The use of patterned interiors in commercial environments is experiencing a renaissance. Like a breath of fresh air, wallcoverings, furnishing fabrics, floor coverings and even fixtures and fittings are becoming more colourful and more creative. So, how has this come about and where is it going?
Even before the Covid-era, the use of pattern was beginning to emerge as a design trend with a slow shift away from the minimalistic comfort zone of plain, often muted neutrals.
Mid-lockdown 2020 and the need for optimism saw the New London Fabulous Movement accelerate this change with a minimalistic backlash. A collective of creatives brought an explosion of maximalist colour and pattern to cheer up the streets of the capital bringing joy to the city’s inhabitants.
New London Fabulous Movement - Rosebank Arcade by Edward Crooks
Post-pandemic 2025 and we are now seeing this trend filter through to commercial interiors. The workplace, hospitality, retail and even the care sector are beginning to benefit from an uplift of pattern and colour. In an uncertain world, interiors continue to be influenced by a nostalgic yearning for a deeper emotional connection with the places in which we spend our time, where the feel of a space is becoming just as important as the look, possibly even more important.
THE POWER OF PATTERN
Going back to fundamentals, understanding the psychology of patterns can provide a useful guide on how best to apply them in a space. In our accompanying blog CAN PATTERNS INFLUENCE OUR EMOTIONS?, we explore the relationship between patterns and our emotions, how they can influence our psychological state and the profound effect they can have on the way we feel.
Patterns have the power to shape almost every part of our everyday lives, often without us even realising - from nature to business, science, art and everything in between. Used in interiors and combined with clever colour choices, they can help people to experience spaces in different ways, encourage them to ‘linger longer’, making them feel more welcome or perhaps stimulating them to think in unexpected ways.
(Learn more on how embracing pattern can inspire positive outcomes in our related blog: THE TRANSFORMATIONAL POWER OF PATTERN.)
HOW TO USE PATTERN
As referenced earlier, we're now seeing more patterned materials and finishes being used in interiors across multiple commercial sectors, particularly in workplace interiors.
Drawing employees back into the office is steering interior designers to create work environments that have a more homely and welcoming feel. Spaces that people feel comfortable to be in, where they can operate in new ways – more flexibly and more collaboratively.
High back booth patterned upholstered in 'Thames' pattern by Patternistas for PWC More London Building for PWC
Well-being remains a strong driver for workplace interiors, so when it comes to pattern, soft, organic shapes and biophilic influences, known to enhance well-being, continue to grow in importance. Equally, creating a wider variety of spaces to facilitate different workstyles is also key. Using pattern to identify these as areas visually is helpful, however using pattern to create a different feel to a space is even more valuable.
In our blog 7 WAYS PATTERN CAN IMPROVE WORKPLACE DESIGN we provide some powerful ideas and insights into the various ways in which pattern can be used to cleverly enhance workplace interiors.
TRANSFORM THE FLOOR
As the largest surface areas in a building, the floorplate provides the perfect surface for zoning the more agile work environments of the future. Using patterned floor coverings in a considered way can help create calming, dynamic, welcoming, stimulating spaces – whatever you need to achieve, even providing a solution for helping people navigating through a building.
In TRANSFORM YOUR FLOORS: 4 GREAT WAYS TO USE PATTERN you can learn how to use a range of different floor covering patterns to create highly functional, statement spaces.
As we move towards more human-centric designed interiors, the more we understand how to successfully use the power of pattern to achieve an experience as well as a look, the more likely it will be that pattern is here to stay.
