How To Mix Patterns

GET IT RIGHT EVERY TIME!

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A question I get asked a lot in my Facebook group is, “How do I mix patterns when I’m decorating?” It seems many of us are scared of pattern because we’ve tried in the past and the results haven’t gone as planned. This can be one of the reasons why you end up with a boring, bland, lacking character home. (For more ideas on how to avoid that particular trap read my post on adding character.) So, in this post, I want to share with you an easy and foolproof method to mix patterns in a room. This will apply to whether the patterns are cushions on a sofa or an entire room of pattern.

Why Do We Even Want Pattern in Our Homes?

To introduce pattern or not is a personal preference and one I completely respect. I will admit I’ve looked at the neutral homes with clean lines and white layered on white and tried to emulate it in the farmhouse. At times I’ve even felt a little envious of people who can pull off such a serene scheme.

But living without pattern is not something I can do. Neutrals are an important element in a room. After all, not every item in your space can be a pattern. But together, patterns help perk up neutral elements, working together to create a balanced space. My choices are pared back these days but having pattern in our home adds depth, interest and personality. Pattern is also useful because it can create a focal point where there may be none and best of all, it hides stains!! We have pets in the house. There are always stains somewhere!

Patterns can evoke a feeling or transport you to another part of the world. Moroccan pattern gives that spicy feel of the middle east. French style pattern can add formality or femininity.

Every room needs at least one big piece that anchors the space. A patterned rug will do this. It’s got a bold presence and it’s the jumping off point for everything else in the space. Patterned drapes do this too.

So how do you mix patterns and not get it wrong?

A Three Step Process to Mix Patterns

I’ve always loved pattern whether in decor or clothing. As I’ve grown older, my use of pattern has become more refined in both areas. Using the system I’m about to share with you, I feel confident I can have pattern in my home and make it look the way I like.

Firstly

Pick the main pattern. This might be detailed or plain, have lots of colours of just a few. Pick it because you love it and you want to base your colour scheme around it. In the picture above, the main pattern (and the first one I chose) was the green Japanese quilting fabric on the cushion.

This pattern will become your focal point. It might be used more than once in the room. I’ve only used it on the cushion but if you choose to use your pattern more, aim for no more than 60% of the overall pattern/colour scheme. The main pattern in our bed linen is on the blue and white European cushions. They make up the basis of the scheme but are not the dominant amount of pattern. That is in the striped quilt.

Second

From the main pattern you have chosen, select a solid colour or maybe two. I selected white in our bedroom. The quilt cover is white and the pillow cases are white. The solid colour will tone down the vibrance of your pattern while blending with it. Again, don’t have the same amount of solid colour as you do the patterned fabric. Your eye will not know where to look. One of them must be dominant. White is dominant for me.

Lastly

Pull the third colour from your pattern and find a second pattern that uses this colour. The colour needs to be of the same intensity as your original pattern to play nicely. So hot pink would not play well with pale green but baby pink would. The pattern should also be of a different scale to your original pattern.

In the picture above you can see the small pink pattern on the cushion marries with the large pink flowers on the quilt. The solid of blush pink cream also comes from the quilt.

In terms of the patterns you choose, think big pattern, little pattern and solid. Once you’ve mastered that you can go to town adding more patterns and solids together remebering to stick to the intensity of colour rule and always having differing ratios of the pattern.

Good luck!