House Beautiful: 14 Ways to Incorporate the Checkerboard Trend Into Your Home
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Watching patterns take off and become design trends is always interesting for designers. After all, a lot of trending patterns are classics in the design world. It’s being used in a particular way or space on repeat that makes one a trend. Take stripes, for example. What could be more classic? Still, when we started to notice wide vertical stripes in bold colors everywhere last winter, we called the cabana stripe trend. The checkerboard pattern is another timeless choice, and lately we’ve been seeing it on social media and in homes in more colorways, textures, and materials than the traditional black-and-white tile you might think of. When trends start to gain traction like this, people wonder how to incorporate them in their space. So we reached out to a handful of designers to get their take on how to use the checkerboard pattern in your home, in permanent and temporary ways.
How to Use the Checkerboard Pattern in a Space
From furniture to throw pillows, there are plenty of unique ways to bring in the checkerboard pattern. Olga Doykhen, founder of her eponymous design studio, likes to play with the concept. “Consider incorporating the pattern through subtle variations in texture, tone, or material,” Doykhen tells House Beautiful. “In my office, I incorporated a checkerboard effect using wooden cabinetry—some with doors and others as open shelving. This approach balances function and aesthetics while creating subtle visual rhythm without overwhelming the space.” You could opt for a checkerboard print in a neutral colorway as opposed to black and white to makes a soft statement. Looking for an even lower commitment option? Add some temporary decor. A rug or wall art is something you can try out in different rooms and swap out if your tastes change.
Don’t Be Obvious
Doykhen’s office built-ins play with the idea of a checkerboard pattern. “Rather than using contrasting colors, the design relies on the interplay between the solid wood panels and negative space of the open compartments. The alternating squares bring order and structure to the wall of storage while preventing it from feeling monolithic or heavy. This interpretation of checkerboard through material and depth rather than color gives the pattern a modern touch without overwhelming it.”
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