Repeating background patterns and images, patterns such as these can be used for a host of things such as a web page backgrounds, or adding that extra detail to a containing block, adjust the visibility and you’ve got a great new look for some thing that would normally look quite plain.
Here you’ll find some tutorials on how to create your own patterns and some resources to download patterns.
Download Patterns
Below are a few sites that have huge collections of background patterns for you to download and use for free.
Brusheezy Patterns
Deviantart Patterns
Squid Fingers Patterns
Pattern 8
Patterns Ava7
Din Pattern
Everyday Icons Patterns
Pattern Cooler
k10k Pixel Patterns
Noqta Patterns
Make your own patterns online
Make you own custom patterns online and downlaod them, or use someone elses as a base for you own creation.
Stripe Mania
Bg Patterns
Stripe Generator
Tutorials
A collection of useful tutorials on how to create repeating background patterns of your own.
- Ps Hero Complex patterns pt1 – Creating complex patterns pt1
- Complex patterns pt2 – Ps Hero Creating complex patterns pt2
- Design Sponge – A Nice example of how to repeat a complex pattern
- Digital Arts – How to create a complex pattern illustrator swatch
- Tutorials 2.0 – Creating a tiled background in Photoshop
- Youtube Tutorial – Easy video tutorial on creating a tileable background image
Other Resources about patterns
- Textures and Patterns Design Showcase – Smashing magazine shows web sites that use background patterns, massive show case
There’s probably a lot more sources out there and id love to know about them, so if you’ve seen any awesome pattern sites or tutorials on how to create patterns feel free to leave a comment where they can be found and ill add them to the list, hope this has been useful.

























Thanks for the patterns these can be useful
http://patterns.ava7.com
over 600 patterns ;)
I like the patterns at everyday icons, but unfortunately I don’t read Japanese and can’t run the site through a translator as it’s Flash-based, so I have no idea what their terms of use are :(
Nice collection thanks for sharing.
I think that the background is really attractive…
The background tiles are too good…
If you can add some more designs to increase it beauty…
Думаю понравится любому!
@ Sean – Hmm seems you didnt read the about page and you would have seen that iam currently working on my own wordpress theme for this blog, it kinda like saying to a programmer you are using a wordpress theme oh the irony, when they could have coded the whole thing themselves. Using someone elses theme allowed me to get this blog of the ground without me even taking the time to learn how to code for wordpress other wise i would have had to put this off more months :(
Nice! You are using a free wordpress template to talk about design, oh the irony.
What a great resource. Thanks!
Nice resource. You can find lots of vector patterns at http://www.patternhead.com
So cool! those background images are really good ones! Thanks
@ Youri – yea true, ill find it helpful myself at some point
@ Buttons by Benny – Thanks
@ Ghulam Abbas Khatri – Thanks
@ Jonze – Thanks for reccomendations ive added them to the list
Oh and I use this one for stripes
http://www.stripegenerator.com/
I like this one:
http://www.colourlovers.com/
Some really cool patterns, all of which you color urself!
Couldn’t be easier
Nice collection, definitely one to keep in mind when a project pops up where I can use patterns.
@ Eli – Thanks for the request
@ Lauren – Nice site thanks for requesting
@ BeyondRandom – Cool, gladd this can help
@ Crazyleaf – Thats awesome, Nice blog you have aswell.
Good resources. I’m bookmarking this article for the “Best design resources of August 2008″ article.
nice patterns, thanks for sharing.
I like your layout! lol
Seriously, great post. Will probably need some of these soon!
Thanks!
this place has 40+ patterns, and more are uploaded all the time
http://thevariant.com
cool.. i search patern like this in the long time, thanx.
Squid Fingers, Brusheezy, Deviantart Patterns are one of the best sites where u get background patters and these are in my top list.
Kaliber10000 may also be worth checking out.
http://www.k10k.net/
Nice list!
check http://www.noqta.it/dromoscopio/ too
Nice, I use Squid Fingers every so often for patterns.