Everyone struggles or questions themselves when it comes to pillows. And honestly, it can be challenging at times. You want to ensure everything flows together nicely, and if it doesn’t, then you’re left with tons of unused pillows. That’s when the two G’s come in… garage sale or gifts… and let’s be honest, you buy something because you like it, so instead of giving those away, I’d like to help keep those fluffy buys right in your hands and home! I’ve decided to share some of my tips and tricks for mixing different patterns and prints together.
1. Pick your Color First
This is the most important thing to consider first and foremost. Start with one color you want to use for your room, then try using that same color family. If you are stumped, look at a color wheel for options of different hues.
2. Choose an unexpected Secondary Color
After finding the color family/hues you want, choose an unexpected pop of color. For example, if you choose brown hues, use a pop of turquoise, or hues of grey & black, use a pop of green. The color rule is the utmost important decision to factor in to make the different patterns and prints work together. Basically, pick at least two colors and stick with them.
3. Choose a Monochromatic Pattern
This pillow should be monochromatic (light with a single colored pattern) or feature a neutral pattern. These patterns/prints should be small and neutral or contain one color.
4. Choose a Tie-in Pillow
You should have one pillow that contains each of the colors you have chosen within the fabric. This will tie all the patterns, prints, and colors together in a single, cohesive pillow. Large patterns should be chosen that contain all the colors, if possible.
5. Choose Two Movement Patterns
This kind of pillow is one large-scale print and one small-scale print. Either the large or the small-scale print should be geometric, and the other should be floral/paisley to offset it, unless the geometric prints are strong enough to be paired together; for example, a bold stripe with an Aztec pillow or a large buffalo check with a pin stripe. As stated above, try using your large movement pattern for your tie-in pillow with all colors included, and your Medium movement print can then have just two colors (if using a few colors).
6. Placement
This is where the fun begins. You now have your color scheme, featuring a hint of dramatic color, a light/neutral pattern, a large and small-scale movement print, and a pattern that incorporates every color. Play with your placement while styling either your couch or bed, and just go with your gut.
Mixing colors and patterns not only makes a room look cozy and fun, but also gives it a custom, professional look without breaking your bank. So if you are double-questioning yourself, don’t! Just follow the tips above and remember this little trick…when picking prints and/or patterns, use the scale of odd numbers with 3 or 5 options. You will want a minimum of 3 different patterns to mix together.
Just have fun with it all, break the rules, and do what you love. Don’t stress too much about it!
