specific space in mind. The relatively small and delicate triangular design on these geometric tiles fits perfectly in this small home office. Larger patterns will usually work better in bigger spaces.
Try to order a few sample tiles before investing in all of your flooring. You can then lay them out and get a better idea of how the finished floor will look.
See tricks for squeezing a home office into a small space
Patterned tiles work best when chosen with a specific space in mind. The relatively small and delicate triangular design on these geometric tiles fits perfectly in this small home office. Larger patterns will usually work better in bigger spaces.
Try to order a few sample tiles before investing in all of your flooring. You can then lay them out and get a better idea of how the finished floor will look.
See tricks for squeezing a home office into a small space
Set bold patterns against white
The vibrant red, orange and yellow colours of the rug and blinds in this room are offset by the clean white furnishings. It would be hard to get away with so much pattern and colour otherwise, but the quirky selection stands out beautifully against neutral walls and furniture without being too overpowering.
The vibrant red, orange and yellow colours of the rug and blinds in this room are offset by the clean white furnishings. It would be hard to get away with so much pattern and colour otherwise, but the quirky selection stands out beautifully against neutral walls and furniture without being too overpowering.
Add interest to minimalism
Pattern is a wonderful way to warm up a minimal look that might otherwise verge on the clinical. The clean lines and plain colours of this slick kitchen really stand out against the tiled floor, which brings an Arts and Crafts edge to the room. This is echoed by the line of kitchen utensils and pans that hang against the far wall.
Pattern is a wonderful way to warm up a minimal look that might otherwise verge on the clinical. The clean lines and plain colours of this slick kitchen really stand out against the tiled floor, which brings an Arts and Crafts edge to the room. This is echoed by the line of kitchen utensils and pans that hang against the far wall.
Energise a bathroom
The bathroom is the traditional home of patterned tiles. But instead of choosing a fairly plain floor and a patterned splashback, create a contemporary look by choosing modern metro tiles for the wall and an intricate pattern for the floor, as in this room. Here, the different styles are linked by the unifying grey-blue tones.
The bathroom is the traditional home of patterned tiles. But instead of choosing a fairly plain floor and a patterned splashback, create a contemporary look by choosing modern metro tiles for the wall and an intricate pattern for the floor, as in this room. Here, the different styles are linked by the unifying grey-blue tones.
Reflect the rest of the room
The patterned floor in this hallway brings together the light tones of the staircase and the dark grey of the wall panelling for a cohesive scheme. The combination is subtle enough that it works well in a period home, adding just the right amount of modern.
The patterned floor in this hallway brings together the light tones of the staircase and the dark grey of the wall panelling for a cohesive scheme. The combination is subtle enough that it works well in a period home, adding just the right amount of modern.
Use texture to create pattern
If you want your pattern to be subtle, create it using texture instead of colours. The herringbone layout of this oak parquet makes a lovely pattern while keeping the consistency of a single colour.
The clean lines of parquet flooring work especially well in open-plan living spaces, where they draw the eye from one end of the room to the other. A linear pattern like this can also maintain visual consistency between a kitchen and dining area, for instance.
Get expert advice on using parquet flooring
If you want your pattern to be subtle, create it using texture instead of colours. The herringbone layout of this oak parquet makes a lovely pattern while keeping the consistency of a single colour.
The clean lines of parquet flooring work especially well in open-plan living spaces, where they draw the eye from one end of the room to the other. A linear pattern like this can also maintain visual consistency between a kitchen and dining area, for instance.
Get expert advice on using parquet flooring
Choose wisely
The Moroccan-influenced pattern on this rug is striking, while the clean colour palette of turquoise and white simplifies the intricacy and keeps it easy on the eye.
Patterned floors are far from a neutral option, so it pays to choose wisely. If you’re picking patterned flooring – whether it’s a rug, tiles or flooring – invest time in finding a design you really love and which will give you pleasure every time you see it.
TELL US…
Do you have a patterned floor? Would you like one? Share your thoughts and photos in the Comments below.
The Moroccan-influenced pattern on this rug is striking, while the clean colour palette of turquoise and white simplifies the intricacy and keeps it easy on the eye.
Patterned floors are far from a neutral option, so it pays to choose wisely. If you’re picking patterned flooring – whether it’s a rug, tiles or flooring – invest time in finding a design you really love and which will give you pleasure every time you see it.
TELL US…
Do you have a patterned floor? Would you like one? Share your thoughts and photos in the Comments below.
The grey leaf pattern of these Granito tiles by Lindsey Lang fits perfectly with the rest of the room, with its clean palette of white, grey and natural wood. The lack of pattern anywhere else allows the floor to be the star without overwhelming the space.