When it comes to decorating your home, mixing patterns and textures is a great way to make a room come alive. But it can also be intimidating. Following these simple guidelines will take any room in your home from drab to fab - and will have your neighbors clamoring for your design secrets.
1. Baby steps. If you’re new to pattern mixing, start small. Pillows are a good place to experiment because they’re relatively inexpensive and can be changed out easily if you tire of your choice.
2. Pick your colors. It’s important to have a good color palette before you start mixing patterns. Try laying out samples of the various colors you want to incorporate before committing, that way you can see if they work together or end up clashing.
3. Layer layer layer. Now it’s time to find the patterns you like that incorporate the colors you’ve chosen. Do the same thing you did with colors: lay them out together to see what works and what doesn’t. It’s best to keep it simple at first and start with a maximum of three to four patterns. And remember, don’t pick one type of pattern - geometric works best with florals, and small-scale patterns help balance out large-scale.
4. Choose your style. Different textures convey different feels, both literally and figuratively. The first step when trying to layer textures is to decide on your aesthetic. Cozy? Try a wooden coffee table. Elegant? Look for a stately glass-door cabinet piece. Modern? Find a metal end table with a glass top. Determining your style will help narrow your focus.
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5. Repeat textures. This will help balance a room and give it a more cohesive feel - a good tip for those new to layering textures. A velvet chair and velvet curtains; wicker baskets and a wicker chair; a leather stool and a leather pillow - these all help tie the room together.
Your home should be a place for self-expression, so think of decorating like you would putting on accessories – a few finishing touches make each space your own.
