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The Patterned Sofa Is Back and Bolder Than Ever
The article explores the resurgence of patterned sofas in interior design, noting a significant shift away from minimalist, solid-colored upholstery. This trend is evident across various platforms, including home tours, hospitality settings, and new retail collections, where bold patterns from the 1970s and 1980s are making a prominent comeback. Designers and retailers are embracing this movement, with examples like Fern Santini incorporating Schumacher1889 leopard prints onto Perigold sofas, and brands like Lulu and Georgia and CB2 expanding their offerings to include grids, checks, stripes, and even wildlife motifs.
Sara Khodja, Senior Director of Furniture Design and Development for CB2, identifies this trend as a welcome departure from previous minimalist aesthetics, highlighting the current dominance of colors and prints in interiors. Jess Murphy, founder of The Lawns Collective, attributes this pattern fever to a nostalgia for retro styles, pointing out that many contemporary sofa frames are either direct replicas or inspired by 1970s designs, making patterned fabrics a natural complement. She also mentions the enduring appeal of classic motifs like the banana leaf.
Beyond nostalgia, the renewed popularity of patterned sofas is linked to the broader appeal of maximalism and the cottagecore aesthetic. Audrey Gelman's Six Bells Inn, for instance, features various printed couches, from pastoral banquettes to graphic floral sectionals, embodying a layered and eclectic design approach. Greg Natale, a Sydney-based designer, notes that with neutral rugs and carpets being popular, the sofa serves as a key element to introduce pattern and visual interest into a room. Practical benefits are also highlighted by Nashville interior designer Amanda Khouri, who points out that patterned upholstery is a better investment due to its ability to conceal spills and dirt, while also adding life and texture to a space.
The modern patterned sofa distinguishes itself from historical iterations through a more playful and contemporary direction. Cortney Bishop's design for a Kiawah Island home exemplifies this, featuring an ikat-like Pierre Frey fabric on a sectional, softened by mustard cushions. Similarly, Rebecca Atwood's Charleston home showcases a variety of patterns, including custom plaid benches and mod sofas with dot patterns. Frances Merrill of Reath Design embraces a maximalist approach in a Maine retreat, blending seemingly disparate patterns like paisley and plaid with vibrant throw pillows to create joyful and resilient spaces for families with children and pets.
For those looking to incorporate patterned sofas, designers offer guidance on tasteful implementation. Scale is a crucial consideration when reupholstering, with larger repeats being more suitable for applications like curtains or wall upholstery. Smaller patterns, such as checks, can add textural quality and pair well with decorative pillows. When combining patterned rugs and sofas, Greg Natale advises balancing sizes and styles, for example, pairing a bold geometric with a softer organic motif or contrasting a large-scale pattern with a finer one. For a more subtle approach, Meta Coleman suggests choosing smaller patterns with less contrast and muted values, and integrating colors from the pattern elsewhere in the room. Ultimately, designers encourage choosing patterns that evoke joy and personal connection, emphasizing that patterned sofas offer an opportunity to create interesting and bold interior spaces.
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