Today I am sharing my formula to mix fabric patterns in interior spaces. Follow these tips to achieve the best results.
Have you ever noticed a small child watching carefully the patterns of a bedspread? How he or she is busy analyzing and counting those figures! That is exactly what patterns do to our brains. They have the power to keep us engaged. It is just that as a child we find the beauty of patterns in things as small as a bedspread and when we grow up our horizon increases. But the underlying fact is that patterns invoke that interest in any space.
Now while doing your living room you are aiming for that perfect pattern mix for your rugs, drapery, wallpaper, upholstery, throw pillows… But once you land in a fabric shop all your ideas and inspirations go for a toss! You have so many options that leave you more confused and overwhelmed than sorted. Don’t you feel like Alice in the wonderland?
But don’t worry, I am going to outline a few guidelines which will make your process a lot easier. Though I would admit that even as a professional, sometimes it takes a lot of trials to achieve that perfect mix. But with experience, I have learned to nail the technique of pattern mixing. So let’s get started!
1. Mix fabric patterns in odd numbers
Somehow, odd numbers of patterns always work well in a scheme. They appear more organic and inevitable than curated. I generally stick to three patterns but depending on the space you can go up to five patterns in a mix.
2. Start with a primary, master pattern
Select that one pattern you like the most as per the style and look you are aiming for. Preferably choose a pattern with a lot of colors in it so that we can pull out those colors for the rest of our scheme. We can now draw inspiration from our master pattern and build a color palette for our interiors.
Here I am taking a random floral pattern to start with to explain the process. It has enough colors in it to support our scheme. I like its organic feel against a muted pinkish background.
3.Layer in secondary patterns in different styles
Now let us select the secondary patterns for this scheme. They do not have to be matching with the floral pattern in terms of style. Rather than being matchy, they should complement or contrast the florals to deliver a coordinated pattern scheme. We must ensure variety in our scheme.
But mix patterns within the chosen color palette for harmony. E.g. here I have chosen a striped pattern which provides a nice offset to the busy and organic floral pattern above. It generates a cleaner and more organized vibe.
Let us select the third pattern, which pulls out some other color from the palette and provides contrast at the same time. I have selected a geometrical pattern as shown below. It has a nice mix of colors from our palette.
All the patterns are quite distinctive from one another. But being from the same color palette they tie well together. The patterns also have enough contrast to impart visual interest.
Are you enjoying? Keep reading….
4. Mix patterns of varying scales
Did you notice the scale of the three patterns? The primary pattern is a fairly large-scale pattern whereas the third pattern is small scale. I would say the striped pattern is in the medium scale category. So basically always mix patterns of varying scales. This gives our eyes enough variation to travel around the space. Also, the patterns do not clash with each other.
5. Add neutrals and solids
To create a more cohesive look we can now introduce a solid or a neutral pattern e.g. animal prints. Here I am introducing a textured solid as shown below. I have pulled out a less obvious color from the master floral pattern for this.
Are you excited to see how the patterns look together? This is how all the patterns look together:
6. Follow the 60 : 30: 10 rule and spread the patterns throughout the space
Spread the patterns throughout the space in a way that one of the patterns is roughly 60 % of the total composition and the other two are about 30 % and 10 % respectively. Now it is always a good idea to keep the medium-scale patterns as the main fabric i.e. in the largest proportion. Large-scale and small-scale patterns if used extensively can be a bit too much for the eyes to handle.
7. Few additional tips to mix patterns
Some additional tips which will enhance the patterns scheme include:
- Vary the backgrounds of different patterns in a way that gives a nice contrast to lift the scheme.
- Run the patterns in different directions.
- Keep the intensity of colors of different patterns the same.
- Introduce textures to enhance the look and give a tactile appeal.
- Co-ordinate the paint colors with pattern colors. Learn more about paint colors here.
8. Conclusion
Though these rules are there in our subconscious mind but ultimately one needs to follow one’s gut. Always collect swatches of the chosen fabrics and keep them all together to take a final decision.
I hope you enjoyed selecting patterns with me and this blog makes the process easier and more enjoyable for you! And selecting patterns no longer feels like solving a big crossword puzzle to you.
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Happy mixing patterns!!