My old boss told me to never use a bold pattern in a small room, but I just did.

He said it would make the space feel closed in and busy, so for years I stuck to safe, solid colors. Last month, a client in Denver really wanted a big floral print for her tiny bathroom, and I went for it. We used a single accent wall with the pattern and kept everything else simple and light. The room actually feels bigger now because the pattern draws your eye in and adds depth. Has anyone else found that breaking the 'small room, small pattern' rule can work?

3 comments

3 Comments

dylan233mo ago

Ever notice how the strictest rules are often the ones that need breaking the most?

derek9393mo ago

Wait, are you talking about like actual laws or just school rules?

-1

sage_lewis102mo ago

Respectfully @derek939, I gotta push back here. I think it's both actually - the rules at school often mirror the laws outside, or at least the same kind of thinking. Like, I remember my high school had this rule against wearing hats in the hallways, and the principal would go on about respect and conformity. That's the same logic as some stupid city ordinance about loitering or noise complaints. But yeah, I do think some rules are there for a reason, even if they're annoying. The trick is figuring out which ones are just about control and which ones keep people safe.