Geometrics

Love geometric wallpaper? Use it to create a fabulous look with these simple rules.

• Large-scale graphic prints work particularly well in a contemporary scheme or a post-1960s home, while smaller, more subtle patterns are a good choice if you have more traditional furnishings or live in a period house.

• Take into account scale when you are decorating. A big print used on all the walls in a small room or one with low ceilings is too much, so use it sparingly or consider using a smaller scale or simpler graphic design.

• Geometrics have come a long way since they were first popular in the 1960s and 1970s. To recreate that look, go for wallpapers in browns, oranges and greens. For a less retro scheme, choose colours that are fashionable now, such as chocolate with pink.

• Avoid having furniture and furnishings that fight with the print. You don’t have to restrict yourself to ultra-modern styles, but sticking to pieces in one kind of wood or one plain colour – such as white or black – will help avoid an over-cluttered look.

• Tape a large sample of the geometric paper you like to the wall and leave it for a few days to make sure you can live with it.

Chosen by House to home

From the publishers of