Pattern Sandwiching: A New Approach to Maximalist Design
The writing’s on the wall: Basic, neutral partitions are so last year. As the design pendulum continues to sit on the maximalist end of the spectrum, can’t-miss colors and whimsy prints have never been more in demand.
Layering Patterns for Dynamic Spaces
Some people accent these bold touches—others drench—but consider this your sign to embrace pattern sandwiching. Yes, you read that correctly. For years, color and pattern have seemingly been at odds. One bold element makes an impact, but wouldn’t both be overwhelming? Not necessarily, say designers.
The pros have found a happy medium by juxtaposing a color-drenched room with a sliver of wallpaper. (In sandwich speak: A painted trim, wainscoting, and ceiling are the proverbial bread, while a really great repeat is the design-equivalent of prosciutto or an aged-to-perfection gouda.) According to Heather French, principal and creative director of French & French Interiors in Santa Fe, pattern sandwiching offers the best of both worlds, crafting a space that’s “genuinely lived-in and warm.” “It’s more about layering across those surfaces to create a dynamic, conversational colorway,” she says. “Pattern sandwiching moves the eye through the room in a way that feels energizing and sets the tone for everything else.”
A bedroom by French & French Interiors. Photo: Jenna Peffley Clara Jung—founder of Banner Day Interiors in Berkeley, California, and author of Storied Homes: Designs from Banner Day Interiors—says the pairing gives you a “curated” look that ultimately gives a room “rhythm,” not attention-grabbing saturation. Color and pattern pack on the personality—and French says that’s kind of the point. Since it’s virtually impossible to keep up with every microtrend on social media, people are embracing their individuality in a way French hasn’t seen in a long time. “They're inspired by what's trending, yes, but they want to make it their own,” she adds. “The wallpaper-plus-paint combination unlocks endless possibilities that feel genuinely personal.”
Bonus points: Compared to full-blown color-drenching, sandwiching is a baby step. “A lot of people love the look [of color-drenching], but hesitate at the leap,” explains Jung. “Sandwiching gives you the same sense of intention and envelopment, but with built-in breathing room.” The result, she says, reads “considered, not risky.” A hallway by Banner Day Interiors. Photo: Christopher Stark
If you want to take a bite out of the pattern sandwiching phenomenon, Jung recommends starting small: Compact spaces such as a powder room or scullery are “forgiving, and the payoff is immediate.” Meanwhile, French encourages you to suss out the room’s “emotional direction.” “Always start by considering the room as a whole,” she explains. “What is it asking for? A moment of drama, something more light and playful?” Once the space and sentiment are set, it’s time to choose a fabulous wallpaper. Since pattern sandwiching isn’t exactly for decorating wallflowers, color (and lots of it) is welcomed. “I find color-forward papers work better than tonal ones,” Jung notes. “You want a pattern with enough color to pull from.” Jung recommends the whimsy of House of Hackney’s repeats, while French looks to prints from Pierre Frey, Sister Parish, and Soane Britain. (To narrow down your search, take a look at Vogue’s comprehensive guide to the very best, pro-approved wallpaper brands.) Palette is crucial, but so is proportion. “Match the scale of the repeat to the size of the room and the amount of wall the paper actually gets,” Jung shares. “A large repeat in a small room, or on a narrow band of wall, ends up cropping the pattern so you never read it properly.” Indecisive decorators can test the waters by ordering a larger wallpaper sample and living with it for a week. The paint color that encircles the wallpaper is important, but Chloe Redmond Warner says the bread should be the least exciting part of this sandwich. “We are always looking for a soft landing for wallpapers,” says Warner, who is the principal of Redmond Aldrich Design in Berkeley and author of