Even more daunting than colour is the prospect of layering patterns. Mixing patterns can be tough and is often something that we think should be left to the ‘experts’.
Last year I was fortunate to attend a seminar given by Sarah Richardson, Canadian HGTV designer from Sarah’s House, Design Inc. and Sarah 101. She is recognized as an absolute expert in mixing and layering pattern.
Ann Moore-Spencer with Sarah Richardson at Inspire 2011
She shared that she easily mixes well over 12 patterns in one room. She obviously has the secret! She is undisputedly a master of the art.
'Sarah's House' master bedroom
Her classic style is warm, livable and comfortable. Today I seek to give you simple guidelines she shared. Hopefully we would increase your comfort level and increase your success when using patterns.
Keep it simple. If you are new and uncomfortable with mixing patterns, begin simply. Begin with 3 patterns: 1 large-scale, 1 medium-scale and 1 small-scale pattern.
Often multiple patterns look confusing and cluttered because we use patterns of more or less the same scale. Choose from prints (florals, pictorials, toiles, etc), geometrics and abstracts, plaids, and stripes. You can have a mixture of the different type of patterns, but limit yourself to 3 patterns to begin with.Coupled with solid colours, 3 patterns is more than enough to add depth and interest to any space. When you become more comfortable, try adding more than 1 medium-scaled pattern. Be cautious with the large and small scaled patterns though. They are the ones that cause the most problems by overwhelming the space (large patterns) or causing visual clutter (small patterns).
Edit your colours. I recommend that you choose one of the patterns as being the primary pattern or a starting print and select your colour palette from there. All added patterns must speak directly to, and be extracted from the palette in that primary pattern.
For interest and depth, vary the intensity of the colours, get a great mix of shapes and have some contrast in the colours in the mix. Anchor everything with a neutral colour like white, off-white, taupe, tan, warm grey, etc.
If multiple patterns in multiple colours is too much for you, begin with a multiple-patterned monochromatic scheme.
Recognise that texture is a pattern. When we speak of patterns in décor, very often we think only of printed fabric. Texture is also a pattern. Sarah’s spaces usually sport a balanced plethora of textures.
So the nubbiness of hemp, the slubs in linen, the sheen of sateen, the roughness of burlap, the swirls in moire, etc all impact visually as pattern.
So even our solid colours can have texture and count as pattern – and this is not one of the 3 main patterns we mentioned above. We don’t want only smooth textures in a room.
Pattern is not only in fabric. Other material in your space can be considered. There is pattern in your flooring, countertops, walls, ceiling, rugs, lighting, etc.
Consider it – mosiac backsplashes, sisal or shag rugs, linen drapery, chenille upholstery, silk runners, woven baskets, shiny mirrors, warm woodwork, granite countertops, and more for instance.
One of my clients has a beautiful stone wall that can easily be the focal point of her room. Yes, it may be a legacy of a time gone by, but just how we treat with it in the space as a whole will really update it and make the room more interesting. You can also add interest by juxtaposing elements with opposite characteristics.
I call it the ‘guns and roses’ factor. Velvet and aged wood, crystal chandeliers with brick or stone, for instance. It’s like using aged blue jeans with pearls.
Do not be afraid to edit. Step back a few feet – go across the room. Are your patterns working well together or are they fighting each other? Remember that in a large space small pattern will read like a texture and in a small space some large patterns can be overwhelming. Use large patterns on large pieces. For instance, upholster a sofa in a large print and bring it to life with a layer of complementary patterned pillows. Is your colour story clear or jumbled? Don’t just rely on your eye. How does the space feel? Feelings of excitement, interesting, organic, comfortable and even complex are all good. But if you feel overwhelmed, or the room feels chaotic, confusing or cluttered. You are not done yet. Continue to edit.
Designed by Eddie Ross for Elle Decor
Here are a few more photos
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