Article:
Mix fabrics for an interesting, finished look in any room
By Shelley Anderson
The Journal Newspapers - August 2006
When choosing fabrics for your interiors, combining fabrics, colors and patterns makes the finished project look pulled together and complete. Using only plain, solid color fabrics can leave a room uninteresting. Leafing through design magazines, you will see multiple patterns and designs of fabrics successfully being used in the same room. Plaids with florals and even other plaids or checks.
If you have wondered how to mix patterns in the same room without the result looking too busy, here are some guidelines to use:
Limit yourself to three patterns and a textured solid. This is enough variety to prevent a room from looking too matched.
Mix freeform and block prints in varied sizes so fabrics don’t compete.
The secret is scale and balance. When combining various patterns in one room, you first need to decide which one will be dominant; which one will drive the design for the space. By using a 60 percent rule, you will be able to achieve harmony in your design. The main fabric will be used in 60 percent of the scheme. The other fabrics or patterns will combine to 40 percent. This is the balance.
Scale refers to the actual size of the pattern on the fabric. Again, one pattern will dominate the design. If you select a large scale floral, you can layer in very small-scale florals in complementary colors. Plaids, checks and stripes will work well with floral or paisley designs. You just need to be mindful of the size of the patterns. Bold prints require a large field to be appreciated. They will work best on sofas, larger chairs and draperies.
The texture of the fabrics will add highs and lows to your room. For example, pairing a nubby fabric with iridescent silk pillows. Depending on the way light hits these textures, you get a mix of gloss and matte finishes, which adds depth.
Shelley Anderson has been creating interiors in the greater Seattle area since 1990.You may contact her at (206) 719-6814 or email her at
shelley.anderson@shelleyandersoninteriors.com.