Year after year, summertime invites a slew of expressive, playful design trends that capture our collective imagination. From this year’s fixation on pops of red and retro, vintage-inspired outdoor furniture to last year’s affinity for the Tomato Girl Summer aesthetic and all things Italian, it’s clear that warm weather has a way of lifting the spirits and inviting you to evolve your design aesthetic (and personal style) in fun, unexpected ways.

This year, we’re noticing one clear trend emerging ahead of summer 2024: pops of pattern. While pattern in general has been making a slow but steady comeback in the last few years — thanks in part to the rising popularity of traditional design — we predict that it will hit its peak this summer and continue into the rest of 2024.

“Thanks to the design world’s collective love of all things mid-century modern and Scandinavian minimal five to 10 years ago, pattern rarely went outside the realm of subtle stripes or geometric motifs,” says lead Havenly designer Heather Goerzen. “And now, it appears we’re going all in — vintage-inspired floral and bold animal prints we wouldn’t have even considered five or so years ago are slowly going more mainstream. Nothing is off limits!

From bold botanicals and eye-catching antelope to retro banana leaf and striking poolside cabana stripes, pattern is quickly becoming a hallmark of elevated, enviable homes.  Whether you prefer a pop of pattern via throw pillows or an eye-catching patterned sofa, it’s an effortless, surefire way to add personality and individuality to your space.

How to play with pattern in your home

For the pattern novice

If you’re just dipping your toe into the world of pattern, our designers recommend testing the waters with inexpensive accents that you can swap out as you see fit, like throw pillows and blankets, ottomans, and peel-and-stick wallpaper. “Start with something classic, like a ticking stripe or a subtle geometric print, and stick with a color palette you’re comfortable with,” adds Heather. To mix patterns like a pro, remember: opposites attract. “Pair a solid with a bold animal print, or a clean stripe with something more whimsical, like a soft floral. This mix creates contrast and creates a dynamic vignette.”

For the inner maximalist

Photo credit: The Inside

If you love the Grandmillennial trend or cottagecore style, welcome home. Add pattern into your home via printed sofas, accent seating, ottomans, wallpaper, rugs, curtains, throw pillows, and the like — nothing is off limits! But, to create a space that feels collected and elevated instead of chaotic, the same general rules apply. “Mix opposite prints together for a dynamic look, vary the scale and size so no two prints are matchy-matchy, and stick to a tight color palette to give the look some continuity,” says Heather. For example, pair an ornate, traditional-style rug with striped throw pillows in the same color family for visual balance.

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