5. Make utilitarian spaces more than utilitarian.
Playful patterns aren’t just for nurseries or kids’ rooms. The right wall covering can make a functional area like a home office, laundry room, or – in this case – a front entry hall feel brighter and more welcoming. The key is to look for a pattern with a light background to keep the atmosphere feeling bright and energizing. Here, we started with an Otomi print on the walls, then added a functional bench and personalized the wall with framed art that pops.