Pattern-Mixing Mastery
I hear you. It feels risky to mix several patterns in the same room. You love the look in magazines and on the Internet, but you fear the potential chaos that could arise if you tried this approach at home.
Well, you can let go of this fear because I’m here to tell you that it’s not as scary as you think. In this post, I dive into the three design elements that are crucial to this method of decorating. If you pay attention to these three things, you’ll be able to mix patterns like a pro!
First things first--what is Pattern? In interior design, pattern refers to the repetition of 2-dimensional graphic motifs that are applied to a surface. Designers often call them “prints” when we’re talking about fabrics, as in a toile print or a calico print, because the pattern is physically printed onto the fabric’s surface.
When working with patterns, the three most important elements are color, scale and shape.
Element #1: Color
Why? Because it’s one of the great unifiers, and a perfect place to start. Let’s say your scheme is navy, pumpkin and oatmeal. Make sure the soft goods you choose have at least one of those colors within their patterns (soft goods are upholstery fabrics, pillows, curtains, throw blankets and rugs). Also make sure they’re the same shade of the color, which means looking at its undertones. There are navy blues that lean towards purple, while other shades of navy can look warmer and almost yellow-based. This goes for all colors because there are different shades within each color, and they can skew warm or cool. The best way to tell if two shades are compatible is to see them together in real life. Once you’ve decided on your upholstery fabrics, ask for swatches and keep them in the car or in your bag for when you go shopping. Bring them into stores and hold them up to items you’re considering. You’ll be able to tell pretty quickly if an item will coordinate with your colors or not.
Element #2: Scale
Why? Because it brings contrast and visual interest into a space. Scale refers to the size of the patterns that are printed on fabrics and other soft goods. Unlike color, where you want a unified shade, your best bet with scale is to vary it from piece to piece. If all the patterns in a room are the same size, there’s no contrast, and that means either visual overload or snoozeville. The easiest approach is to have only one large-scale pattern, and then two smaller-scale ones that play a supporting role. For instance, your club chair could wear a buffalo plaid, an accent chair could have a small floral, and curtains could be a narrow stripe. Also layer in one or two solid colors from your color scheme, and these can be tone-on-tone if you want to add texture to your patterns. Overall, you’re going for a pleasant balance that keeps your attention,but doesn't bowl you over or send you to sleep.
Element #3: Shape
Why? Because it is the 2D outline of any pattern itself, such as circles, squares, triangles, ovals, or any number of geometric outlines. They are at the heart of this mixing endeavor; without shapes, we wouldn’t have patterns. And just like scale, you need to have a variety of shapes in your decorating. Imagine a room with everything in plaid! It would definitely make a statement, but in the long run, you might find it difficult to relax being surrounded only by straight lines. You need some contrast with shapes. You could add visual interest to that plaid in the form of paisleys, botanicals, or polka dots. Mix straight-lined shapes with curvier ones, as in a comfy chair with striped fabric and a throw pillow with a floral pattern. If you’re drawn to squares and checks, feature those shapes in your scheme, but remember to balance them with one or two shapes that are more organic and soft.
To master the mix, balance is vital when combining patterns that you can easily live with. Let me know how it goes for you!
