How to choose the right pattern for your project

One of the most common questions we get from architects and homeowners: which pattern should I choose? With hundreds of options in our screen pattern catalogue, the choice can feel overwhelming. Here’s a practical guide to help you narrow it down.

Start with function, not aesthetics

Before you fall in love with a particular pattern, establish what the screen needs to do. Is the primary purpose privacy? Solar shading? Decoration? Wind mitigation? Each function points toward a different open area percentage and perforation style.

• Privacy: 20–35% open area. High enough to allow light and air, low enough that the screen reads as solid at normal viewing distances.
• Solar shading: 30–50% open area. The screen needs to intercept direct sun without making the space feel enclosed.
• Decorative / feature wall: Open area is less critical — focus on pattern complexity and visual impact. See our full pattern library for inspiration.
• Wind mitigation: Lower open area (15–25%) reduces wind load through the screen, which matters for coastal and high-rise applications.

Aperture size and viewing distance

The relationship between aperture size and viewing distance is counterintuitive: small apertures at close range look busier and more complex; large apertures at distance read as texture rather than pattern. For residential applications where you’re viewing the screen from 2–5 metres, apertures of 10–25mm work well. For large-scale commercial facade screens viewed from the street, apertures of 30–60mm create more visual impact. For technical detail on how screens perform at scale, read our perforated aluminium specification guide.

Material and finish

The pattern you choose will look different depending on the finish. A powder-coated screen in a dark colour like Charcoal or Monument will make the pattern recede, creating a more subtle effect. A lighter colour or metallic finish will make the pattern more prominent. Browse our colour and finish options and request a sample in your specified colour before committing. Our multi-perforated panels (MPP) are available in the full Dulux Powder Coat range.

Custom patterns

If nothing in our catalogue feels right, we offer fully custom patterns developed from your brief. There is no minimum order on custom patterns — send us a sketch, a reference image, or a mood board and we’ll take it from there.

Browse the pattern library, download technical data from the Specifiers Portal, or talk to our team about your project.