Guide to Styling Prints to Make Them Pop
Prints are a versatile way to add character, personality and life to your interior. Depending on personal tastes and preferences, prints offer a variety of options to play with.
Whether you have a penchant for bold geometric patterns, delicate florals, traditional landscapes or striking abstract brush strokes, prints can present the perfect opportunity to create dynamic displays and points of interest.
This guide will take you through some of the best ways to style prints in your home, from making statements to subtle touches, helping them pop in all the right ways.
A Good Print Can Define Space
Within large spaces, such as open-plan living areas, prints can play a role in differentiating the functionality of each room. Prints can be used to truly define what is special, remarkable and unique about the space.
According to Kelly Wearstler, a designer known for her unique style, “Rawness and refinement are not opposite ends of a luxurious spectrum. They are two complementary features with which to populate a luxe environment.”
In her work, Kelly Wearstler’s work often uses sophisticated prints to define a space, giving each room its own characteristics.
In smaller areas, certain prints, which are airy and light, can help extend the dimension of a room, creating the illusion of more space. The opposite can be said for darker, heavier prints, which can create more intimacy.
It’s a Balancing Act
Balancing bold, striking prints with neutral tones is essential. By doing so, you can ensure prints pop without engulfing the space. This even amounts down to which frame is selected for your print. For stance, a dark print might benefit from being accentuated by a copper picture frame.
While bold prints can bring energy to a room, simplicity in surrounding elements keep the overall feeling grounded and refined. The key is not to overdo it. But that amounts down to subjectivity. There’s always a sweet spot, which can change depending on personal tastes.
Printed Wallpaper for Impact
Decorating with wallpaper is a straightforward way to bring bold prints into your home. Whether you choose an all-over print or a feature wall, wallpaper can add personality from the moment it’s applied.
Printed wallpaper comes in a wide range of styles, motifs and colours, allowing you to choose something that’ll really pop. Wallpaper works especially well as a feature to contrast with an otherwise muted aesthetic, allowing you to add a touch of personality without too much effort.
Make a Statement
“A room should never allow the eye to settle in one place. It should smile at you and create fantasy,” says renowned interior designer Juan Montoya.
From this, we can confidently say that a space could be home to more than one defining statement print. In certain circumstances and under the right conditions, prints of juxtaposing colours, patterns, and even textures can work in unison to bring a space together.
Think of your prints as tiers or layers. Each print has the potential to make a statement, but when paired with others that complement it, you can construct a cohesive, complex story.
That doesn’t mean to say that you can’t pick just one killer print. There are endless options available that offer an eye-catching, room-defining motif.
Mix-n-Match
If your goal is to create layers and depth in your space, then perhaps you might consider playing around with varying prints that contrast. It’s tricky, but the objective is to select prints that work well with one another, and the easiest way to do that is to focus on their similarities–colour, pattern, and theme.
For those who prefer the minimalist route, established designer Abigail Ahern says, “The key to mixing prints is to work within a unified colour palette.”
And for those who are more prone to experimenting, ensure your selection of prints works harmoniously to get the best out of them. The objective is to highlight a print’s defining characteristics, so ensure you don’t end up muting soft motifs with loud, striking patterns.
To Wrap Things Up
Making your prints pop is about the willingness to experiment, adjust and edit to extract their best qualities. Lean into the fundamentals of interior design if experimenting isn’t your thing, there’s boldness in simplicity, and not every print has to be intricate to be effective.
It, of course, all reduces down to personal tastes and decorating styles, but with these styling tips, you’ll be having your prints popping in no time.
