Basmönstret

Basmönstret, literally "the base pattern", is a design concept used in textiles, wallpaper, and graphic design to denote the smallest repeating motif that forms a larger pattern when tiled. It serves as the repeat unit, determining the rhythm, scale, and balance of the overall design. The basmönstret can be geometric or organic and may be arranged with transformations such as translation, rotation, reflection, or scaling to create a tessellated motif.

In production, identifying the basmönstret is essential for weaving, printing, and digital tiling. Designers isolate the smallest area that repeats without gaps, specifying how the unit repeats across fabric widths, panel lengths, or wall coverings. The choice of basmönstret influences alignment, color distribution, and repeat size, affecting how the pattern behaves at different scales.

Within Swedish and broader design discourse, basmönstret is a practical term that complements discussions of mönster and ornament. It is commonly used by textile researchers, pattern designers, and historians as a way to describe the fundamental building block of a pattern. See also pattern, motif, tessellation, repeat unit.