Textures and patterns are essential elements in a good room design. They help to bring harmony and synchronization in the design. The texture is mostly seen in the wall covering products. In addition to the conventional methods of painting, we have distressed painting, hand painting, and roller texture where primary colors like red, green and yellow are used with a little silver as a background. Pattern is the combination of motifs like lines, shapes, colors and textures to form a composition. Effective use of patterns can make a larger room appear small, and a small room larger. Combination of textures and patterns help in demarcating spaces and also lend continuity to the room. Here are a few tips, with which you can experiment with different textures and patterns :
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Patterns in multi shades, with diagonal lines criss- crossing each other randomly, serves to keep eyes busy. But these patterns may give a cluttering impression in small areas so are recommended for large rooms only.
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Vertical stripes in pattern for rooms with low ceiling create the illusion of height.
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In a narrow room, horizontal stripes set closer to each other give the illusion of width.
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Large areas usually look good with large prints while small areas should have smaller prints, like close lines, close dots etc.
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Using similar patterns in two or more consecutive rooms creates an open plan look. Sudden difference in pattern breaks the continuity of the design, and hence distracts the eye.
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A rough texture absorbs more light while a smooth texture reflects light. This can be used in the design of various rooms. A rough texture gives a more rustic look and adds a natural feel as compared to areas with a smooth, glossy finish. However, areas with smooth and glossy finish are easier to clean. This works well in places that need to cleaned more often, such as kitchen and bathroom. On the other hand, rough surfaces tend to accumulate dust more often, making them difficult to clean.