Fabric Pattern Matching: Dos and Don'ts
Have you ever walked into a room and immediately felt a headache coming on because of all the clashing colors and patterns? Different pieces can look absolutely stunning separately, but when you put them all together you end up with a disaster. This does not mean you have to stick to solid colors. You can still have fun with interesting and whimsical patterns, but choosing the right complimentary patterns and colors can present a challenge. Luckily, there are tips that can help you mix and match fabric patterns in your home in an aesthetically pleasing way.
Dos and Don’ts: Mixing and Matching Fabric Patterns
Do - Incorporate Different Sizes - When you are mixing and matching patterns it is necessary to make sure you aren’t using all the same sizes. Use a large scale pattern as your dominant pattern and then incorporate small to medium patterns as accents.
Do - Determine a Color Palette - Using different patterns with different colors will turn your room chaotic. Using colors from the same family or palette will help to create a visually pleasing aesthetic. Remember the 60-30-10 rule - 60% of your room should be a dominant color, 30% should be a secondary color, and 10% will be your accent.
Don’t - Shy away from Bold Colors and Prints - The fantastic part of choosing patterns to mix and match is the wide range of bold colors you can choose from. Jewel tones in rich burgundy; garnet red and aquamarine blue can look lovely on your zebra print side chair! Choose prints that have a monochromatic design and that don’t compete visually with the bold colors around it.
Don’t - Choose too many - When it comes to design 3 is a magic number, once you go over that you run the risk of the room being busy and chaotic. Similar to the 60-30-10 rule for colors, a rule of thumb for matching patterns:
Primary Pattern - This will be the inspiration for the space, it should be the largest and the boldest.
Secondary Pattern - About half the scale of the primary pattern, but still different and bold enough to stand on its own
Tertiary Pattern - This should incorporate colors from the other patterns and will be a smaller pattern, similar to an accent.
Do - Try Wallpaper - As with many outdated trends wallpaper has made a comeback in the design world. Add some character to your walls with textured or patterned wallpaper.
Don’t - Be Afraid of Textures - Kick your space up a notch by incorporating textures. Whether it’s through a plush, shaggy rug or a pristine, white brocade bedspread, textures add dimension and give a space that little extra warmth. Create an inviting room with linen or velvet pillows; a silk-lined throw; a fabric lampshade with a stamped metal base; or a straw or woven floor rug. The trick is to find a balance with your mixed patterns that make the space interesting but still cozy.
Patterns are a great way to bring out your personality in your home. Matching multiple patterns in your color scheme is a way to be sure no one else will have a home like yours. Maybe you know exactly what you want in your head, and in your imagination you can design a HGTV worthy living room, but bringing it to life in reality is another thing entirely. That’s when your local interior design services can come in handy. Choose the right company and they will be able to help you bring your imagined home design to life and live beautifully!
