Tips on Mixing Fabric Patterns

 A fabulous designer fabric is often the starting point of great interior design. Many people are good at mixing one pattern with a solid, but are afraid of adding more. Yet, adding even one more pattern can make the difference between a so-so room and a one that is interesting, polished, and pulled together.  Some companies, like waverly, offer coordinating fabrics and even ready-made items and wallpapers that work together, but what if you want something not available in a pre-designed package or the fabric you fall in love with is one-of-a-kind or vintage or you just want something more unique?

The important thing is to begin by choosing a fabric in a pattern that you love, such as the Brunschwig & Fils large scale floral chintz shown above, since that will set the tone for your overall decorating scheme.  Or you might want to consider Clarence House, Scalamandre, or other lines usually available only through interior decorators but made available to you on ebay at huge discounts. Choose a pattern with at least 3 colors. This will be your inspiration fabric, and the one featured most prominently in the room. Then select two or more additional fabrics, each having one or more of the colors in your inspiration fabric. Try to vary the fabrics so that contrast, texture, scale, sheen, and pattern vary.  Following are some examples of each: 

• Contrast: Overall color of one fabric should be light, with one medium, and one darker.
• Texture: Choose fabrics with different textures, such as a smooth silk and a woven linen, or a velvet and a chintz.
• Scale: Vary the size of the patterns by including one large, one medium, and one smaller pattern or solid. For example, you might choose a large floral like the one above, a medium size plaid, check, or stripe in coordinating colors, and a small embroidered pattern or a solid in a textured matte linen to complement the sheen in the chintz.
  
• Sheen: Mix shiny and matte fabrics.
  
• Patterns: Mix curvy and linear patterns, such as a floral or a toile and a check or plaid, with a third pattern, such as a small overall print. Or choose a solid color.  Although the examples here focus on three patterns, you can apply them to combinations of four or more if you wish.
  

Experiment with different swatches until you find a grouping that balances color, scale, and pattern and is pleasing to you.  You can do this with actual swatches or request jpegs via email from sellers whose fabrics you are interested in, download them, adjust the size of pictures for scale, and see how they look together on your computer screen.  Once you have decided on your fabrics, plan where they will be used.  Do not use all of the fabrics in one area of the room. Spread them around to create balance. For example, if you use your inspiration fabric (like the large floral fabric example above) for a valance and/or curtains, or draperies in your bedroom, you might use the same fabric for a couple of throw pillows, shams, or a headboard and/or dust ruffle for the bed,  to cover a lampshade, and as welting or a cushion for a pair of chairs.  Then your second fabric (such as the plaid or stripe in the previous example) could be used as a duvet cover and for window shades and to upholster one chair. Your third fabric might be a luxurious solid linen that can be used to trim the window treatments, make shams or throw pillows for the bed, and to cover a bench at the foot of the bed and the second chair. 

Don't forget that your walls and floorcoverings are additional areas for color and pattern and be sure to consider them, as well as the style and scale of your furniture, when planning your room. You can use the above guidelines with a wallcovering substituting for one of the fabrics, or treat it as a fourth element in your pattern mix. Remember, these are guidelines, not rules, and are meant to help you build the confidence and skills to create the room of your dreams.  There are exceptions to every rule, including some in the groupings of fabrics pictured below to inspire you. Experiment and have fun!

We will be posting pictures of different pattern combinations and styles and some room setting photos in the coming weeks, so check back for more ideas. You might also find our other fabric guides useful.