Want to learn to mix patterns so well that even your friends with think that a pro did it?
Mixing patterns to create a look is simple to do just by following a few simple steps.
To start, decide on a color scheme. But keep the intensity of the colors the same. Try to avoid mixing pastels with primary colors for instance.
Next, find a pillow with color and pattern that you really like. This will be the inspiration for creating your pillow collection. We’ll use the color within this pillow to find other pillows for our collection. We’ll start with this an organic design; something with flow, movement, an irregular shapes like this paisley pillow. It has movement, several shades of blue, and has an open feel. Although the paisley pattern is large in scale, it has a lot of negative white space in the background that keeps it from being too busy.
Now chose a pillow with a geometric design like the black stripe or a pillow like the diamond lined pattern or both as we did here. Although both fabrics have straight lines, they vary in thickness and density so they do not compete or clash, but work well together. I would consider these pillows to be busy with a medium scale pattern.
But as you have noticed, the inspiration pillow does not have black in its pattern. No it does not. But both geometric pillows have a white background that connects it to the white or light background of the paisley pillow. This white background serves as the common “thread” that connects all of the pillows. So in a sense, the paisley and the geometric pillows are connected by their negative space. Also, the blues and the black have the same intensity of color, so I think it works.
Okay, finally let’s add a solid or a neutral. Here we added a dark blue velvet pillow. Using a solid or a neural in your decorating scheme does not equal boring at all. But it accomplishes a few things in the overall design. In fact, using too much pattern will just cancel out the pattern all together, making your pillow design too busy to even see the pattern. The neural pillow it not busy at all and allows the eye to rest so the overall design does not feel too complicated. And actually allows the patterns to be seen. Also, using solid pillows is a great way to add texture just like in the navy velvet pillow that we chose. The soft pile of the velvet adds interest.
That’s it. So now you can mix and match pillow patterns just like the pros do by keeping these few tips in mind:
**Start with a pillow that serves as your inspiration that has an organic pattern and a color scheme that you like. This will be our busy pillow.
**Next find a geometric. Varying the thickness, intensity, and the pattern of the design so that it complements and does not compete or clash with the pattern of your inspiration pillow. This is our less busy pillow.
**And then to rest the eye and pull it all together, use a neutral or solid pillow. Perhaps something with texture for subtle interest. This pillow is not busy at all, but has a yummy texture.
So that’s it: color + pattern + scale adds up to great decorating style just like the pros do. And now you can too!
For these and other great looks, shop Evia Mae & Alex
By Evia Kosman
