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Argyle is a geometric, crisscross pattern of both intercrossing diagonal lines and repeating solid diamonds. Usually the pattern is composed of outlines that overlap varicolored diamonds, with the corners of the outlines meeting at the center of solid diamonds. Adapted from the tartan plaids of 17th-century…
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Block print is a motif that emerges from manually stamping a fabric by applying dye to a block—typically wood or linoleum—that has been carved into a print. The dye-coated side of the block is then pressed onto the surface of a fabric, in a process that…
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Batik is an ancient motif that emerged from resist-dyeing, a method in which patterns are created by manipulating fabric to block dye from penetrating the entire cloth. Wax is melted and applied to the fabric’s surface and the cloth is placed into a dye bath. Once…
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Damask refers to a patterned fabric that is constructed by weaving the pattern into the cloth on a jacquard loom, with a single warp yarn and a single weft yarn. The pattern is satin-woven, while the background is sateen-woven in typically the same color. This combination…
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Animal print is a motif that depicts the fur or skin of an animal. First prevalent in 1940s fashion as an inexpensive substitute for actual pelts, the treatment was ultimately embraced by interior designers, primarily for use in fabric but also embossed leather, flooring, surfaces, and…
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Herringbone is a pattern created by a weaving effect that features zigzags that alternate in direction across the width of the fabric to establish a recurring V-shape. Named for the skeletal structure of a herring—and sometimes referred to as a broken twill weave—the pattern dates back…
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Shagreen is an untanned leather with small round granulations that is normally harvested from the skin of sharks or stingrays and is often dyed green and used as a decorative surface. First popularized in the Art Deco era for home and fashion accessories, the authentic treatment…
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Inkblot is an abstract pattern that emerged from applying ink or other types of pigment to paper, folding its painted side in half, and then opening it to reveal a mirror-image effect. Made famous by the Rorschach psychological test that was designed to analyze personality traits,…
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Kilim refers to a rug or tapestry that has been constructed by the process of tightly flatweaving variously colored warp and weft yarns on a loom to create a flat surface with no pile. Originating in the countries of the former Persian Empire, kilims are primarily…
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Botanical is a motif depicting precise illustrations of plants that occasionally includes representations of flowers in bloom, leaves, or stems. As a favored subject in formal framed art, the imagery has also become a widespread design in printed textiles.
Photography Courtesy of James Dunlop Textiles…
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Brocade is an elaborately decorated fabric—usually satin or twill weave—with a raised pattern that consists of multicolor or metallic yarns, which are jacquard-woven on the surface of the textile. Taken from the Italian word for “embossed cloth,” brocades date back to ancient China and Byzantium and…
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Concrete effect refers to faux treatments used on materials—such as paint or surfacing—to generate the appearance of actual concrete in color and texture.
Photography Courtesy of Adore Floors…
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Ikat is an ancient Indonesian motif that emerged from resist-dyeing techniques, in which patterns are created by binding individual yarns with a tight wrapping. The yarns are then dyed and subsequently woven into fabric. Different from tie-dye and batik, in which the resist is applied to…
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Marbleized refers to a faux treatment—such as a finish or paint treatment—that mimics the veined or mottled surface of marble, which is often utilized when the use of the actual material would be impractical or cost-prohibitive.
Photography Courtesy of MDC Interior Solutions…
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Mélange is a motif that emerged from weaving at least two different colors of yarn together to create a heathered effect.…
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Moiré is a water- or wave-shaped motif that emerged from a fabric finishing process that was invented in the 17th century, in which two layers of silk are fed through steam rollers, as heat and pressure leave an undulating watermarked appearance due to the imperfect spacing…
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Paisley is an ornamental pattern—originally based on the form of the cypress tree—that consists of a teardrop shape with a curved upper end. First employed in ancient Persia for decorative textiles and clothing, its Western name is attributed to the town of Paisley in Scotland, where…
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Plaid is a fabric pattern featuring horizontal and vertical lines that intersect at 90-degree angles to form variously sized squares or checks in alternating or multiple colors. Common varieties include tartan plaid, originating in the Scottish Highlands of the 1700s; glen plaid, a twill pattern of…
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Stone effect is a faux treatment in materials such as paint or surfacing that simulates the appearance of actual stone in color as well as texture.
Photography Courtesy of Formica…
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Strié is a subtle striped motif of parallel bands depicted in at least two tones, which is often found in flooring, textiles, and wallcoverings.
Photography Courtesy of Koroseal Interior Products…
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Suzani is a hand-embroidered textile—typically composed of vegetable-dyed cotton—that was first used as a protective wrap for belongings of ancient nomadic tribes in Central Asia. Adorned with symbols of luck and good fortune, the handmade patterns are frequently emulated in readymade textiles and wallcoverings.
Photography Courtesy…
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Woodgrain effect is a faux treatment that simulates the appearance of actual wood, from hand-painted finishes on ceramics or glass, to digitally printed graphics on flooring, wallcoverings, and surfaces.
