Mixing patterns & prints

Mixing patterns and prints, whether they are plaids and florals, or paisleys and stripes is a striking and professional look in any room. Many fabric companies have made this process easier for you by creating what they call companion fabrics, i.e., two, three, and four patterns all designed to exist harmoniously in one room. This way, all you have to do is choose a color palette you like, and the patterns are already coordinated for you.

An example of a set of coordinates might be: a large floral, a smaller floral, a stripe, and a check, all of which are made from the exact same set of dyes in the same hue. This is why they work. It's not mixing pastels with primary colors, or muted and vibrant jewel tones. Coordinated fabrics are all variations on the same color scheme; they are just translated in several complimentary patterns that elevate a room from nice to fabulous when paired together.

If you find a fabric you love and it doesn't come with its own coordinate fabrics, fear not. Of course you can create your own ensembles by selecting your own coordinate fabrics, but this takes a little practice. Be aware that there's more to a fabric than its color. All fabrics have a personality or a feel, as they say in the trade. Most people would identify damask, for example, as a formal fabric, even if they didn't know its rightful name. Conversely, most people would agree that muslin or gingham plaids are examples of casual, informal fabrics. These levels of formality absolutely come into play when you're choosing coordinates for a design project.

If the thought of multiple patterns in a room makes you nervous, you could at least offset the solid fabrics with the use of texture. Tone-on-tones, jacquards, and moirés will offer great interest by virtue of their innate textural appeal, yet they are still considered solid, not patterned.