We get it. Pattern mixing is scary. Between colors and scale and pattern, there’s a lot to consider, and the stakes are high because decorating mistakes can be expensive, especially when it comes to large upholstered pieces, rugs, and drapery. But, there is hope, and we want to help you conquer your pattern-mixing fears!
BALANCE
First and foremost, always keep balance top of mind. If you’re starting with very bold pattern, consider bringing in one or two smaller scale, tone-on-tone, or solids patterns for harmony.
With that said, if you are using a large, bold pattern somewhere in the room, that doesn’t necessarily mean everything else needs to be solid and subtle to work. For instance, if you have a pair of chairs in a large print, some bold throw pillows on a couch on the opposite wall may work nicely. That balance is important to keep in mind not just in the colors but in the locations of the bold prints.
In the room above, you can see how we’ve used a strong blue ikat on a pair of chairs, while using lots of other blue patterns around the space — a buffalo check blanket, blue and white vases, and blue patterned pillows. It feels balanced because we’ve tempered all that blue with cream walls, a cream linen sofa, a white garden seat, and a natural fiber rug.
MONOTONE MIXING
If you’re nervous to begin dipping your toe into mixing patterns together in a room, try this simple strategy: choose one shade and try 3-4 different patterns all in that shade. This is a sure-fire strategy that we use when designing our catalog all the time.
In the space above, you’ll see how we’ve done this in a palette of taupes and grays. We’ve mixed together a pair of striped chairs, drapes with a geometric pattern, and a floral print rug. We’ve brought in each of these patterns in equal portions which could have felt overwhelming, but because they’re all in the same family, it doesn’t feel like too much.
A FOOLPROOF FORMULA
A great strategy when mixing pillows together is to use one of each of these four: a floral/paisley, a geometric, a stripe, and a solid. As long as each of these fabrics is in a similar color palette, you’re sure to create a beautifully mixed and matched combination of patterns.
In the outdoor space above, you can see how we’ve used this formula. We have a pair of floral throw pillows in the chair, striped cushions on the sofa, a geometric print in the rug, and a solid ottoman, couch, and drapes. We’ve brought in tons of pattern, but it all works!
THE MAGIC OF STRIPES
Stripes are your secret weapon if you want to mix patterns together in your home because they go with almost any other pattern! Florals, ikats, geometrics, solids, or even other stripes, they’re very versatile! Above, you’ll see that we’ve used a very bold ikat as a table cloth, and we’ve also used a dramatic blue and white punch bowl as a container for our flower arrangement. It would be easy to just use a solid on the chairs and call it a day, but bringing in a stripe feels a little more special without taking anything away from these bold prints.
How gorgeous is this ikat paired with a striped rug? It’s almost a challenge to come up with a pattern that doesn’t work well with stripes!
