‘Pattern sandwiching’ trend brings balance to interiors

'Sandwiching gives you the same sense of intention and envelopment, but with built-in breathing room,' says Clara Jung, author of Storied Homes: Designs from Banner Day Interiors Photo by Clay Banks/Unsplash

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A concept in fashion called “the sandwich method” is winning over interior design experts.

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The approach dictates that you wear the same colour at the top and bottom of an outfit — say, in a shirt and shoes — while choosing another colour or pattern for the skirt or pants between them. This creates a sense of balance, cohesion and symmetry that’s pleasing to the eye while allowing for variation and interest.

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In the home, the sandwich method considers the trim, wainscotting, and ceiling as the proverbial bread of a room that surrounds the main walls.

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“Pattern sandwiching moves the eye through the room in a way that feels energizing and sets the tone for everything else,” Heather French, of French & French Interiors, told Vogue. She added that the method is in line with the current push toward spaces that reflect individuality.

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“The wallpaper-plus-paint combination unlocks endless possibilities that feel genuinely personal,” she said.

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Clara Jung, author of Storied Homes: Designs from Banner Day Interiors, told Vogue that the sandwich method offers an alternative to colour-drenching, in which all elements of a room (ceiling, trim, walls) are one hue. The look makes a statement, but over time you might feel overwhelmed or tired of the colour.

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“A lot of people love the look (of colour-drenching), but hesitate at the leap,” said Jung. “Sandwiching gives you the same sense of intention and envelopment, but with built-in breathing room.”

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If you’re interested in using the sandwich method in your home, Jung advises starting with a small space — perhaps a powder room, mud room or butler’s pantry. It’s “forgiving, and the payoff is immediate,” she said.

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The next step is to choose a wallpaper for the main walls. Jung likes to opt for something bold: “I find colour-forward papers work better than tonal ones. You want a pattern with enough colour to pull from.”

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In terms of proportion, you’ll want to consider how the pattern will look on the main walls. If you have big, open spaces, you can opt for a larger pattern.

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“Match the scale of the repeat to the size of the room and the amount of wall the paper actually gets,” said Jung. “A large repeat in a small room, or on a narrow band of wall, ends up cropping the pattern so you never read it properly.”

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Finally, think about the paint colour for the trim and ceiling. The safest bet is to go with a hue that’s already in the wallpaper, since the repetition will bring unity and make the room feel intentional — not chaotic.

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“We are always looking for a soft landing for wallpapers,” Chloe Redmond Warner, author of This Must Be the Place: Homes with Atmosphere, told Vogue.

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