Designing a home on your own can be very overwhelming, especially if you want to try mixing patterns. There are always so many options to choose from, even once you do finally narrow it down then you have to figure out how to tie everything together for a unified look. One thing I often see people questions is how designers mix patterns that seem to be so much different than each other, but make it look like they were made to go together! There are a few tricks to use when picking out your favorite pieces and fabrics and mixing patterns for an intentional look.
There’s actually a much easier way to narrow it down! Follow along with this blueprint on how real designers mix patterns seamlessly.
Stay till the end to see the final design!
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Step 1: Always Pick A Starting Point When Mixing Patterns
Anyone who isn’t new here knows just how important this is in any type of design project you want to tackle on your own. Whether you were redesigning your bedroom, renovating the bath or simply trying to mix some fun throw pillow patterns together, it all starts with finding that one starting point. This makes is so much easier when mixing patterns too!
The starting point here is going to be your main piece, the main fabric and pattern you want featured in this design. The show-stopper. The piece that we base the rest of the design after!
Pick an item or decor item that speaks the most to you, it can have a variety of colors and a breathtaking pattern!
Finding a pattern with a lot of colors can actually help you when trying to find more patterns to go well with your design!
The Design
I am loving this one! Such a unique design and a few great colors to work with. Now, having more colors in the first one you pick makes it easier later on!
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Step 2: Pick colors for the next patterns
After finding the initial pillow, or fabric, pick out the colors from that to use in the rest of your design. You will just be picking colors from the first design. Depending on how many fabrics or patterns you want, you can use all or just choose a few.
These colors help marry all the pieces together, causing them to look purposeful and blend seamlessly. Not like you just rummaged through the sale shelf and picked out any ol’ patterns!
Also, this helps you stick to your color pallet in your home. You can choose a few colors or all of them depending on your home’s color pallet. Or, you can use a few colors more that match your home but still have splashes of other complimentary colors throughout to really bring out your design.
The Design Example
You can either pick a few colors from your initial design or choose to use them all! Since I only have a few here, I will be implementing all the colors in my design.
When you’re picking the second pattern using one of the colors you chose, keep this in mind;
The next thing you want to do is to find a pattern of varying scale. If you initially choose a pattern with a very large design you would want to pick one of medium to small design this time and of course vice versa.
You don’t want a bunch of the colors you choose but with patterns of very similar sizes, this will not look seamless even if all of the colors are incorporated correctly.
The Design
For this example, I choose to use orange in a very small-scale pattern. I also picked another pattern using yellow with a very large-scale pattern.
When choosing more decor items, just keep following these steps! Using the colors from the first pattern picked and varying scales.
The Design
For this next design I picked to go with the teal and as you can see the pattern is much smaller and less busy than the first. For the other pattern I choose a pillow with a lot going on! This one again has almost all the colors in the design, and different shades of the colors as well. But, since it has varying scale and no colors that are not already featured even if it is a different shade, this still fits into the design great!
Of course, you can also tie in solid pillows as well that have the colors you want in the design.
Final Thoughts on mixing patterns
It doesn’t have to be as overwhelming as it seems when mixing patterns and fabrics! This is a great way to create a unique and fun space. So always be unique and true to your own personal style! Break the rules if you wanna! If you think it will look good but doesn’t exactly follow these “rules” try it out! It can still look amazing. Always have fun! Mixing patterns can be fun, trying to match them all together, finding unique and funky patterns.
Final design
To finish off this design, I decided to add a fun rug that features some of the colors in the pillow selection but very lightly to keep them the focal point of this design. Then I added some fun mid-century modern pieces to top it off! These patterns didn’t look to be this design style, but I love mixing styles and creating a very unique look.
Are you ready to create your own design now? Let me know how it goes! 🙂 I’d be so excited to hear about your tips too!
Great advice – when can you come visit and help those of us who are remedial? 🙂 .
If you need any help feel free to contact me directly on my contact page! (:
Love that Teal Pillow! Everything came together nicely, great picks!
Great tips, sometimes I feel so overwhelmed why I try to update one of the rooms in our home. This was very helpful!
You definitely have a great eye for style! These steps are also very easy to follow.
Thank you!
This looks wonderful. I always try to mix and match my interiors otherwise I tend to stick with pastels and grays.
I’ve never considered mixing patterns, but it looks amazing! Thanks for sharing!
You’re welcome! Glad you enjoed it. So many are either intimidated or don’t know where to start in mixing patterns but, it can create such a beautiful design! I hope to see more try it out (:
I need help with decor. Posts like this are super helpful for me to learn! Thank you so much!