Even the most enthusiastic with decors find mixing and matching patterns a challenge.
"If you've ever encountered a shallow, one-dimensional person - maybe a famous-for-being-famous reality TV star or perhaps an arch nemesis - it's likely you found him or her both cold and uninteresting," said Houzz. "The same goes for interiors: A lack of layers can lead to an impersonal, unwelcoming space. While mixing colors and textures is often second nature for design enthusiasts, adding layers of patterns can be a bit more complex."
Turn your space from normal to extraordinary using proper layering by following these rules for mixing and matching patterns according to Realty Times:
Baby Steps
If you are hesitant of fully committing to pattern design, you can opt to ease into the idea until you become confident to play with patterns.
"While layering patterns works with walls, floors, upholstery, ceilings, window coverings and accessories, it's best to take baby steps when first trying it out," said Houzz. They recommend starting with pillows to "get comfortable with layering before we spend the big bucks."
Neutral Foundation
Incorporating several layers of pattern can get overwhelming and easily turn busy without a proper base color. To be safe, go for a neutral backdrop.
"Start off with a neutral color on the walls and flooring and use a few layers of bold prints in either your area rug, or in a few key pieces of furniture," said Freshome. "Then fill in your space with neutral colored sofas, chairs and ottomans to neutralize the room. The bold patterns will work magically with the subdued neutral tones."
Color Theory
An important factor to consider when mixing patterns is sticking to one main color. But in order to add interest, you can use various intensities of the same hue, or even complimentary or contrasting colors.
Scale Variation
Apart from color, another important consideration is scale which can be much more complicated. Houzz suggests avoiding using more than one of similar scale size of the same pattern.
Pay extra attention to proportion to create a balanced yet beautiful mixture of styles. "Typically, the larger a space is, the larger a pattern it can handle," said Budget Decorating. "A bold pattern can easily overwhelm a petite sofa and look out of place, so scale is important in any decorating scheme."
