Thursday, December 5, 2013

How to Mix Patterns Successfully

Some simple guidelines 
Make sure that you change up the scale of your patterns. Scale is one of the most important factors; choose at least one large, one medium, and one small scale pattern.  You need to make sure that your fabrics are going to complement each other and if you have too many prints in a similar scale they will end up fighting.

All photos are great samples of mixing pattern.

The yellow highlighter shows the repetition of a circle pattern and the blue circle shows the repetition of a black line pattern starting from the Zebra shoes on the floor


Consider the colors that are in your prints. Choose colors that are either similar in intensity and/or similar in hue. You don’t want to use a fabric with muted soft colors with other fabrics that have bold bright colors; you will lose the interest of the lighter fabric amongst the others.

Subdued in tone, but NOT in effect! See Amber's blog post about pattern mixing.
Remember to use repetition. The repetition of color and pattern in a space result in a cohesive design. It is always good to use a common color throughout your prints and you want to disperse this color through the room, whether it be in artwork or accessories as well.
Living Room-The bold geometry of curtains in Quadrille's Tashkent and an Adirondack folding screen anchor the lively play of China Seas fabric patterns. Nitik II trimmed with Pimento on a pair of vintage armchairs, New Batik on an Albert Hadley armchair, and Aquarias on throw pillows. Framed whale prints and a mermaid console add a salty splash to the mix. 
 If you need help establishing your own color palette, contact me to help you create flow in your home. Admitting you need help is the first step in transforming your home and life!