Mix Patterns Like a Pro With Tips From 3 of Our Favorite Interior Designers

If you're like us, more is almost always more. But when it comes to adding more pattern to an already pattern-filled space, it can be a little daunting. To take the uncertainty out of playing with pattern, we reached out to a few of our favorite interior designs to get their tips on mixing and matching motifs like a pro.

Samantha Pappas

"Mixing patterns can seem a little daunting when designing a space, but it can actually add more depth and excitement, and really give your design a custom feel.

First, choose a color palette that is cohesive. Have the main color be the thread that ties the patterns together and is the common element throughout the space. Don’t be afraid to add different hues or tones of the lead color to add interest in the design. It doesn’t have to be one dimensional. This is the fun of mixing different patterns together. 

Don’t forget about the scale of your different patterns. Have a large-scale pattern with varying colors to pull from, such as a wallpaper, a medium-scale pattern (think fabric to add in some texture), and some small-scale patterns as an accent to tie it all together. 

Lastly, I always make sure to a keep a neutral component to give balance and not overwhelm the space. It will help to break up the patterns to make the room calming and inviting instead of chaotic."

Pictured above: Evil Eye (Green)

Reena Sotropa In House Design Group

"Everyone has a different tolerance for the mixing of colours and patterns within their home. When our client is game, we love mixing patterns and relish the opportunity to add personality into a space through the use of pattern! When mixing patterns, it is important to consider three important elements: the overall colour scheme, the character of the pattern itself (organic, geometric, etc.), and most importantly, the scale of the patterns. For example, consider an installation where two rooms sit side-by-side. The two spaces need to complement one another, but we want them to each have their own personality. The rooms can visually connect to one another through the use of repeated colour, while the patterns can balance with one another in both scale and character."

Pictured above: Daydream (Green)

Megan Hopp

"My single most important philosophy for pattern mixing is for the varying patterns to have as much in common as they do not. Features in your pattern to consider when comparing and contrasting are color, scale, and content. If one paper has a large-scale print, try pairing it up against a smaller, denser print. However, remember to make sure they have something in common, like or color or content—maybe both prints are blue or botanical. If you balance the scales of what the patterns have in common versus what they do not, you’re off to the races in becoming a skilled pattern matcher!"

Pictured above: Soldo (Navy)