Embracing Bold Patterns and Bright Colors in Interior Design

In a world where minimalism often takes center stage, embracing bold patterns and bright colors can be a refreshing way to bring personality and energy into a space. Whether you're looking to make a dramatic statement or add playful accents, incorporating vibrant hues and striking designs can transform your home into a reflection of your unique style. Here’s how to do it effectively.

A deep pink paint saturates the trim and ceiling plays off the moody wallpaper to create a dramatic and fun powder room.

The Power of Color

Color has a profound impact on mood and atmosphere. While neutral tones create a sense of calm, bright colors like deep blues, rich reds, and sunny yellows can evoke excitement, creativity, and warmth. When used thoughtfully, these hues can add vibrancy without overwhelming a space.

To get started, consider:

Paint: One of the easiest and most transformative ways to introduce color into a space. A fresh coat of paint in a bold shade can dramatically shift the mood of a room. Consider color-blocking techniques, ombre effects, or even painted ceilings for a unique touch.
Furniture Pieces: A brightly colored sofa or statement chair can become the focal point of a living space.
Artwork and Accessories: Colorful artwork, rugs, and decorative pieces offer easy ways to introduce vibrancy without long-term commitment.

Mixing and Matching

Combining bold colors with striking patterns can seem daunting, but a few design principles can help maintain harmony:

Stick to a Color Palette: Choose a few key colors and use them consistently throughout the space to create cohesion.
Vary Scale: Mix large-scale patterns with smaller ones to avoid overwhelming the eye.
Balance with Neutrals: If bold colors and patterns dominate, balance them with neutral furniture or accessories to create visual rest.

Playing with Patterns:

Patterns, whether geometric, floral, or abstract, add depth and interest to interiors. The key to successfully integrating patterns lies in balance and cohesion.

Some ways to incorporate patterns include:

Wallpaper: A bold, patterned wallpaper can transform a room, making it feel dynamic and lively.
Textiles: Mixing patterned throw pillows, curtains, and rugs can create a layered and cohesive look.
Tiling: Intricate tiles in kitchens or bathrooms add personality and artistic flair.

Mixing and Matching:

Combining bold colors with striking patterns can seem daunting, but a few design principles can help maintain harmony:

Stick to a Color Palette: Choose a few key colors and use them consistently throughout the space to create cohesion.
Vary Scale: Mix large-scale patterns with smaller ones to avoid overwhelming the eye.
Balance with Neutrals: If bold colors and patterns dominate, balance them with neutral furniture or accessories to create visual rest.

Making a Statement While Staying Timeless:

If you’re concerned about longevity, consider using bold colors and patterns in ways that can be easily updated. Statement pieces like patterned cushions and vibrant artwork allow you to experiment without a long-term commitment.

At Indigo Alley Interiors, we believe design can be playful and unique while still maintaining a sense of timelessness. Whether you’re ready for a complete transformation or just want to dip your toes into bold design, our expert team is here to guide you every step of the way.

Are you ready to embrace the bold? Contact us today to start your journey toward a more vibrant and expressive home!

2020 is the year that keeps on keeping on, surprising us with every flip of the calendar. Remember way back in March when our kids were sent home from school for distance learning, and we all frantically rushed out to find toilet paper and hand sanitizer? While that was only five months ago, no one would blame you for thinking it had to have happened five years ago.

And now it’s late August, and true to 2020’s theme of everything being unprecedented, Back- to-School has a different look this year. If you’re like many families facing some version of virtual learning, instead of new clothes and backpacks, you’re on the hunt for desks for your tiny colleagues (AKA your kids) to work from home.

Pro Tips:

Consider what your kids will need to have on their desks - laptop, desktop, tablet, mouse, keyboard? Make sure that there is enough space to accommodate their needs.
Adjustable Desks will accommodate different heights and also allow for standing or sitting.
Standing desk converters will allow you to adapt any flat tabletop into a desk.
Do your children have flexible seating at school? (Perhaps they’ve talked about Hokki Stools, Wobble Chairs, Rocker Chairs, or Balance Ball Seats?) Consider replicating this at home, so that your children will be ready to learn in familiar surroundings.
Your children will most likely be spending a lot of time staring at a screen. While blue-light blocking glasses purport to reduce eye strain, experts advise setting up screens at a proper distance and taking plenty of breaks from looking at the screen.
Silence competing sounds from multiple zoom calls and improve your children’s focus with noise-canceling headphones. Puro’s are designed specifically for children.

