Mixing patterns in fashion happens all the time (I’m always a fan of stripes and florals), but people seem to shy away from doing it in their homes. I mean, other people tend to shy away — not me. I’m a pattern mixing fool, so today I put together a guide to doing just that. Huzzah!
I think of Photoshop as a decorating tool, just as you would consider a designer’s measuring tape or sketchbook. Seeing how everything comes together digitally has been the best way for me to get a good idea of what will work in a space, and I love putting together layouts for you. Below is the guide I’ve created, with 27 patterns matched to perfection.
The trick to mixing patterns is to start with a bold scale. I like accent chairs in oversized prints, so I begin there. Pick something like this one in pinstripes, or maybe something a little crazy like this one in raspberry ikat or my floral grandma chair. It will be easier than you think to make it work! For example, my chair may seem limiting at first, but there are so many colors in it that it’s easy to find a match. (In my home, that match is of course pink. And now coral too.) Next you add a contrasting pattern. In my case, the next thing would be my pink zigzag rug.
You can stop at two patterns, but you don’t have to. I certainly don’t! Vary the scales enough (something large, something significantly smaller, and then maybe a teensy ditsy pattern), and everything will look fine. This corner of my living room, below, has a whole lotta pattern going on. Bold floral fabric on the chair, a zigzag rug beneath, wallpaper in the room beyond, a textured (read: patterned) side table, art above, a patterned throw, and a patterned pillow. But it all works.
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41 comments
Emma
Check out this great example of mixing floral and stripes on Masters of Sex http://branchedesign.com/blog/2013/11/10/masters-of-sexy-wallpaper
Blinds.com
Such a great resource for mixing patterns. We’ll definitely be sharing this with our followers!
my favorite and my best- MFAMB to you
woah. those are some serious photoshop skills.
good advice too. i am not the best at this sport.
how2home
This is such an amazing post! Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge of fabrics with us. This is super helpful b/c i get confused with matching patterns and this is a great guideline! Have an amazing weekend :)
Elise
Just saw this over on Shutterbean. Great post! I definitely need help in this area. I just moved into my own place less than a year ago and I found that I’ve been playing it safe in terms of decorating. No more!
The NOW
Just saw this on Pinterest and had to comment! Great post! Thank you! xoxo Elizabeth
Emilee
Where did you get that heart pillow?! It’s adorable!!!!:)
Making it Lovely
It was a Jonathan Adler pillow that was only available through the now defunct Shop magazine (from six or seven years ago).
Allie
I love the side table! Mind sharing where it’s from?
Making it Lovely
Yep, it’s from west elm. I wrote about it here.
Emilee
It’s from west elm! I saw it on two tv shows in theist montth
Sarah K
I LOVE the “stripes option” with the graphic zebra print. Your chair with the changing throw and pillow is so inspiring! You’re right – normally I’d think that the floral pattern was too bold, but it layers beautifully – I think my favorite is when it is paired with black and white. Sarah
Christina W.
Love this post! About to start digging through your Pinterest in search of that awesome zigzag. Also did you get that stuffed zebra at Pier 1? I have one that looks just like it that I put in my Some Day I Will Have A Baby stash haha.
Christina W.
PS where on earth do you house all of your throw pillows when you aren’t using them??
Christina W.
I thought that was the one! The owl they had at the same time were kinda meh, but I fell in love with that cute, chubby zebra.
Making it Lovely
Four of those pillows stay in the living room (one on the chair, three on the couch), one is from Eleanor’s bedroom, one from the chair in the library, and two are from the bedroom (one of the two is reversible and I showed both sides).
We use a lot of pillows around here. ;)
And yes, the zebra was from Pier 1.
catherine
I love your amy ruppel!
Oksancia
Great post! I have just shared it on my social networks! My favorite combination of patterns is the one with stripes and zebras! I love how you decorated your corner with all those great prints. great job! :)
Making it Lovely
Thanks for sharing it!
Igor
This is fabulous! I love patterns and it is really tricky to work with patterns sometimes. Your guide is really helpful!
Megan (Honey We're Home)
Thank you for this visual!! And the video at the end is GENIUS!
Jill Seidner | Interior Design
Great guide, and inspiration for mixing patterns! Love these examples!
Miss B.
Excellent post, love your more exotic examples I know I would have never thought of them on my own:)
Danielle
Love this! I’m always trying to mix it up in our house and tend to get a bit of “oh noooooo!” from my pattern-adverse husband. Hopefully this little how-to will help him see the light! :)
Ashley
Love this post! I was pouring over Sarah Richardson pictures yesterday afternoon trying to figure out how she mixes patterns so well. I felt like I was starting to get it, and your post confirmed it! Now to put it into practice…
Making it Lovely
Oh, she’s fantastic at mixing. I’ve heard her say she aims for something like 10+ patterns per room.
Crystal
How fun! I love, love, love that argyle chair! Now I just need to figure out which pattern mix is best at hiding pet hair…
Alisha E.
Great post, Nicole. Thanks so much for the useful tips, and I am LOVING the patterns you posted–I’m especially obsessed with the plaid and zig zags and the argyle patterns make me want to have a baby girl;)
Julia @ life on churchill
I admire those who can mix patterns. It doesn’t come naturally to me–I tend to mix colors (right now I have a yellow chevron pillow with a solid pink pillow) but patterns seem so complex! Great post.
Ally
This is genius! I’ve followed your blog for a few years now and am continually amazed at the creative things you come up with!! I now finally have a house to try some of these lovely things in. Thanks for the inspiration!
Kathryn Humphreys
I’m not-so-patiently awaiting my new patterned rug so that I can increase Finn’s anxiety levels dramatically with the pattern mixing. Thanks for the ideas!
Making it Lovely
Ha! I love that.
Tanya from Dans le Townhouse
Oh gosh, this post is fun! Love your suggestions and the photo with the pillow/throw swap-eroo is mesmerizing. I’ve watched it cycle a few dozen times and MUST get back to work, lol.
Christina @ Little Victorian
Ha! Me too. :)
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