Much has been said about the mixing of patterns and textures in textiles and fabrics – the common voice resulting in a resounding ‘don’t do it!’ However, over recent years boundaries have been pushed back and stretched to accommodate tastes and styles deemed more avant-garde and creative, and much to the amazement (and possible chagrin) of the pattern purists, usually with positive results.

A pattern is the repetition of a theme, for example, stripes, zigzags, polka-dots, and the proper use of pattern in interior design can transform a room from plain and uninteresting to a stunning work of art.

There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to pattern combination. What works in your friend’s room might not work in yours, so feel free to throw caution to the wind and let your creativity wander – albeit on a leash. Mixing patterns is totally fine and appropriate; however, it’s best to start off with small changes. Attempting to mix too many patterns in one room will overwhelm you and result in overkill.

Perspective plays a big part when it comes to patterns; vertical lines will add height to a room, so keep this in mind if you’ve got low ceilings. Meanwhile horizontal lines will make the room look wider, so it’s the ideal perspective trick for small, poky rooms.

The size and scale of the pattern will make a huge difference to the look of the room. If your room is small, keep your patterns simplistic as heavy, busy patterns can make the room look. A larger room however, will be able to take more complex patterns helping to break up the space and give the room more personality.

Search for inspiration everywhere. You could spot something that grabs your fancy in the unlikeliest place so keep your eyes open, from design shops and interior design magazines to larger scale places like hotels. Keep picture cuttings of rooms that you like and where possible ask for samples of materials and textiles to gather a treasure trove of patterns and see how they look side by side.

Including patterns in your room need not be an expensive process. Start off with the small things like cushions, throws and rugs. If you can’t find them ready-made, then look for material in the texture and pattern that you want and commission them, or make them yourself if you’re handy with a needle and thread. By fully immersing yourself in the project the end result will be truly satisfying. Eventually you might want to take on the larger features in the room and change the curtains and the sofa to further enhance the design, possibly even the wall colour!

If you do decide to apply pattern to the wall choose the largest wall in the room to make it the feature wall. However, it’s best if the wall is not interrupted by windows or doors so that the pattern will not be disconnected.

When dealing with patterns there is a delicate balance in play so there needs to be a large area of plain textile in the room to counter the design. This could be the wall, the curtains and/or a sofa. Interjections of plain colour throughout the room will also help to create harmony between the pattern and the plain.

Although different patterns can work well together they need to have a common factor which is usually their colour. You could have a blue sofa with several cushions of different patterns on it that work well because they are colour co-ordinated. Mix stripes with spots with gingham with damask, just keep the same colour palette.

It’s important to take a sample of your base colour and fabric with you when looking for other materials to combine. Remember that there are varying shades of all colours and only when you lay them near each other will you see whether they clash or complement.

Another way of adding pattern is having textured features. A shaggy plain-coloured rug will add to a pattern; so will sequined cushions, embroidery, and even wicker chairs. Although they might have one colour, texture affects colour as rough textures will absorb light while smooth textures reflect it, so colour combination plays a part in this too.

You’ll probably find different pieces of advice about how to incorporate patterns in your room and this lack of hard and fast rules means that there’s no right or wrong way to do it. Just follow the advice that is closest to your personal tastes and use those rules as a guide. Ultimately your space needs to reflect your tastes and personality so be sure to enjoy the process of creating your perfectly patterned home.

Tips

• Keep the background colours the same when coordinating patterns
• Repeat colours in each pattern
• Include a mix of pattern sizes according to the size of the room
• Add plain or textured fabrics for more interest

Published in HOMES & DESIGN, The Sunday Times – 2011