Mixing patterns, whether on furniture or wallpaper, can create a change in the atmosphere of a room, making it calming and relaxing or dramatic and exciting. It’s just about knowing what patterns to put together.
The best trick I find it to start with your bold pattern and then pair it with a complement, so a less busy pattern. To give you an example, a bold floral pattern works well with strips or polka dots or a simple plaid pairs well with a natural bird scene.
Consider the 60/30/10 approach. Keep to 60% for your favourite pattern, 30% for a second pattern and then 10% as a third accent pattern. Odd numbers of patterns tend to work best, different patterns on different scales.
Repeating colours in patterns can also help to tie them together and make them feel like they belong together, or even bring together the colours from artwork, the sofa or the wall colour, this will create a more harmonious feel.
Remember there are many ways to bring pattern into a space, it might be on a cushion or your drapes, maybe even a bold statement wallpaper. Just make sure that you balance the scale and the placement of your patterns so that they don’t feel lop-sided.
Go on, give it a go, and let me know how you get on!
