As a drag queen, RuPaul is known for his unique sense of style and outlandish outfits. For those of us who are tapped into celebrity homes, we know that this passion for fashion extends into the media mogul's opulent estate – and there is perhaps no better example than the living room.
The spacious room features a grand, disco ball installation (naturally), and while this is undoubtedly a fantastic decoration, we were drawn to something slightly more practical, but equally as fabulous.
Printed chairs make their mark in the space, keeping with the monochromatic, black and white theme. The individual seats, arranged in a circle, contrast the patterned floors, as well as the gallery walls on either side. It's a masterclass in mixing patterns.
While working with different patterns in a space is certainly an art, design experts say that combining different prints can immediately benefit any space's ambiance (and even hide stains).
'To me, a room full of color and pattern is immediately welcoming, homely and relaxing, which helps to create the sort of environment that friends and family quickly sink into,' says home renovator Greg Penn.
He continues, 'It stops things from feeling too stuffy or sterile by providing visual interest that’s both stimulating and comfortable. It helps to shape an environment in which you’re not afraid to kick your shoes off and put your feet up. It also has the added benefit of disguising the occasional spill!'
Penn explains that while getting identical furnishings, such as chairs, creates a uniform appearance, it can actually be at the detriment of maintaining visual interest, and make a space feel flat.
'A three-piece suite may be the easy option, but it leaves a space looking unconsidered and very one-dimensional,' he says. 'Instead, choose pieces that work together, but don’t match – it could be furniture from the same range, but in different colors and fabrics, or different pieces but all from a similar period to ensure cohesion.'
When mixing and matching patterned furniture (some call it pattern drenching), Penn encourages playing with scale, color, and texture.
'Equally, throwing something completely different into the mix can work too – a big, comfortable country house sofa paired with an armchair with a much lighter footprint and a mid-century feel can feel fun and informal,' he explains. 'An exception to this is a pair of something – a couple of wingback chairs for example, in the right setting, are incredibly pleasing and inviting!'
While RuPaul has opted for three identical, patterned chairs, we can picture one printed seat accompanied by some solid-colored chairs or sofas.
Ready to embrace the bold nature of pattern mixing in the home? We sourced a dupe for Ru's seat below – and it is under $500.
We love how this statement-making seat comes in a neutral hue suitable for any living space.
We recommend opting for a neutral color when starting to incorporate patterned furniture into a living space. Since patterns are naturally quite bold, having them in a palatable shade ensures that they will fit into practically any design scheme.
