I recently spent a few days in London visiting some of the city’s most inspiring interiors and retail spaces. What stayed with me wasn’t one particular shop or product, but the confidence with which colour, pattern, wallpaper and traditional details were used together.
Coming back to Helsinki, I found myself thinking about how some of these ideas could translate into Finnish homes — particularly for people who love calm Nordic interiors but feel that something is missing.
Colour doesn't have to mean overwhelming
During my trip, I visited several showrooms, including Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour, where I saw hundreds of interiors and design brands brought together under one roof.
What struck me was how often several colours were used together rather than relying on a single “accent colour”. The result felt layered, lived-in and much more organic — as though the room had developed over time rather than been designed all at once.
n a Finnish home, this doesn’t necessarily mean introducing lots of bright colours. Even combining two or three related tones can create considerably more depth than relying on one neutral palette.
Wallpaper can completely change a room
In Finland, wallpaper is often used quite cautiously. What I noticed in London was how confidently it was used to create atmosphere, even in relatively small spaces.
One example that particularly caught my attention was a room where the wallpaper and curtains shared a similar pattern. Rather than competing with each other, they created a sense of continuity and made the room feel deliberately layered.
It also made me think about how different the space would feel if the walls were simply painted white or beige. The curtains might still be beautiful, but they would lose some of their connection to the rest of the room.
Classic patterns can feel surprisingly contemporary
One of the things that stayed with me from London was how confidently classic patterns are being used in contemporary interiors. Stripes, checks, florals, botanical motifs and traditional upholstery appeared alongside modern furniture, clean lines and unexpected colour combinations. Rather than making a space feel old-fashioned, these patterns added character, warmth and a sense of history. I especially liked seeing different fabrics and patterns layered together without everything being perfectly matched.
I think the key is how the pattern is used and what you put around it. A traditional floral can feel modern when paired with a simple sofa or sculptural lamp; a classic check can become graphic and fresh in an unexpected colour. This is something I would love to see more of in Finnish interiors too. You don’t need to turn a calm, minimalist home into a maximalist one—a patterned armchair, colourful rug or pair of curtains can be enough to give a space a much stronger sense of personality.
Bringing London's Boldness to Helsinki Homes
Finnish interiors are often associated with simplicity, natural materials and restrained colour palettes — qualities I love myself. But that doesn’t mean a Finnish home has to be entirely neutral.
What I took from London was not a particular style, but the confidence to experiment. A patterned wallpaper in a hallway, colourful curtains in a living room or a painted ceiling can introduce character without changing the entire home.
For my clients in Helsinki, I think the most interesting approach is often somewhere between the two: the calm and functionality of Nordic design, combined with more colour, pattern and personal history.
If you’re renovating a home in Helsinki and aren’t sure how much colour, pattern or wallpaper to introduce, these are exactly the kinds of decisions I enjoy helping clients with. From developing the overall colour palette to choosing wallpaper, fabrics, lighting and individual details, I help create interiors that feel personal without losing the calm and functionality that make Nordic homes so appealing.