Mixing patterns is a fun way to get creative with your home decor. But it can also be intimidating, especially if you’re worried about looking like an overdone mess. So where do you start? We’ve got some tips from our in-house pros that will help you pull off this trend.

Start with three patterns

When it comes to mixing patterns, there’s a fine line between too much and just enough. You want your room to be fun, but you also want it to feel cohesive and balanced. While there are no hard and fast rules on how many patterns can go together, we recommend starting with about three patterns that are similar in color or tone.

In this example from the living room of our clients’ home, we used three different patterns of throw pillows. To tie everything together visually, we kept all of the patterns in one color scheme pulled from the rug in the room.

Mix up pattern types

It’s okay to mix patterns from different sources or styles, but try not to mix similar scales of patterns. You generally want one large scale pattern in a space, complemented by other small or medium scale patterns. We like to combine more organic patterns (like florals or animal print) with more structured patterns (like stripes or checks).

The best way to mix patterns is to be brave and try it. If you’re feeling unsure, start with a small area of your home–the area rug or even throw pillows on the bedside table. Once you’ve mastered the basics of mixing patterns, you can move onto bigger projects like curtains or even an entire room!

If you’re still stumped, call in the experts.

If you’re still stumped, call in the experts. We can help you determine which patterns work best together and why those combinations are successful.