How can I mix patterned fabrics?

Fabrics infuse warmth and richness into a room while also adding color and interest. Whatever your taste, there is a vast array of fabrics to select from - you are only limited by your imagination.

When mixing fabrics in a room, use the decorating rule of odd numbers. If a room is small, do not repeat a single pattern more than three times. In a larger room you could use the same pattern up to seven times. For example; if you are using a stripe fabric in a small space you could repeat the stripes on window treatments, sofa pillows and a pillow on an accent chair.

Scale is the most important component when mixing patterns. In a great room with vaulted ceilings you will want to use a bigger pattern for visual impact. A tiny chintz print would get lost in an over-sized space. You can vary print sizes in a room, just remember to make the larger pattern the dominant fabric in a large room and the smaller pattern the dominant one in a smaller room.

Floral, polka dots and stripes can all mix beautifully and live harmoniously together. If a large floral is your dominant pattern in a great room, pull a color from that fabric and find a stripe in the same color. The polka dot fabric could then be multi-color repeating the same palette as the floral. Or, you could make the stripe fabric multi-colored and the polka dot a single color.

Using the above tips as general guidelines, don't be afraid to experiment.