THE IMPORTANCE OF PATTERN

Pattern plays an important part in adding texture and interest to a room.

Chelsea (London) Design Centre “WOW House”

Ben Youssef Madrasa, Marrakesh

These two rooms, one in the Chelsea (London) Design Centre “WOW House” trade show in July 2025, the other in the Ben Youssef Madrasa, Marrakesh, dating back the 14th century, are literally hundreds of years apart but both show how important pattern can be in adding texture to a space. They also show pattern doesn’t always overwhelm the eye. 

Pattern matching is a term you’ll hear in the design world and that mostly refers to aligning printed patterns on fabrics or wallpapers, so when placed side by side (as when wallpapering) one continuous design appears. 

Pattern clashing is pretty much anything to do with using more than one pattern in a room.  It’s a term that scares some people as they think it means a floral used with a stipe, and an animal print and a tartan and a spot. The trick to using patterns is blending size and use into a space. 

Pattern clashing takes care. It's not a case of just throwing everything but the kitchen sink at it. 

The room in the Ben Youssef Madrasa shows you several patterns all used at once, yet there is a harmony thanks to them mostly belonging to the “geometric” and “floral” families of patterns and being in a harmonious colour pallet. 

If you enjoyed this suggestion, please sign up to our newsletter for more tips and ideas.