For many people, there is one design dilemma that continues to cause headaches when trying to decorate a room. Mixing patterns.  Using more than one pattern in a room can seem daunting at first, but once you become more familiar with some basic rules, it can actually become quit easy.

Not too long ago people would use matching patterns throughout an entire room.  Curtains would match a sofa, which would match the pillows, which would match the lampshade and so on.  Thankfully, that look is over and mixing patterns is the way to go.

When it comes to mixing patterns, trust your instincts, but her are a few tips that can help:

• Use at least three patterns in a room and vary the scale.  Combine one large, one medium and one small.  Or use one large and two mediums.
• Try to use colors that are the same intensity.  For example, don’t mix jewel tones with soft pastels.  Different patterns can work together if they are the same hues.
• Distribute patterns evenly throughout the room. If multiple patterns are on one side of the room, the room will look unbalanced.
• Avoid using the same scale and pattern combination next to each other.  For example, for a window treatment you may want to use a larger sized pattern, where as on throw pillows the pattern would be much smaller.
• Don’t place too many patterns on top of each other or the space will feel chaotic. Add some solids in the mix to break up the space so the eye has a place to rest.
• It is not necessary for patterns to be of different colors.  Tone-on-tone patterns can add character while remaining elegant.
• Consider the texture of a fabric. Some textures will provide more “pop” and enhance the effect of the pattern.  Mixing and matching textured fabrics is not as important as color and scale, but it is worth taking into consideration.

Get started on you next project today  by calling Carole Lee Interiors!