It can feel like desks are the new TP- with out-of-stock, back-orders, and delayed arrivals the only kind of desks “available” to purchase. But don’t despair, Indigo Alley is here to help you with your tiny office furniture hunt. Here are ten desks designed to fit both your child’s smaller stature and also your décor.

Modern Spirit from Universal Furniture (Contact Indigo Alley Interiors for pricing). The modern spirit desk has a sand and salt sea finish and includes one drawer for storage as a well as a built-in power outlet with USB ports. 50Wx23Dx38H

2. Brooklyn Desk by Oeuf ($575). The desk height is adjustable for growing children up to adult height. Includes removable storage boxes for corralling all of those pens and pencils. 40”Lx24”D

3. Summer Hill Desk by Universal Furniture (Contact Indigo Alley Interiors for pricing). Includes one drawer with removable tray and power outlet with USB port. Size: 52Wx22Dx30H

4. Safeco Alphabetter Desk with Dry Erase Desktop ($324). Adjustable-Height Desk gives students in grades 3-12 the opportunity to sit or stand during the school day and fidget. Patented Swinging Pendulum Footrest/Fidget Bar lets students redirect excess energy and engage in continuous motion to help support ergonomic comfort and cardiovascular health.

5. Short on Space? Try the fold-down Rooney Wall-Mounted Desk from Urban Outfitters ($179). Small desk features a base that folds down when in use from a pull tab and features a fabric backing at interior to pin up your favorite mementos + inspirations. Mounts to wall.24.8”l x 5”w x 18.5”h

6. Postcard Writing Table by Universal Furniture (Contact Indigo Alley Interiors for pricing). Finished in a vibrant Marina hue, the Postcard Writing Table features two spacious drawers, a sleek crisscross base design, and contrasting silver hardware to complete the look. 56W X 26D X 30H

7. Omnizone Height Adjustable Kid’s Standing Desk (On Sale $145.56). This kid's standing desk is height adjustable so it can grow with your child. Manually adjust the height of this desk to accommodate both sitting and standing. The tilt angle on this sit/stand desk makes it easy to setup from different activities like drawing and coloring

8. Pottery Barn Preston Desk ($399) Crafted of poplar, rubberwood, prima vera veneer, and MDF. Desk equipped with two roomy drawers; knobs finished in brushed pewter. 45" wide x 17" deep x 30" high

9. Charlie Writing Desk and Hutch from Pottery Barn ($799). This Craftsman-style desk and hutch include antiqued hardware, a solid hardwood frame and phthalate-, BPA- and lead-free construction make it as stylish and long-lasting as it is healthy for your home. Hutch is designed with 4 storage cubbies and a large cork board with a cord cutout for routing wires. Desk features 2 spacious drawers for storage.

10. Kids at Home Desk and Stool from WFH Desks (On Sale $269). 4 Adjustable Heights to fit your child from ages 5-12. Ergonomically designed to reduce strain and fatigue. Adapts to your child and their equipment. Packs away flat under a bed when disassembled.

About

Catherine McEaddy Holmes is a writer. She lives in Washington DC with her husband, two children, and their puppy Sherlock.

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Let's Talk Color!

Ten Desks for Distance Learning

Pro Tips:

Consider what your kids will need to have on their desks - laptop, desktop, tablet, mouse, keyboard? Make sure that there is enough space to accommodate their needs.

Adjustable Desks will accommodate different heights and also allow for standing or sitting.

Standing desk converters will allow you to adapt any flat tabletop into a desk.

Do your children have flexible seating at school? (Perhaps they’ve talked about Hokki Stools, Wobble Chairs, Rocker Chairs, or Balance Ball Seats?) Consider replicating this at home, so that your children will be ready to learn in familiar surroundings.

Your children will most likely be spending a lot of time staring at a screen. While blue-light blocking glasses purport to reduce eye strain, experts advise setting up screens at a proper distance and taking plenty of breaks from looking at the screen.

Silence competing sounds from multiple zoom calls and improve your children’s focus with noise-canceling headphones. Puro’s are designed specifically for children.

Indigo Alley Interiors