Interior design is more than just creating aesthetically pleasing spaces; it’s about crafting environments that reflect our personalities and evoke joy. And what better way to achieve this than embracing playful patterns and designs? Join us as we explore how to create a home that sparks imagination and makes you smile every time you walk through the door.
(Featured in image: walls – Little Greene Balance wallpaper in Portland Stone, door – Little Greene Portland Stone (77) Paint).
Playful Designs Explained
Playful designs are all about igniting your inner child. Think vibrant colours, whimsical patterns, unexpected textures, and furniture with a touch of the unconventional. Childhood tales, magical adventures, nostalgic toys, cars and wildlife are often the source of inspiration, evoking a sense of fun, comfort and familiarity for adults and children alike. These designs are great for creating lighthearted spaces where laughter, creativity and imagination can thrive.
Whilst playful prints and patterns lend themselves beautifully to playrooms, nurseries and other children’s settings, they can extend far beyond this, subtly weaving in playful touches that add character and charm throughout your home. The beauty of playful interior design is that it can be adapted to any style. Whether you prefer a minimalist, maximalist, bohemian, or traditional aesthetic, you can always find ways to incorporate playful elements that complement your existing décor. And with a host of fun fabrics, wallpapers and accessories available, the possibilities are truly endless!
Fabrics
At The Home Of Interiors, we are proud to offer a fabulous choice of playful designs within our extensive fabric portfolio. Bring the imagination to life with stunning scenes and motifs from some of the top fabric houses, beautifully crafted to stimulate joy and wonder.
The new Picturebook II collection by Villa Nova is simply breathtaking. From delightful dreamlands and mythical creatures to enchanting woodlands, jungle safaris and underwater seascapes, this exciting range is nothing short of imagination. Vibrant polka dots, stripes and sprinkles also feature for a splash of playful pattern and colour that can stand alone or pair effortlessly with other fabrics in the range. Made in collaboration with renowned children’s illustrators, the Picturebook II collection helps bring the magic of storybooks to life with an array of playful prints, embroideries and sheer qualities. Whilst designed for children’s interiors, many of the patterns can be enjoyed throughout the home on a beautifully whimsical cushion or made to measure window dressing.
Alternatively, you could consider the superb Disney Home for Sanderson fabric collection, specially created to commemorate 100 years of Disney. A celebration of all things fun and magical, this authentic range combines archival Sanderson designs with some of Disney’s most iconic and renowned characters such as Mickey and Minnie Mouse, inspired by original animation stills, posters, brochures, film scenes and character guidelines. Available in vintage colour ways, the fabrics present playful design in a traditional and nostalgic style for a timeless feel that appeals to the whole family! Simply add to a dining room, kitchen or bedroom for a touch of joyful charm and whimsy. We particularly love the Mickey Stripe fabric, shown below (image 1) in the Humbug colour way.
Other great playful collections include Harlequin’s Book of Little Treasures and the Big Adventure range by Prestigious Textiles. The Ian Mankin Embroidered Union Spot and Embroidered Union Star fabrics also work well, as does the Emily Bond for Ashley Wilde Somerset St Maws fabric for fun and useable, small scale motifs that sit effortlessly in any scheme. Explore our full fabric range here.
Wallpapers
Extend playful pattern to your walls with a beautifully immersive wallcovering. A fun and joyful wallpaper has the power to uplift a room scheme and add instant character, whether it’s through a feature wall or an all over look.
Feel inspired with the new Storybook Papers collection by Little Greene, made in collaboration with the National Trust. A light-hearted adventure into childhoods past, this delightful range takes us on a trip down memory lane, inspired by historic artefacts and original artworks found in cherished historic houses. Imagine walls adorned with playful illustrations of vintage toys, charming animals, and scenes from classic children’s stories. This wallpaper collection brings a touch of nostalgia and happiness to any space, whether it’s a child’s bedroom, a cosy reading nook, or even a whimsical living room for the whole family to enjoy. Shown opposite is the Road Trip wallpaper in Pleat, paired with the Board Stripe wallpaper in Pleat and the co-ordinating Pleat paint by Little Greene.
The Villa Nova Picturebook II, Disney Home for Sanderson and Harlequin Book of Little Treasures collections also feature gorgeous playful wallpapers that perfectly complement the fabrics for a cohesive look. For a soft playful effect, consider the Villa Nova Far Far Away (image 1 below), Bubbles or Twinkle Twinkle wallpapers. The Harlequin Funky Jungle, Garden Friends (image 2 below) and Into the Meadow wallpapers are some other great choices, alongside the Disney Home for Sanderson Bambi and Hundred Acre Wood wallcoverings. Alternatively, if you’d prefer to make a bold, immersive statement, you could opt for a striking, scenic mural. Fly up into the sky with the Peter Pan (image 3 below) and Mickey in the Clouds wall murals, embark on a woodland adventure with the Once Upon a Time and Busy Buzzy murals by Villa Nova or dive into an underwater world with Harlequin’s Above and Below or Villa Nova’s Coral Kingdom designs.
Our wallpaper range also features designer patterns and prints with a playful edge from the likes of Laura Ashley, Cath Kidston and Joules. Shop our full wallpaper collection here. Pair with fun and uplifting paint tones that work cohesively with the playful wallpaper patterns to complete the look.
Roller Blinds
If you’re looking for effective room shading solutions, you could also consider a bespoke, made to measure roller blind. Functional fabrics with playful patterns and prints are available to uplift your window treatment. We particularly love the Night Night Glow in the Dark roller blind from Louvolite (shown below), reminiscent of a starry night. The blackout fabric features a stylish grey design and is a great choice for children’s bedrooms to promote a calming sleep environment. Explore our full range of blind fabrics from Louvolite, New House Textiles, Clarke & Clarke and Prestigious Textiles for further inspiration.
