Geometric vs organic

Whether you are a pattern fiend or obsessed with statement forms, how do you balance geometric and organic shapes, patterns and structures in your home interior without causing chaos? Take your lead from our local experts...

The ever-shifting trends in interior design can be perplexing. One season it’s bold stripes, zigzags, monochrome and angular patterns; the next it’s biophilic design and curvilinear shapes. What is a person living in an interior, with design standards to maintain, to do? Unless you decorate and refurnish your home annually – which would be ridiculous – you will not be slavishly following these trends. Like any vocabulary, these ideas about what’s ‘in’ are fluid suggestions about design statements and visual effects that can be adopted if you fancy, or ignored if you don’t. Here are some perspectives on the geometric and organic from a selection of our local designers and retailers.

After many years of geometric designs, curved designs are seeing a surge in popularity in the interior design world. Gentle curves bring an organic vibe to interiors and add interest to spaces which have a lot of straight lines.

The resurgence of curves comes as the interior design world is moving from the more Minimalist aesthetic to a more freeflowing Maximalist look, where juxtaposing organic natural shapes with sharper geometric lines adds a layer of interest to your interior design.

On trend wall arches, scalloped tiles, circular fabric and wallpaper designs, sphereshaped lights, rounded stone bathrooms, curved sofas and furniture are now bringing a relaxed, easy look to our homes. After the pandemic, we are looking for our homes to be a cocooning, welcoming space that is an expression of ourselves.

and create a focal point. Studies have found we respond to circular shapes more positively than more geometric shapes because we are conditioned to find sharp edges and corners harmful and round shapes friendly and approachable.

Line is important in every room design to make a room well-balanced and aesthetically pleasing. In small spaces, curved furniture helps to soften the room and extend the eyeline. In larger rooms, bigger, more sweeping curves create flow and dynamism.

In 2023 we are all embracing a more relaxed and less prescriptive design aesthetic juxtaposing organic, oval shapes with sharper geometric lines.

clairstrong.co.uk

I love mixing geometric pieces of furniture like a low rectangular ottoman with another angular piece like a curved sofa. If you have a lot of straight lines in your house, an easy way to introduce a curved piece in your home is with accessories like a beautiful piece of ceramic or a large round bowl full of fruit. If you are feeling braver, a sculptural chair or curvy table will work well in a space full of more geometric hard-edged pieces. If you’re looking to subtly add curves to a space, mirrors or artwork with curved frames are the perfect way to add interest

Patterns give energy and pace to a space, completely changing how we feel. There are no hard-and-fast rules when it comes to mixing and matching forms, but a combination is often the best way to go. Lots of clashing pattern can heighten your senses and almost feel chaotic, so we often look for a hero fabric in an organic motif, pairing it with a geometric equivalent so that they don’t compete.

When thinking of geometric shapes, designer David Hicks comes instantly to mind, particularly in those linear, tessellated designs that gained fame and admiration in

RIGHT: Urban Axel Tile from Fired Earth; firedearth.com the 1960s and beyond. More recently, renowned designer and hotelier Kit Kemp is a master at combining contrasting patterns, unifying them through a select colour palette.

Geometric shapes need not always consist of those angular, intersecting lines of squares or rectangles, however; circles and crescents are just as core to geometry. While any such shape can feel very structured and tailored, organic forms tend to offer that softer feel, even if they are bold by the nature of the shapes.

That said, it’s easy to focus solely on patterns within fabrics and wallpapers when considering form, overlooking the opportunity for key items of furniture or accessories to introduce subtle geometric or organic shapes. A chair might offer rounded smooth finishes, while lighting might introduce the same through steam-bent wood or hand-blown glass. When putting together a scheme, we look first at the bones of the space itself and the architectural shapes it already offers; from parquet floorboards to window frames, doorways and staircase, each component intrinsically adding further layers of geometry. woodhouseandlaw.co.uk

Patterned tiles add charm and character to any interior. Whether you opt for bold geometric designs or softer, traditional designs, there are endless options to create the right vibes for your interior.

Our love affair with patterned tiles isn’t a new thing. This endearing tile trend dates back to the earliest civilisations, yet it was the Victorians that really bought them to the forefront of interior design. Millions of Victorian terraced houses were adorned in geometric patterned tiles; from hallways, porches, fire surrounds and walls. Of course, as with everything, decorative tiles have dropped out of favour at certain points; but in the last half a decade I think it’s become clear they are here to stay. Tiles are just better when they are patterned. Is it the juxtaposition between the softness of pattern and the hardness of the tiles? Or is it that tiles are usually used in areas with plenty of edges and hard surfaces and patterned tiles somehow counteract this?

Whatever the reason, we do know that they’re beautiful and will ultimately add character wherever used. More authentic patterned tiles, often replicating patterns from eras gone by, are perfect for more traditional properties or where the design schemes edge more on the rustic side. Bold, retro style tiles, often in stronger shades, and eye-catching geometric designs are ideal for creating the wow-factor in maximalist design schemes, and bathrooms are the ideal place to experiment with tiles like this.

If you want to create a bold statement, patterned tiles can be used throughout a space. Otherwise, to add more subtle interest, patterned ceramic and porcelain tiles can be zoned to certain areas, such as shower areas or splash backs. These beautifully decorative tiles look great on floors in bathrooms when teamed with a complementary, plain wall tile. mandarinstone.com

Kitchens and bathrooms tend to be linear, with prominent horizontal and vertical lines created from cabinetry and appliances to basins and shower enclosures. Geometric tiles can be a fantastic way to either enhance that effect (perhaps in a minimalist, architectural scheme) or to introduce contrasting or softening shapes and patterns.

For example, the sweeping curves of Fired Earth’s Escalas tiles are the perfect visual foil for the crisp lines of kitchen and bathroom cabinetry, as are mosaics in geometric formats such as hexagons and chevrons. These can be mixed and matched to create countless effects so they’re really versatile, and even the simplest white rectangular tiles can be used to introduce geometric pattern and texture.

Tiles with a bold motif such as the new Bert & May at Fired Earth Santona tiles, which feature a geometric sunburst pattern, will make an impact even if you only have space for a simple splashback. Picking out a key element of the motif and echoing it in the paint colour or base tile can be an effective way of bringing a scheme together.

Think about scale when using geometric pattern, since a little can go a long way in a compact space such as a bathroom. While wall-to-wall pattern can help draw the eye around a room, creating the illusion of more space, too much pattern can ‘crowd’ a room and make it look smaller. Depending on the size of the room and the scale of the design, using pattern on either the walls or the floor, rather than both, can be a good solution.

Hallways set the scene for a home and so a beautiful patterned floor has a warm and inviting feel and will lead the eye towards the rooms beyond. Tiles such as the new Bert & May at Fired Earth Turrenne design have a classic, subtly geometric look and are made from low-maintenance porcelain, so they’re a perfect choice for busy hallways.

Free-flowing, organic patterns in stones and marbles such as Fired Earth’s new Seaspray Green Marble and North Haven Marble also have a timeless feel, ensuring that the tiles are really versatile. With their complex and dramatic waves and splashes of green, they’re reminiscent of fresh, invigorating seascapes a perfect backdrop to a classic bath or shower. firedearth.com n