Pattern mixing is a complex art in interior design. At Lush Interiors, we incorporate interior design principles such a colour, value, scale, and proportion to use patterns in the most impactful way. Patterns can be integrated into flooring, walls, ceiling, lighting, wallpaper, drapery, furnishings, as well as accessories. Each location can impact the interior design of a room differently. For example patterned wallpaper can add depth and dimension to a space, while patterned fabrics on furnishings and accessories can introduce texture and interest in your home decor. A well-executed pattern mix can elevate a room and make it truly stand out. Below are a few places to play with pattern in interior design.
Wall and floor tile is a great place to play with pattern in hard finishes. There are so many ways to elevate a room with tile using shape, colour and texture. Opting for visually interesting patterns like vertical stack, rhomboid, hexagon, herringbone, and geometric shapes can enhance a room’s aesthetic appeal, particularly in smaller spaces. Creative use of grout colour, tile layouts and schluter helps to highlight the design.
We tend to use wallpaper in most of our designs. We particularly like accent walls with decorative trims using pattern to create visual interest. To make it subtle but impactful, use crown and ceiling mouldings with interesting patterns then repeat that pattern on walls and fabrics. When we create a sophisticated space, we often use a similar colour palette in our patterns, mixing large and small scale to create visual interest. Having a common thread through all the patterns helps to tie them together.
When using pattern in fabrics, we often incorporate solid colours to create negative space around patterns. This allows your eye to move throughout the room and really focus on each pattern within the room. Just like a frame on a piece of art helps to define the piece, the same can be said for using trims, cord and fringe on a toss pillow with pattern. There are no hard and fast rules on using pattern, but we try to vary the patterns by mixing stripes with florals with geometrics. The trick is not to use the same size pattern on all the pieces but to vary the size of each pattern. Try to use the same colour value in all the pieces and mix bright colours with other bright colours or pastels with pastels to prevent the space from being too chaotic.
A maximalist space is a fun way to use pattern by mixing colours, textures, and patterns both large and small in a random way, such as leopard print, florals, and geometrics in the same room. If you want to try it yourself, you can experiment with pattern in smaller elements such as area carpets, toss cushions and other home accessories. Layering each of these elements in a creative way gives you a thoughtful, curated space that incorporates your own interior decorating style.
While pattern mixing can be tricky, it’s an important aspect of interior design that adds depth and dimension to a space. To effectively use patterns, it’s essential to understand the principles of design, consider colour value, scale, and proportion, and experiment with layering patterns. A well-executed pattern mix can elevate a room and make it truly stand out. At Lush Interiors we can help seamlessly integrate Pattern mixing into aspects of your interior decorating.
Charlene is an award-winning Calgary Interior Designer and owner of Lush Interiors. For over 20 years she has collaborated with clients to create their ideal living spaces. Charlene and her interior design team create spaces that blend classic elements with a modern sensibility, always incorporating her client’s unique personalities and esthetic. Join Charlene on this design journey as she explores the latest trends, uncovers timeless design principles, and discover innovative ideas to elevate your home or workspace.
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