Photography Courtesy of Atlas Concorde…
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Ditsy is an overall fabric pattern consisting of micro- or small-scale motifs—particularly florals—that are typically scattered or randomly arranged as opposed to being organized into symmetrical designs. Origins of the treatment can be traced back to the 1920s and 1930s, when it was a popular approach…
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Gingham is a checkered grid pattern that combines a bold color with white, which originated from a plain weave technique using lightweight to medium fabric made from yarn-dyed cotton or linen. First appearing in the early 20th century, gingham patterns continue to be used in fabrics…
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Heathered refers to a fabric constructed by interweaving pre-dyed yarns of mixed colors—and sometimes different fibers—into a single yarn, which creates a muted and stippled shade, that is often gray. Ordinarily used for tee-shirts and other casual clothing, heathered fabric can also be found in bed…
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Houndstooth is a two-toned textile design consisting of a ground of broken checks, with notched corners resembling the canine teeth for which it was named. Originally popularized during the 1930s in wool-tweed jackets and suits—primarily in combinations of black and white—the pattern has since broadened to…
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Leather effect refers to faux treatments in materials such as fabrics, surfaces, and wallcoverings that simulate the sheen or texture of natural leather.
Photography Courtesy of Bernhardt Textiles…
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Metal effect refers to faux treatments that simulate the appearance of actual metal in materials such as paint, ceramic or laminate surfaces, and wallcoverings. In textiles, metal effects are created by incorporating metallic yarns such as Lurex.
Photography Courtesy of Artistic Tile…
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Ombré refers to a chromatic effect of a color that gradually transitions from light to dark across a single ground. Translated from the French term for “shadow,” ombré is used to describe tonal variations of a single color, though some ombrés feature two or more complementary…
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Toile refers to printed fabrics with extremely detailed surface illustrations that depict a variety of subjects, from homespun rural scenes to exotic Chinoiseries settings. Occasionally dubbed Toile de Jouy—in reference to the French commune of Jouy-en-Josas where the treatment originated during the 18th century—toile can also…
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Woven effect refers to faux treatments that simulate the appearance of woven fabric, which are frequently used to suggest texture and dimension in the smooth surfaces of wallcoverings and flooring.
Photography Courtesy of Designtex…
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Check is a type of plaid pattern consisting of overlapping equal horizontal and vertical lines. These lines come in at least two colors that cross each other to form equal squares.…
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Chevron is a repeating pattern of a continuous V- and inverted V-shaped lines without interruption, resulting in a zig-zag-like appearance. Composed of at least one color, this pattern is often used in the design of flooring and walls, as well as textiles.
Photography Courtesy of Walker…
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Collage refers to a motif that emerged from a technique of assembling different forms of the same or varying types of materials such as fabric, paint, paper, and wood to create a new design on a supporting surface, which is held together with glue or another…
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Stripe refers to a pattern of bands, lines, or strips that can run in diagonal, horizontal, or vertical directions. There are many types of stripe patterns classified by thickness, size, color, spacing, and arrangement.
Photography Courtesy of Silver State Inc.…
One of several variations on plaid, buffalo check is a fabric pattern composed of horizontal and vertical bands in two contrasting colors, most commonly red and black, which intersect at 90-degree angles to form a grid of large-scale squares. First traced to woven blankets in 19th-century Montana, it was ultimately…
One of several variations on plaid, graph check is a fabric pattern consisting of horizontal and vertical lines in a single color that intersect at 90-degree angles to form a grid of evenly spaced squares. Named for its resemblance to graph paper, the pattern was first utilized by menswear designers…
One of several variations on plaid, gun club check is a fabric pattern of crisscrossed checks, traditionally in four colors: black, red-brown, light gold, and pine green. Alternating colors of twilled bands run in one direction, while intersecting with either a duplicate pattern of intersecting bands, or a single-color twilled…
One of several variations on plaid, tattersall is a fabric pattern of alternating grids consisting of thin vertical lines that are repeated in the weft to create a ground of regularly spaced checks. Named for the checked blankets that covered horses at Richard Tattersall’s auction mart in 18th-century England, the…
One of several variations on plaid, windowpane is a fabric pattern consisting of horizontal and vertical lines that intersect at 90-degree angles to form a grid of squares that are scaled to resemble the evenly divided panes of a window—hence the name. The density and coloration of the squares may…
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Abstract refers to artworks and designs that do not intend to represent physical realities. Rather, abstraction relies on form, composition, line, color, texture, and gesture to create imagery that either simplifies or repudiates visual reality. Abstraction as an idea was born in the 19th century as…
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Camouflage refers to a curvy pattern consisting of irregular shapes, which is adapted from the act of blending in with the environment. The pattern mirrors tactics used by animals to blend in with their surroundings, which include concealing coloration, disguise, disruptive coloration, and mimicry. During World…
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Floral refers to a motif that incorporates figurative elements of flowers such as blossoms and leaves. These can be arranged in an organic or geometric manner, and the pattern can be realistic or abstracted. Broader interpretations of the term floral may include any type of botanical…
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Geometric refers to patterns that incorporate shapes found in geometry such as lines, circles, rectangles, triangles, polygons, and ellipses. Their underlying grid structure serves as an ideal foundation for the creation of repeated designs. Consequently, they are widely used for textile, wallpaper, tile, or flooring products.…
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Hawaiian refers to a motif that symbolizes cultural patterns inspired from Hawaii. These motifs usually reflect the island’s nature and include imagery of flowers, the ocean, and pineapples.…
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Mandala refers to a geometric pattern consisting of ritual or spiritual symbols inspired from religions that include Buddhism and Hinduism. Taken from the Sanskrit word for circle, the term mandala can refer to a graphic diagram representing a radial balance of transforming the universe from suffering…
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A mural is a large, artistic motif that is applied onto ceilings, floors, walls, or other surfaces. Murals can be glazed, painted, or printed, and may also be attached onto applications as artwork, kitchen backsplashes, or wall displays.
