Paisley prints bring an eye-catching touch to any space and are a great way to incorporate color and patterns. Discover the story of this iconic pattern plus two different ways to try this trend.
All About Paisley
The term “paisley” itself refers to a curved teardrop motif originating millennia ago near present-day Iran and the Kashmiri region and is said to represent many forms of nature including flowers or uncurling palm shoots.
The design was often incorporated into shawls that were traded and given as gifts throughout the region for centuries before coming to Europe in the late 18th century. In the early 19th century, the town of Paisley in Scotland became a top producer of shawls with this design — hence the pattern came to be known as “paisley.”
Today paisley patterns remain prominent in carpets and textiles in blends of shades that can be an opulent and refined nod to paisley’s extended history or a colorful and psychedelic homage to an iconic popularity it enjoyed in the late 1960s.
Timeless & Traditional Paisley Patterns
Most paisley pieces want to be the star of the show, but a subdued secondary pattern like stripes, ikat, or subtle geometric prints in similar color families can pair with paisley to create a dimensional space.
Bold & Bright Paisley Prints
Complement bolder paisley prints with one or two colors used within the print to keep it from taking over your space.
