Have you always wanted to experiment with colours and patterns in your home? The year 2023 is the perfect time to take the plunge.
Paint brands and colour experts worldwide have curated bolder and significantly more vibrant colour palettes for this year, influenced by the population raring to go for an adventure after being cooped up during the pandemic.
Content
- Binary Style: Founded in 2015
- How to use patterns in interior design
- How to mix & match patterns for home decor
- 2023 Colours of The Year
![img_7879-copy-683x1024-1](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/img_7879-copy-683x1024-1.jpg)
Need help figuring out where to start? We quizzed Santhi and Sari Tunas, the twin founders of the lifestyle brand Binary Style, for some tips.
Binary Style Singapore: Founded in 2015
Founded in 2015, Binary Style specialises in “conversational prints” – unapologetically colourful prints that combine natural and architectural elements that tell the story of Singapore.
Starting out with collections of scarves, Binary Style prints are now available as clothing, upholstery, home decor and jewellery. We’ve asked the twins to share more.
How to use patterns in interior design?
Many homeowners fear adding patterns to their home interior because they could look dated quickly. How can homeowners use prints and patterns safely in their homes?
The key would be to avoid trends as they come and go. Stick to something that you are genuinely interested in, something that – to quote Marie Kondo – sparks joy. This way, you will always appreciate it. It will always be meaningful, and thus timeless, to you.
![img_0695-576x1024-1](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/img_0695-576x1024-1.jpg)
Scene Shang’s Paramour screen featuring Binary Style’s Nutmeg print velvet
Start small. We recommend selecting one piece of furniture – a sofa, an armchair or an ottoman – that you already have in your home and reupholstering that with print. This piece will be your design anchor. We love using print upholstery; it gives character to your room.
You can then choose to add other objects to act as supporting characters. These should follow the same colour theme as the anchor piece. For example, you add patterns to the wall with wallpaper, or if you want something less permanent, you may get a wall tapestry or a framed print.
Another small but impactful way is adding patterned cushions. We love layering many cushions on our sofas. Don’t be afraid to clash prints!
![ss_q4_flfd_bs_dsc_0650-1024x684-1](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ss_q4_flfd_bs_dsc_0650-1024x684-1.jpg)
Interior Design: How to mix and match patterns for home decor?
There are two strategies to approach pattern matching (or clashing):
The first strategy is to have a general theme. For example, if you choose “nature” as the theme, you can combine botanical and animal prints for a bold tropical jungle look, or if you are a bird lover, you can combine various bird prints with different scales or colours. Just make sure the colour schemes work!
The second strategy is to choose a specific colour as an anchor. Say you select red as the anchor. Then you can choose other prints that have red elements. This way, you can play with different thematic prints. For example: combining a chevron pattern with floral and abstract prints that feature a family of red shades, the result can be unique and playful.
![ss_2019_blossoming_abundance_dsc_4586_sq_1024x1024-web-1](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ss_2019_blossoming_abundance_dsc_4586_sq_1024x1024-web-1.jpg)
2023’s Colours of The Year: Bold shades of raspberry, dark green, magenta
Do you think people will follow and take risks with their home decor colours?
Yes, definitely. We increasingly see bolder shades in fashion and homeware. The possible reason behind this could be the life-changing effect of the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns.
Life is gradually returning to (new) normal, and people are more aware of the importance of expressing their individualities. We observe this daily in our studio. Customers gravitate to bolder prints and colours.
Life is too short to conform to the masses. Nonconformity has become the new philosophy of life, which translates to many aspects of our lives, such as their colour choices.
While our focus remains on prints and fabric, we will also expand our apparel and homeware offerings. We notice that there has been an increasing demand for them since the pandemic. Singaporeans are keener to experiment with prints to add more zest to their houses today.
What makes a good home decor collaboration?
You have collaborated with many brands and personalities. What do you look for in you collaborations?
We like to partner with those who can push the boundary of our design application. Recently, DesignSingapore Council commissioned us to adapt our designs for video mapping light projection called Terrarium for Singapore Night Festival 2022.
It is really exciting to see how your designs transform across different media. We learned new things by working on this formerly unexplored medium, which certainly gave us new ideas for future projects.
Another one of our greatest collaborators is Daniel Boey, who is also one of our biggest supporters. He continuously pushes us to do more and go further, out of our comfort zone, opening our eyes to new possibilities. Such collaborations are priceless!