As I am writing this, I am on a train back to London from Edinburgh, Scotland, where I just spent a magical few days immersing myself in all things colour and pattern…

Interiors are incredibly personal, a safe haven beaming with all the things you love, and oftentimes, it’s the colours and patterns you choose that set the tone for how your space feels. Mine, for example, is a calming sanctuary drenched in blush pinks and creamy whites, playful fringed cushions, and striped-everything, from linen to ceramics.

I noticed the power of pattern and colour during a preview of Ikea Museum‘s Magical Patterns touring textile exhibition at Dovecot Studios in Edinburgh. Picture 180 curated fabrics showcasing 60 years of Swedish design, from nostalgic, retro patterns to playful geometric prints.

I had the pleasure of meeting and interviewing the curator, Anna Sandberg Falk, and Ida Pettersson Preutz, textile artist, designer and creator of the iconic ‘Anniken’ pattern. And together, we discussed how to welcome colour and pattern into our homes.

Embracing colour and pattern

Walking through the exhibition, you couldn’t help but get an instant boost of dopamine, and Anna shared the sentiment, telling me that creating this exhibition was a happy, fun experience. Although narrowing down the collection of prints was no easy feat, because of the rich history of the brand, she thoroughly enjoyed the research process.

The contrast between the popular Scandinavian style, synonymous with simplistic, functional design and neutral, natural palettes, and their deep love for bold prints and colours was stark. “We are really sleek and everything is blonde, but when you look at the Ikea catalogue from the 70s onward, you can see how you can still be quite minimalist in your approach, but you can also add colour to it. I think you can have both, and maybe you need a little bit of both,” says Anna.

Which got me curious, what does Anna’s home look like – simple and Scandi or a riot of colour? “It’s a mix of a lot of Ikea furniture, actually, but mostly older, wood, and subdued tones. I’m not like this (pointing to the statement sofa we are perched on – see below), even though I would love to have this sofa,” she laughs.

But she does have a ‘rule’ in her home – no white walls. “We have painted all the rooms but the living room because it’s so big, so I’m dreading it,” she jokes.

If you want to change your room, an easy way to do it is with paint, says Ida. “Paint it in a colour that you really love. If you love beige or white, paint it that way, and if you love colours, then go all in – choose the brightest of them and paint the ceiling, too.”

I got a glimpse inside Ida’s interiors, which is adorned with colour and pattern, from a sunny, yellow-drenched entryway to her vibrant pink bedroom, the latter being her favourite shade to decorate with. “It’s very colourful. It’s a mix of things that I made and thrifted, but also more expensive pieces,” she says.

Start where you feel comfortable

Ida is a fan of pattern, proudly wearing her fun broccoli print during the interview, which is reflected both in her interiors and fashion style. She is also known for playing with perception, optical illusions, and form. “I don’t have any rules in my home. If I see something I like, it will fit. I think that all colours go together, and all patterns go together,” she says.

“But if you are shy, start where you feel comfortable. Maybe it doesn’t have to be pattern all over, it can be one shape. Some people are not pattern people, then you can mix solid colours to create a sort of dynamic,” she advises.

Anna, for example, likes to sprinkle prints here and there in her home through furnishings such as cushions, carpets or curtains. So, she advises starting small, because these decorative elements ‘are also quite easy to change’. “There was a really nice collection that came out a couple of years ago called ‘Tessamans’ with lots of stripes; I bought loads from that one,” she tells me.

Ida agrees and adds, “Curtains, cushions, throws, and textiles are the perfect way of making a change in a room.”

Equally, don’t be afraid to get creative, throw the design ‘rule book’ out the window, and play with clashing patterns and colours. “Pink and red or pink and orange are the best, and a mismatch is quite nice as well,” says Anna. “You don’t always have to be so serious, you can have fun with things like clothes, for instance, or interiors.”

I certainly think we can all do with a bit more colour, pattern, and joy in our interiors. And, as Ida concludes, remember you make the rules.

Ikea Museum’s textile exhibition Magical Patterns is open at Edinburgh’s Dovecot Studios from 18 July 2025 – 17 January 2026.

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