Photography Courtesy of Olivia + Poppy…
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Pixelated refers to a motif that consists of many single-colored squares. It originated from the combination of geometric squares used to form a complete picture or part of a visual display. These squares tend to be the basic and smallest units of images—also known as picture…
Lattice refers to a geometric, crisscross pattern that depicts an open framework inspired by overlapping metal or wooden slats with square-shaped or diamond-shaped holes.
Photography Courtesy of Maya Romanoff…
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An organic pattern is of irregular form and does not obey strict rules of geometry or symmetry. Instead, organic patterns are akin to natural shapes that are devoid of straight lines or hard edges.
Photography Courtesy of Standard Textile…
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Novelty patterns reflect on a wide range of trends in fashion, art, and culture. Derived from the Latin term novus, meaning new, they are whimsical, highly unusual, and unique in their expressiveness. Novelty is also an umbrella term for complex yarns with irregular features used in…
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Crackled refers to a patterned motif that depicts tiny cracks on along the surface of a material.
Photography Courtesy of Design and Direct Source…
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A dotted motif refers to a type of geometric pattern consisting of round, solid, and filled-in spots. The pattern can be random or repeated.
Photography Courtesy of Designtex…
Glen plaid refers to a plaid pattern with a woven twill design that features small and large checks. Its name is derived from the valley of Glenurquhart in Inverness-shire, Scotland, where it first originated in the 19th century as a checked woolen fabric. The pattern most often features a crossing…
Harlequin refers to a geometric pattern of contrasting diamonds or elongated squares. The shapes are typically presented in a variety of different, bright colors.…
Madras refers to a lightweight cotton fabric that features a plaid, striped, or checkered pattern. With its name derived from the former city of Chennai in India, authentic Indian madras is woven and dyed by hand using native vegetable colorings—which create soft, muted colors—with the same pattern appearing across both…
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Tartan refers to a plaid textile design that consists of crisscrossed horizontal and vertical bands of varying width and color. Originating in Scotland, tartan patterns date back as far as the third century and were commonly used to designate distinct clans. Tartan patterns are created by…
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Marled refers to a type of novelty yarn that is created by twisting multiple plies, or strands, of different colors into a single yarn. Marled yarns are mostly used for knitted apparel but can also be found in woven textiles to create visual irregularity and a…
Ogee refers to curved elements that often consist of two concave semicircular arcs and vertical ends. An ogee has a serpentine-like shape with a double curve. Ogees were first introduced from the Middle East and were used on textiles during the 12th century. The use of ogee elements was also…
Patchwork refers to a form of needlework that is used to create a larger design out of smaller pieces of fabric. Pieces of cloth that come in different geometric shapes, sizes, and colors, are sewn together in repeating patterns. The traditional structures used to construct patchwork pieces included block, overall,…
Quatrefoil refers to a decorative element comprised of a symmetrical shape that outlines four interconnected circles, which slightly overlap. Its name is derived from the Latin meaning for “four leaves” and the term was popularized during the Gothic and Renaissance eras.…
Regimental refers to a textile pattern that is comprised of diagonal, colored bands, which are angled from left to right. Originating in Britain during World War I, the patterning was used for ties and ribbons worn by soldiers for identification purposes.…
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Texture describes the dimensionality of a material surface independently from a pattern or motif. Textures can be flat or deep, even or uneven, and soft or rough. Textures are created for visual impact, but their tactile quality and physical properties are experienced through touch.
Photography Courtesy…
Up the roll, also known as off-the-bolt, is a term that refers to the direction in which a textile is applied to upholstery and drapery products. Unlike railroaded fabrics, up the roll patterns runs in the same direction as the fabric. In other words, the selvage to selvage is positioned…
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Dichroic refers to materials that are traditionally glass and display different colors depending on lighting conditions or the observer’s viewing position to the surface. The term comes from the Greek word dikhroos—which means two-colored—and dates back to the fourth century. Dichroic materials were further developed by…
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A watercolor is a motif inspired from the art of painting water-soluble pigments onto paper. Watercolors generally result from paint being mixed with water to create translucent layers of color.
Photography Courtesy of Olivia + Poppy…
A wave is a motif consisting of undulating art elements with repetition and rhythm that can be alternating, flowing, progressive, or random. These art elements are usually lines and can come in a regular or cyclical fashion to create harmony, movement, and unity.
Photography Courtesy of Porcelanosa…
