Don’t you just love a gorgeous paisley print?

• Resembling a twisted teardrop, the kidney shaped paisley is Iranian and Indian in origin, but its western name derives from the town of  Paisley,  in central Scotland.
• In Tamil the design is known as mankolam and has long been used in India. It resembles a mango and has sometimes been associated with Hinduism.
• In Persian, the design is known as “”boteh jegheh” and has long been used in Iran since the Sassanid Dynasty. 

-Quoted from wikipedia.

Paisley is a timeless classic. The South Asian tear drop-shaped motif is based on mangoes of the region and suggests bounty and fulfillment.

The bold, spiral pattern may be an intimidating choice when decorating a home, but the contemporary versions of paisley are not even close to the pattern on a grandma’s shawls.

Pottery Barn

  

Whether it’s wall art, wall covering, or wall decals, adding paisley to the walls is a fun way to incorporate its allure.

Try to avoid pairing paisley with other patterns – the pattern print is statement enough without adding anything else. 

As far as color goes, though the traditional shades appear in reds, burgundies and golds, don’t be afraid to try paisley in unconventional colors like blue, yellow or even pink.

You can hang oversized paisley-patterned wallpaper in an office or study for a modern feel.  Or you can choose to go with soft colors or tone-on-tone patterns to keep the space clean and distinctive.

 

Still feeling a little intimidated by the power of paisley? Here are some tips to help you use the bold pattern in your home:

• If a large surface is covered in paisley,
keep the rest of the room’s decor neutral.
Beige and gray are safe bets, or pick
one shade from the pattern to use as an
accent.
• Whether it’s a little paisley or a lot, try
to limit a room’s paisley quotient to one
general location: one piece of furniture,
one accent wall, etc.
• Paisley patterns range from very small,
which appear more conservative, to exaggerated
and bohemian versions.  Consider
the scale of a given space, but don’t
be afraid to use a bold pattern in a small
room, such as a large paisley print in a
powder room.

Houzz

Another way to bring  just a ‘pop’ of paisley in a room is using art work for the walls:

 Just beautiful!  Do you like working with paisley prints?  Which pattern/colors above is your favorite?  I really love that first dress, the second photo and the last pastel picture.  Wait!!  I like them all except the traditional print with the burgundy and gold.  Comments?

If you need help making your home beautiful and happy, contact me today!

Other topics you might enjoy:

Choosing Neutrals Like the Pros

Using a Bold Paint Color

Using the 60-30-10 Color Rule

Mixing Patterned Fabrics

 

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