How To: Mix Patterns Within Furnishing Fabrics

Using pattern in your home is a great way to express your personality or create a certain emotion in a particular room. The key to mixing patterns is not to go too crazy, throwing ten different patterns and colours together won’t work; instead, implement the 60/30/10 approach.

Choose your favourite pattern and use this across 60% of your room, your second pattern should be across 30% and 10% the third pattern, as an accent such as blankets, lampshades or cushions. Include solid colours, as bed sheets or rugs to complement your patterns. Choose three different patterns, rather than three different variations.

You don’t have to replicate pattern throughout the room, that can become overwhelming. Take the colour palette from your primary pattern and use this to inspire your second and third patterns. If you are not blessed with space then try to steer clear of large scale prints, simple patterns are the best match for curtains. Use the largest pattern you have chosen and build the rest of your design around this. If you have chosen to work with patterned wallpaper, the size of the pattern should not match the size of any other pattern in the room.

For example, if you have used a large floral print on the walls, keep the pattern on the bed to a medium size and the print on the curtains to the smallest size. Pattern doesn’t necessarily mean loud colours, but colour plays an important role. If you want to keep your design subtle then try tone-on-tone patterns so that the design doesn’t look dull and lifeless but doesn’t become overwhelming.