Decorating & Design
September 25, 2024
The Rise Of Patterned Drapes
In the homes we have featured in recent years, there seems to be an almost unwritten rule: the drapes must be white. White drapes are crisp and airy, and unlikely to pull focus from similarly minimalist elements of the look including white walls, white oak floors and sculptural furniture. But in response to the popularity of maximalist, layered decorating, patterned drapes are mounting a revival.
Patterned drapes are a functional way to add richness without taking up as much visual space as wallpaper. Scroll through to see some inspiring examples from bold designers like Natalie Tredgett, Anne Hepfer and more.
In this century lakehouse designed by Lynda Reeves, paisley drapes break up the tonal looks of the walls and wainscotting and softens all the lines from the panelling.
Blue drapes and bedding are a cool counterpoint to the wood panelling in this lakehouse bedroom. The mix of prints creates a global effect that’s rich.
A vintage-style skirted dressing table with matching drapes is a charming moment in this principal ensuite.
Deep teal walls are high-gloss to reflect and maximize light in this London townhouse. The drapes’ vertical lines are given a twist with a lush gathered treatment at the top.
“I try to put a bit of chintz in each project I do,” says designer Natalie Tredgett. “It’s even better next to a contemporary piece.” Similarly, she chose a cool abstracted leaf pattern for the drapes, an alternative to classic floral drapes. “I like contrasting patterns — modern mixed with traditional, straight lines and wavy, small with supersized.”
“I always like a little punk with my pretty,” says designer Tommy Smythe of TOM Design, referring to details like custom graphic drapes in this home’s living room. Bold strokes of black on a white ground pick up the tones of the fireplace and windows, and shake up the demure pastel palette and pink sofa.
A leafy micro-print and green walls give this bedroom a restful, calm vibe in this newly built home. The print drapes are grounded by pale, solid walls.
In a room with contemporary furniture, striped drapes keep the look clean. Pulling out the bright yellow from the chairs and navy from the ceiling, these drapes tie the palette together. “I guess you could say the chairs are an Anne Hepfer move,” says designer Anne Hepfer. “We kept the table and rug simple and quiet to let the other elements speak to each other.”
This punchy damask drapery livens up mod white furniture in a dining room, adding a lush softness to the groovy, minimal shapes. “This space is a bit of a throwback,” says Anne, referencing the Saarinen chairs in the breakfast room. “I used the rug as a canvas to make the sculptural shape of the chairs stand out.”
In this dining room, bold pattern and color take center stage with GP & J Baker’s Hydrangea Bird fabric drapes. “I love chinoiserie, but I knew it had to be used sparingly — a little goes a long way,” says designer Kyle Timothy Blood of his PEI home. A whimsical fabric and saturated yellow on the walls make a strong pairing.
Designer Cynthia Ferguson is known for her embrace of a bold fabrics, and she uses them to great effect in this zesty green family room, where the window’s green trim picks up on tones in the floral drapery in a preppy pink and green.
“In a small room, repetition is important to keep the patterns from overwhelming,” says designer Cynthia Ferguson of her bedroom. The chinoiserie-style drape fabric is applied to the headboard as well, and shows off the intricacy of this lively scenic print.
This print of an abstracted flame-stitch is blown up large, for a dynamic effect that’s gutsy enough to balance the sofa’s pattern. Pink grasscloth-covered ceilings, blue walls and a custom sofa are true maximalist moves in the living room.
The matching headboard and wallpaper melt together in this bedroom, so Cynthia Ferguson breaks things up with a graphic sgraffito drapery to contrast the curving fig leaves.
These long linen drapes are trimmed in a panel of block-print damask, to complement the spectacular city views and 12-foot-high ceilings in this midtown Toronto apartment.