A Home Decor Trend for Scrapbooking: Mix Stripes and Punchy Floral Patterns

Home decor trends can be a good source of ideas for scrapbook page design.

Julie Rogowski of the Boston Decorating Center says that when it comes to home decorating currently, the emphasis is changing from ‘Where can I save the most money’ to ‘What’s the perfect piece that totally reflects me.’ She says, “People are now looking at their homes and making them more of a reflection of their day-to-day activities.”

One of the trends evident from 2013 decor products is punchy flowers with stripes.  See how our team used this pattern combo on their pages, and, if you want more info on mixing patterns check out these articles:

• Choosing and Mixing Floral Print Patterned Papers on Scrapbook Pages
• Ideas for Scrapbooking with Patterned Paper: Dots and Stripes
• 5 ways to make bold patterned paper work on your scrapbook pages

Adryane Driscoll says, “There is a lot of energy when you combine stripes with bold floral patterns.  The energy they create worked well with the movement in this photo: the ripples in the water, the windswept look of my son, and the way my son is following along behind his dad.”

“While I would use bold florals in my home, I find stripes difficult to look at for long periods of time.  I chose the floral patterned paper here first, for its tones that were masculine and that went with a beach theme.”

Debbie Hodge says, “These photos are from a loud and competitive game of Settlers of Catan played on Christmas Day.” I used a punchy floral and coordinating stripe in small quantities. I chose them because they set a bright, fun tone, but I didn’t use big chunks of the paper because my photos were busy, and I knew i’d also need room for title and journaling. This paper is from a digital holiday kit and the pattern reminds me of the illustrations in the Christmas Stories by Jan Brett (“Trouble With Trolls” and “Wild Christmas Reindeer”) that my kids loved when they were younger.”

Ashley Horton says, “We made a visit to the Pumpkin Patch this year, and I knew I wanted to use a darkwood grain background.  The page needed a punch of color and pattern to balance out the heavy wood grain, and a floral print and stripes do this work well.  I love the linear contrast of the stripes mixed with the random pattern of the floral pattern.”

Deborah Wagner says, “This is a photo of my nephew going to prom. The bright floral and striped patterns were perfect for the photo. The background floral pattern coordinates with his pink vest and makes the page pop; while the black and white stripes maintain the masculine feel. I mix stripes and floral patterns on my scrapbook pages often. I use them in my decorating, too. I love the look of striped upholstery with floral accents.”

Sue Althouse says, ” This page is about celebrating my birthday with our family at the beach. Both the photos and patterned paper convey the fun and energy of the occasion. At our beach house we have bright colors on the walls, furniture and decor. While I use these bold colors in smaller doses in my own home, there are perfect in larger amounts for a vacation house with the ocean in your backyard. Choosing a coordinated product line takes the guess work out of mixing patterns and colors. This collection contains a pleasing variety of stripes and florals in bright, “punchy” colors. I especially like the white and grey backgrounds of the papers for the contrast they provide.”

Stefanie Semple says, “This page captures my 13-year-old daughter right now with recent everyday moment photos and a few lines of journaling about her interests and activities. The bright floral and pinky striped patterns are representative of what she likes and surrounds herself with. I love florals and stripes and would decorate my home with them in a subtler colour scheme since I enjoy a more mellow and muted feel to my surroundings.”

Michelle Houghton says, “This page is as simple and straightforward as a family photo gets.  This is us to a ‘T,’ a silly pile on the floor.  The fun, bright, bold patterned papers were perfect to highlight the photo and simplicity of the fun family shot. I think I would use this in my office or a personal space just for me, since the playfulness makes me smile. I knew I wanted to use the big bold flowers with the photo.  The colors complimented the warm, playful feel of the shot as well as the colors in it.”

Leah Farquharson says, “I love mixing stripes with florals. Honestly, I think it’s how I’m able to make layouts about my guys that include florals. It keeps them from being too girlie.”

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