Keke Palmer's Skillful Pattern Layering Works in Every Room of The Home – It's Whimsical, Yet Subtle
If you're looking for the next upgrade to your home, the actress's mural wallpaper and patterned rug pairing is the perfect place to start
When it comes to styling patterns, the Tibi founder, Amy Smilovic's famous rule is 'One, Ton, or None.' Though it's all too easy to fall into the comfort of choosing one pattern or opting to use all solids in our home, Keke Palmer's California ranch home shows the utter joy and whimsy of maxxing out on pattern.
A glimpse into the actress's Los Angeles home is a masterclass in decorating with pattern - starting with her 3-year-old son, Leodis's room. Rather than settling for a typical, childish look, Keke's design team, Michele Booth of Rylston Road Interiors, and fellow designer Anna Viola enveloped the space more elegantly. They chose a painted jungle mural wallpaper, a polka-dotted rug, and striped wood for the child's space. Of course, they pair these elevated touches with pieces that any little boy would love, like the Lightning McQueen bed.
Beyond just this gorgeous room, Keke's approach to layering patterns is a lesson that can be applied to any space. To explore, Homes & Gardens spoke with interior designers to get their top pattern-on-pattern tips. We also curated an edit of our favorite wallpapers and rugs to recreate Keke's style in your own home.
Recreate Keke's Look at Home
Keke uses a beige and black rug to add personality to the floor of this room without getting too over the top. A stripe or polka dot is the perfect pattern for an understated look.
This pastoral woodland scene is absolutely stunning, perfect for a bedroom or a dining room, with all the charm of a first-edition vintage bookplate. It is easy to hang and comes off in full strips.
Keke Palmer's space indicates that a child's room doesn't have to look childish. This stylish leather giraffe is just as joy-inspiring for adults as for children, and is the perfect elevated pick for a nursery.
An upbeat and contemporary take on traditional floral trails, this illustrative print breathes life into any space with ease, whilst the gold and black is so striking. I love the idea of pairing it with a lighter rug in a complementary pattern.
A child's room needs storage, but that doesn't mean it has to be unstylish. This chic rattan bin is perfect for storing toys or books without compromising on aesthetics.
Part of the Mulberry Home Icons collection, this sage and orange-hued wallpaper would look so dramatic on a feature wall as an alternative to the forest look. It would be gorgeous in a brightly colored room.
Luckily, mixing patterns like Keke is easier than you may think, it just requires a bit of planning. New York-based interior designer Nina Lichtenstein advises: 'Mix patterns with intention. Pair a bold geometric design with subtle stripes or organic motifs like florals. The key is to vary the scale—combine larger, statement patterns with smaller, quieter ones for a cohesive look.'
Like the cream and black continuing between Keke's wallpaper and flooring, color palette is an equally important element of this decorating method. Nina suggests that readers, 'stick to a cohesive color scheme to maintain unity.'
She continues: 'Limit your palette to three to five shades that complement each other, and distribute them throughout the room in varying intensities. For example, in a dining area, a palette of soft blues, warm grays, and crisp whites could flow across the table linens, seating, and wall art.'
Nina also recommends playing with proportion and balance. We see this lesson playing out in Keke's space, where simple wooden furniture elevates the layered patterns across the room. Nina states: 'Distribute layered elements evenly across the space. If one corner is rich with textures and patterns, balance it with simplicity elsewhere. For instance, pair a busy patterned wallpaper with clean-lined furniture to avoid overstimulation.'
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