Advertisement
  • Newsletter
  • Subscribe
Home Decor

8 ideas for bold and fearless interiors

Stacey Cohen and Jessica Helgerson give their best tips for decorating with busy wallpaper, patterned tiles and inky paint. Make a room bold and fearless.
black-wall-paint-colours-dark-inky

Design, Stacey Cohen. Photo, Sian Richards.

Bold and Fearless

Choose animated wallpaper

Toronto designer Stacey Cohen was thrilled when her client presented her with this wild wallpaper. To pull it all together, she made it the key design element in the room and repeated the cobalt-blue colour throughout the space.rnrnTip: Place a console table behind a sofa. It only takes up a few inches of space, but gives you an extra place to store books, display art and rest a drink.rnrnDesign, Stacey Cohen. Sofa, Jonathan Adler. Coffee table, sculptures, Elte.

living-room-lounge-zebra-wallpaper-pattern-blue-boldDesign, Stacey Cohen. Photo, Sian Richards.

Bring life to your walls

We asked Stacey how she workds with busy wallpaper. "You need to make it the key element in the design. This doesn’t mean you can’t introduce other patterns and textures, but they should complement the wallpaper, not compete with it. I find that working with tones of one colour, rather than several different colours, helps achieve a feeling of coherency."rnrnMarimekko II Iltavilli wallpaper, $199 per roll, Modern Karibou.

wallpaper-cow-illustration-animal-patternPhoto, Modern Karibou.

Look to nature for patterns

Find a jumping off point that will help guide your design. It can be anything you like, such as a favourite fabric, a piece of artwork or even wallpaper.rnrnStarglint wallpaper, $150 per roll, Flavor Paper.

wallpaper-waves-water-reflection-starlight-blue-whitePhoto, Flavor Paper.

Make a statement with geometric motifs

"Even the busiest walls need a bit of artwork," Stacey assures.rnrnEnigma White and Prussian Blue wallpaper by Kelly Hoppen, $85 per roll, Graham & Brown.

Advertisement
wallpaper-circle-overlapping-pattern-blue-whitePhoto, Graham & Brown.

Put the emphasis on floors with patterns

Committing to a graphic floor tile takes guts, but the payoff is huge. The designer of this room, Jessica Helgerson, chose a Morocco-inspired cement floor tile for this kitchen. “The bold decision in this space was to embrace high contrast, both in the dark cabinets playing against the pale ceiling and in the highly patterned floor tiles,” says Jessica. Accented with brass, the look is timeless and elegant.rnrnDesign, Jessica Helgerson.

kitchen-vintage-library-books-appliances-pattern-tilesProject designer, Em Shephard. Photo, Lincoln Barbour.

Make what's underfoot a focal point

“It makes me happy when I see spaces that are not generic or safe but courageously reflect the inhabitants’ story, their interests, their life," says Jessica Helgerson.rnrnFez tile, $7, Granada Tile. Big Dane tile, $12 per square foot, Clé Tile. Maison tile, $28 per square foot, Mosaic House.

floor-tiles-tiling-black-and-white-pattern

Create instant drama with inky walls

The quickest way to transform a room is with paint. Going dark reduces visible shadows and makes everything you put against it more vibrant and luxurious. Opt for a dark paint that has a few subtle undertones in it to stop it from appearing too flat.rnrnTip: Add a dynamic light fixture to complement a striking design scheme.

dining-room-black-walls-patterned-rugPhoto, Armelle Habib/Taverne Agency.

Add depth with dark colours

Stacey Cohen suggests, "For a monochromatic look, paint the trim the same colour as the wall. To make it pop, paint it a contrasting colour."rnrnMidnight Velvet, $50 for 4L, Home Hardware. Ebony Slate, $48 for 4L, Benjamin Moore. Studio Green, $95 per gallon, Farrow & Ball.rnrnGet more: How to coordinate a show-stopping sofa.

Advertisement
black-wall-paint-colours-dark-inky

The very best of Chatelaine straight to your inbox.

By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.

Chatelaine celebrates, inspires, informs and empowers. We know that Canadian women contain multitudes, and we cover all of the issues—big and small—that matter to them, from climate change to caregiving, Canadian fashion and what to cook now.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Copy link
The cover of Chatelaine magazine's spring 2025 issue, reading "weekend prep made easy"; "five delicious weeknight meals", "plus, why you'll never regret buying an air fryer"; "save money, stay stylish how to build a capsule wardrobe" and "home organization special" along with photos of burritos, chicken and rice and white bean soup, quick paella in a dutch oven, almost-instant Thai chicken curry and chicken broccoli casserole in an enamelled cast-iron skillet

Subscribe to Chatelaine!

Want to streamline your life? In our Spring 2025 issue, we’ll show you how—whether it’s paring down your wardrobe, decluttering your messiest spaces or spending way less time cooking thanks to an easy, mostly make-ahead meal plan for busy weeknights. Plus, our first annual Pantry Awards.