Interior Designing with Patterns

Choosing Your Patterns
Odd numbers just seem to make things work, whether you’re combining colors or planting shrubs. Three is the minimum number of patterns you should use, and the key to successful mixing is to vary the scale of the patterns, from small to large. Take baby steps when first trying it out. You can start with pillows, then work your way up.

What’s Your Inspiration
This can be a color you really like, a piece of fabric you’ve found, a favorite chair, painting or even a piece of clothing. Mother Nature, who rarely goes wrong with her color and pattern combos, is another good source of inspiration.

Use Similar Color Palate
Don’t mix pastels with primary colors, or muted with vibrant jewel tones, says designer Jayne Pelosi of Renaissance. A large floral, a smaller floral, a stripe and a check will work together if they are made from the same set of dyes in the same hue.

Placing Patterns in a Room
Avoid putting all patterned pieces together on one side of a room. They’ll throw the whole space off balance, says designer Rosemary Sadez Friedmann, author of Mystery of Color. “Distributing solids and patterns smoothly throughout the room will provide an aesthetically pleasant look,” she says.

What is the Functionality
Pattern can have a big impact on how a room feels. If you’re trying to pull a space together and create harmony, think larger patterns. Use smaller patterns to draw attention to one part of a room. Busy patterns will up the energy level in a room while simple or pale patterns will promote calmness. There are three different sizes of scale: small, medium and large.

Inspiration from: http://www.hgtv.com/design/rooms/bedrooms/mix-patterns-like-a-pro-pictures; http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/369483/list/decorating-secrets-how-to-layer-patterns-right