Mixing patterns is fun. I know I have a very neutral home with very few patterns, but there was a time when I disliked white and didn’t even like solid colors. I wanted bold colors and loads of patterns in my home.
Be sure to catch the discussion on the podcast episode below.
I am featuring one of my blogger friends today so you can see patterns mixed in a beautiful and bold way. These gorgeous photos are from Jennifer’s blog DIMPLES AND TANGLES.
You can see that Jennifer loves patterns, but she went neutral on her big ticket items such as the sofas. Very wise woman!
Still the room has plenty of pattern, so you barely notice that the sofas are neutral. I see at least 6 patterns in the room. Today’s way of mixing patterns is more bold than the way it used to be done. I am not sure of Jennifer’s exact approach, but what you could do is select your bold multi-color pattern first. That would be the floral pillows for this room. Then she added two (2-color) prints – the check and the curtains. She went with her signature green for the tone-on-tone ottomans. It’s all topped off with leopard print pillows and the hide rug. It looks like the main colors are blue, green and black, so there aren’t a lot of different colors in here, just a few.
The colors are all different but they are all of a similar color intensity. The pattern sizes are different. The floral pillows repeat the tan of the sofas. Very nice!
For the dining room, I love how she has layered the rugs again. There are fewer colors in this room, but it’s still very lively. Note the pattern on the chairs is much smaller in scale than the pattern on the curtains. I also want you to note that the seats are a different fabric from what was used on the back of the chairs.
Once again we see Jennifer’s signature green on the headboard below. She’s added the blue and white curtains, green and white pillows, red pillows the green tone-on-tone ottomans, and a trellis green and white pillow. See that that the pattern scale is different on each item. There are 3 main colors in the room. Although there is more than one color in here, the color palette is limited.
Next Jennifer added a pattern to the wall. Great idea! So you have a large pattern on the wall, a medium size pattern in the curtains and on the red pillow. the bed skirt has a smaller print. The colors in the bedroom are limited to black, yellow, red and yellow.
There is a tension in the patterns like Yvonne mentioned that adds excitement to the room. Jennifer really does an amazing job of finding patterns that just work together. You can find her blog DIMPLES AND TANGLES HERE.
Be sure to check out our Pinterest board with much more on mixing patterns.
PINTEREST MIXING PATTERNS BOARD
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I love mixing patterns havr been foing rhis for years.
Thanls for the post.
I love mixing textiles! It is one of my favorite things to do. These are all great examples of finding the perfect mix. I wrote about mixing textiles for quite a while in a series called Tuesday’s Textile Mix. It was so fun to put together scores of fabrics to be used in a room even if it was just for fun.
Thanks for the inspiration. Have a great weekend.
Nancy
Way too much pattern and busyness for my tastes…….
I agree with you Mary. Way too much for myself.
I agree with Mary Barber. I thoroughly enjoy seeing patterns and different textiles arranged together. However, when it becomes too much – the beauty is also lost.
Each room featured is very nicely done.
Thanks Anita! I can see the point being made is the basics of mixing patterns relevant to scale and shapes. Like florals and geometric or small and large scale. Color optional! I find it interesting and incredibly fun to see things from a completely different viewpoint and learn the “take away” message that can be applied to our individual tastes. How boring life would be if we all had identical tastes!
Ginger
Yes Ginger. I know this look isn’t for everyone, but I love to look at different types of decor and take away something new and fresh. I like to be a lifelong learner too!
I like the dining room and really like her pillow choices in the living room, but can’t get with the brown and white cowhide rug in the living room or the emerald green ottomans. Just a little too mish mashy to suit me, but certainly brave…and I’m all for whatever floats your boat! She’s the one who has to live there.
Thanks Anita for sharing different styles. It’s fun to see how other people choose to decorate their homes.
I love some of her elements, and I really love her dining room. I love to throw in color as well, but I am more of a texture mixer. Great post this morning, thanks for the “bright” ideas!!!
❤Beth
I LOVE IT !! I also love mixing patterns and colors and I really WANT her living room…love it.
Can’t wait to get my book, paint and linen….so excited. xo
I do like her dining room, but with regard to the living room and bedroom – wow – just because you CAN mix so many patterns doesn’t mean that you SHOULD. With that said, it’s her home and she can do what she wants but if you put it out there online, not everyone will appreciate it.
She does a great job for her style, love the mix. Mixing patterns must be in the air, I did a blog post on this very subject last week. What comes naturally to some of us is hard for others so this post is very helpful. I am off to listen to your podcast!!
Thank you so much for sharing our home today, Anita! I appreciate your kind words!
Thanks for sharing your gorgeous photos with my readers Jennifer!
I love your style and follow your blog….religiously. Your posts are inspiring. Thank you for sharing all that you do! Xoxo
Thank you so much Lisa! I appreciate you so much.
The blue and white spoke to me. 🙂