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Posted on: December 8, 2010

Pretty in Paisley

From India to John Lennon to the living room – paisley is the hot retro pattern that packs a punch

By Angie Jaime
CTW Features

Size matters: Hang oversized paisley-patterned wallpaper in an office or study for a modern feel. Go with soft colors or tone-on-tone patterns to keep the space clean and distinctive. Image courtesy Koessel Studios

Mixed emotions: Get playful, whimsy or sophisticated with pops of paisley in jewel tones or in a pastel palette.

There’s nothing trendier than a retro resurgence, and paisley, the timeless classic, is no exception. The South Asian teardrop-shaped motif is based on mangoes of the region and suggests bounty and fulfillment, and the Scottish town of Paisley became famous for the namesake fabric based on this shape.

Paisley became synonymous with free spirits and the hippie culture of the 1960s, explains Murrye Bernard, a New York City architecture writer and LEED accredited professional designer. In 1967, John Lennon had his Rolls Royce, a longstanding symbol of British dignity, painted in a bumper-to-bumper paisley explosion, which the Beatles used throughout their heyday.

Today, designers aren’t pulling their paisley punches. San Diego-based graphic designer Juliana Giacini just launched her “Paisley Blossom” pattern for Beaverton, Ore.-based lighting shop Alluminare. The sleek yet lush print is a prime example of paisley’s pliable personality.

Its current reprisals are the cornerstone of boho-chic designs. For a modern take on paisley, Lynnfield, Mass.-based designer Yvonne Blacker uses “oversized paisley patterns in soft pastel colors or tone-on-tone prints.”

“These days, paisley patterns appear on shawls and scarves, shirts, dresses and even pants, Bernard says. “The team from the little-known country of Azerbaijan wore bright paisley pants for the 2010 Winter Olympics.”

The bold, spiral pattern may be an intimidating choice when decorating a home, but the contemporary iterations of paisley are not even close to the pattern on grandma’s shawls.

Keep paisley current and fresh by using it with bright punchy colors for a “funky, boho-chic aesthetic,” says Michelle Salz, principal interior designer at San Diego, Calif.-based Studio Surface. She also suggests using cream or charcoal grays for a “high-end, universal appeal.”

Using the admittedly busy fabric wisely can be another option for the truly fearless. “Whether it’s wall art, wall covering or wall decals, adding paisley to the walls is a fun way to incorporate its allure,” Salz says.

If the idea of incorporating paisley seems daunting, Bernard says that it’s all about how and where the pattern is used. Avoid pairing paisley with other patterns – anything else floral is sure to clash, she adds.

As far as color goes, though the traditional shades appear in reds, burgundies and golds, “don’t be afraid to try paisley in unconventional colors like blue, yellow or even pink,” Bernard says.

Still feeling a little intimidated by the power of paisley? Bernard offers some tips to tame this wild design:

• If a large surface is covered in paisley, keep the rest of the room’s décor neutral. Beige and gray are safe bets, or pick one shade from the pattern to use as an accent.

• Whether it’s a little paisley or a lot, try to limit a room’s paisley quotient to one general location: one piece of furniture, one accent wall, etc.

• Paisley patterns range from very small, which appear more conservative, to exaggerated and bohemian versions. Consider the scale of a given space, but don’t be afraid to use a bold pattern in a small room, such as a large paisley print in a powder room.

• Don’t just think of paisley as a repeating pattern. Consider incorporating sculptural elements shaped like the paisley teardrop in a room.