Rugs
A lighthearted rug can provide the perfect finishing touches to your room, adding character, warmth and visual interest. The Spike (see image below), Mr Fox, Leopard Dots and Kelda rugs by Scion are some beautiful examples that can inject a touch of playful personality into any space. Whether you make it the focal point or pair with other fun designs for a whimsical scheme, a rug is a simple yet effective addition to home interiors.
Styling Tips for the Perfect Playful Scheme
- Pattern play: Embrace patterns that make you happy. Combine fun quirky designs with playful polka dots, stripes or even animal prints. Mix and match patterns carefully, ensuring they complement each other through scale and colour palette. Co-ordinating plains in complementing colours can also help to make the designs pop whilst pulling together a scheme that works together tonally throughout your space.
- Colour is your playground: Don’t be afraid to experiment with bold hues. A pop of sunshine yellow in the kitchen, a vibrant teal accent wall in the living room, or a playful mix of pastel shades in the bedroom can instantly lift the mood. Consider using colour drenching techniques for a modern and dynamic look.
- Texture, texture, texture: Texture adds depth and interest to any space. Consider incorporating tactile elements like fluffy rugs or embroidered cushions. Playing with different textures can create a more engaging and stimulating environment.
- Furniture with a twist: Look for furniture pieces that are both functional and fun. A brightly coloured sofa, a whimsical armchair, or a quirky side table can add a playful touch to your space. Consider vintage or upcycled furniture for unique and characterful pieces.
- Art that sparks joy: Choose artwork that makes you smile. This could be anything from abstract paintings with vibrant colours to quirky illustrations or even playful sculptures. Don’t be afraid to display your children’s artwork or other personal treasures.
- Lighting with personality: Lighting is a crucial element in any space, and it can also be a great way to add a playful touch. Consider using colourful lampshades, whimsical light fixtures, or even string lights to create a fun and inviting atmosphere.
The Home Of Interiors Inspiration
There are various ways you can style playful patterns within your home. Creating mood boards is a superb starting point and can help to build, visualise and ensure all the elements of your scheme work cohesively together. To kickstart your creativity, we’ve pulled together a couple of stylish mood boards using some of our favourite designs for additional inspiration and ideas. Take a closer look below.
Playful Texture
Our first mood board focuses on a single playful design, enhanced by textural layering techniques to create a lighthearted scheme enriched with depth and interest. Here, the luxurious Temperley London x Romo Delilah wallpaper in the Boudoir colour way takes centre stage. This design exudes playful opulence with mystical creatures brought to life in a stunning metallic finish.
The Aikana (colour ref Lotus) and Sula (colour ref Serandite) fabrics from the Romo Zolani collection pair beautifully with this wallpaper, as does the Villa Nova Barcelona Velvet in Cashew and Russet. These fabrics complement the design tonally whilst bringing richness and tactility to the scheme. The Harlequin x Henry Holland Elsworthy fabric in Oatmeal also works well with its delightful texture. Simply use for accent cushions or a beautiful window dressing.
For finishing touches, we’ve included the Rolls Museum 45mm wooden curtain pole with ball finials in the Satin Oyster colour way, picking up on the gorgeous metallic accents within the wallpaper. The Temperley London x Romo Tassel Fringe Trim (colour ref Sienna), Leopard Braid (colour ref Sienna) and Leopard Velvet Braid (colour ref Umber) tie the look together effortlessly through cohesive colour and luxurious texture.
Pattern Mixing
Our second mood board takes a different approach to playful styling, mixing lots of different fun patterns for maximum impact. We’ve started with the spectacular Disney Home for Sanderson Alice in Wonderland fabric (colour ref Puddle Blue). Featuring original Disney artwork and characters from the Alice in Wonderland film, this design is the epitome of playful charm and personality.
Watch the whimsical wonderland come to life with the Ian Mankin Ticking Stripe 1 fabric in Rustic Petrol Blue, Rustic Spruce and Rustic Claret. This co-ordinates well with the print, delivering a timeless look that picks up on colour accents for cohesion and flow. The Prestigious Textiles Whisp fabric also serves as a complementary plain in the Linen and Willow colour ways to tie the look together. For an additional element of fun that can extend to the walls, we’ve introduced the GP & J Baker Poppy Sprig wallpaper in the Aqua/Blush, Aqua and Ochre colour ways. This complements the Alice in Wonderland fabric in terms of scale and colour, enhancing the playful theme. To complete the look, consider a painted wooden curtain pole that works tonally. Here, we’ve chosen the Laura Ashley Ribbed Ball 35mm wooden curtain pole in Dark Slate and the Laura Ashley 48mm bespoke painted curtain pole with rose finials in the Dark Blush finish.
Overview
If your style resonates with fun, quirky interiors that exude joy and character, playful patterns could be your perfect go to. From cute and creative children’s prints to timelessly nostalgic pieces, our lighthearted designs will inject personality and charm into any space for the whole family to enjoy!
If you’re embarking on a home project and would like any help, advice or samples sending out, please do get in touch. We offer a complimentary bespoke design service where we can provide fabric, design and paint colour advice to help you pull a full room solution together. We can also make up your perfect window dressings with our bespoke, made to measure curtain and roman blind making service.
Email sales@thehomeofinteriors.co.uk or call us on 01590 615775.
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