Mixing patterns in a room can be as complicated as wearing several patterns at a time. Use the wrong combinations and it’s a visual mess. Forget to find a cohesive point and you’re on the “Fashion Don’t” list. There are a few rules that I follow as an interior designer that help to avoid a pattern mistake in the homes I design - and they actually work for fashion, as well! Let’s take a look…

1. Find Your Star

The last thing you want is for several patterns to fight for attention in a room. Let one design be the star of the show. In the entry I designed above, you can see that the rug has the boldest pattern, and the most color. That draws all eyes to it as you enter the home. The other patterns on stairs and the walls are supporting players to that gorgeous rug, which gives the space balance.

2. Vary the Scale

The biggest mistake you can make with patterns - in a room and with your clothing - is to have the overall design look like visual chaos. That happens when you don’t vary the scale of the patterns you’re using together. In the room above, I used a large-scale pattern on the rug, a more mid-scale design on the ottoman, a slightly smaller pattern on the pillows and drapery, and then a very subtle small pattern on the chair. You want your eye to go to a focal point (the big pattern) and be able to travel easily without being overwhelmed.

3. Find a Color Connection

In the room above, there are seven patterns. What keeps that from being over the top is the color story. There are layers of neutrals and a quiet green, and those layers make a connection visually. It gives the overall design a cohesive and calming feeling.

4. Texture Talks

Remember that texture can read visually as a pattern, too. The pile of a rug, a velvet on a chair, or a grasscloth on the wall can seem like yet another pattern to your eye, so be sure you’re considering those textures as part of the overall room’s design.

Use these tips to great a beautiful mix in your home! And if you need help updating your spaces, be sure to give my team a call.

All the best,

Kara