Go for the Bold: 14 Great Ideas for Patterned Upholstery

Let’s face it: Most of us are afraid of using pattern of any kind on large upholstered furniture. I suppose it’s understandable, since we’ve been told over and over that investment pieces should remain neutral so it’s easier to change our decor when we want to.

I have one thing to say to that: “They’re not the boss of me!” And they should not be the boss of you, either. Since when did you ever let someone else dictate what you should or shouldn’t do? I say go for bold!

These examples are not for the shrinking violets among us. Rather, they’re here to celebrate the owners’ personalities and inspire confidence. Let’s look at them to understand the power of pattern to make a room really special.

Corral the herd. This pair of black and white cowhide tub chairs injects a strong sense of the owner’s humor into a very restrained seating group. Personality is important to a room’s design, and here we can see the owner’s whimsical side.


Tipping the scales. The patterns work here because of the scale of the woven print. The pattern on the sofa has a subtle texture, while the small print on the chair at first appears to be a solid color.


Bold and cheerful. Nobody puts this baby in the corner! (Figuratively speaking, of course.) Pluck a color from the wallpaper and run with it — that’s what the designer did with this bold striped chair. Olive green and fuchsia are complementary colors, which is why they work so well together here.


Oh, suzani! Bold central-Asian suzanis add a worldly touch to chairs and sofas. This is drama for drama’s sake. An individual piece like this is all a simple room needs.


Crocodile tears. This vintage sectional got a new look with pattern. The large abstract print is reminiscent of a crocodile pattern. It’s subtle enough to appear to be a texture, making it a great choice for a long sectional.


Victorian stripes. This oval-back Victorian settee has thrown off any illusion of stuffy parlor games. The unexpectedly vibrant stripes bring it right into the 21st century, marrying past and present.


Facing off. This white space isn’t antiseptic, thanks to the pair of Parsons sofas covered in a chocolate trellis print. The crisp pattern works especially well with the severe lines of the sofa. A shock of chartreuse adds unexpected relief to the high-contrast color palette.


Mix and match. This madcap sectional isn’t for everyone. There’s a 1960s vibe at work here. The individual components are treated more like an assortment of pillows than parts of a large furniture piece, making the whole thing the perfect lounge for grown-up kids.


By the book. Here’s a great way to subtly integrate a bold pattern into a small room. Here the wide stripes on the upholstery mimic the vertical lines of the books behind — not only in color, but also in scale.


Bohemian rhapsody. Remnants of vintage floral bark cloth and a small diamond geometric in red and white give this thrift shop sofa a hippie chic look. This ad hoc assemblage of patterns isn’t for everyone, but in this spare white room it’s the showpiece.


Neotraditional. The large pattern places the sofa front and center. Although the pattern is very traditional, its asymmetrical placement is very modern. Unexpected applications like this are a way to spice up and modernize ho-hum furniture.


Monochromatic. Pattern can be used in even the palest, beigest room, if it’s used subtly. This elegant sofa is upholstered in a bold tone-on-tone damask pattern. Because damask uses the soft highlights of the weft and warp, it’s a wonderful choice that doesn’t shout too loudly.


Layering pattern. Stripes and floral patterns are judiciously used in this library. The ottoman is the only piece that isn’t patterned. Green and red are complementary colors, but slightly muddied tones of the two are used to tie all the patterns together.


Mad for plaid. Gingham is usually reserved for casual country kitchens, but here a large-scale gingham is elegant and sophisticated on two overstuffed sofas. The gentle gold complements the weathered blue-gray elsewhere in the room.

More: 17 Gorgeous Ways to Work In a Patterned Area Rug

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