Written on May 31, 2010 by Jaima Brown

How to Mix Patterns

Do you get totally overwhelmed and feel frustrated when it comes to mixing patterns for your home? Well let me solve your dilemma! Stop going crazy and start enjoying your decorating experience. Keeping it simple in the beginning is always the best approach when mixing patterns. Let’s start with a few design rules to help you out.

Keep your pattern count to 3. Three sounds like an odd number, it is but it isn’t when it comes to placing patterns together for a visually appealing space.

Getting the look in 3 easy steps.

1. Use a solid colored or tonal colored fabric for the larger pieces of furniture in a room. This highlights the main color you want to feature. (like the lime cushion above)

2. Select a stripe to coordinate with the solid fabric. Stripes add dimension and structure. You can use simple stripes, ticking stripes, loosely painted or wide stripes. It is recommended if you do bring in a multicolored stripe into your color story, make sure it has some of the main color in one of the stripes so it coordinates with the other two patterns selected. In the lounge chair above, the multicolored stripe brings a variety of color into the picture but also features the main lime color of the chair cushions unifying the entire look.

3. Pick an accent print for the third pattern. An accent fabric tells a story and makes the overall design statement. These types of prints can include a novelty print, like the parrot fabric featured above from The Walfab Company, a modern graphic print, a floral, a paisley, a Jacobean or even a damask. What ever you choose, you should love it. Just make sure your accent pattern has some of the colors from your other two fabrics in it to finish the look. Always take your swatches with you when selecting your prints to make sure they all co-ordinate together.

Balance the scale of patterns and colors in a room. Scale should also be taken into consideration when mixing patterns. When you walk into a well designed interior, one pattern should stand out and make a statement. A usual guide line to go by is use one pattern & color scheme for 3/3rds of the rooms space, then another pattern & color for 2/3rds of the room and then the final pattern and color should be 1/3rd. It is important to keep one pattern and color the main focus so to visually ground the rooms decor. A good example of this is in the Traditional Homes interior above by Toby Wells Fairley. Aqua is the main color with the large scaled graphic screen and ottoman acting as the main focus of the room. The patterned curtains in red are secondary to aqua but they add a visual pop to the space, making it exciting and colorful.

Give your patterns some space. You don’t have to use a print in every corner of the room. In the room above the patterns are featured in the center of the room. Sometimes it works better to leave some space around your patterns. Notice again the balance of pattern. Three chairs are in an orange leaf print to one small sofa in zebra and the accent zebra rug. The rug draws the eye to the center of the room. If you can’t live with to much pattern, then use a tone off your fabric or a neutral shade to surround the room in so the main focus is on your favorite prints you have selected.

Mixing prints is Easy. Animal prints are always stylish and they definitely add pizzaz to any decor. This is one pattern that is universal and almost becomes a graphic print. Animal prints can also be tonal and can be considered a plain fabric, acting like a texture. They mix easily with stripes and floral’s.

Mixing prints is fun. Geometric prints, stripes and plaids coordinate extremely well with floral’s and paisley’s. Just remember, when blending various prints, use the 3-2-1 rule when it comes to scale. One pattern should be large scale and the main focal point; then the next coordinating print should be medium sized and then the third print smaller. This way, it is more pleasing to the eye and creates a visual balance amongst patterns. As in the room below by Erinn Valencich, the wallpaper is the larger scale pattern where the pillows are medium scale. Of course, a plain is mixed in to act as a calming agent to the entire look.