Everyone struggles or questions themselves when it comes to pillows. And honestly, it can be challenging at times. You want to make sure everything is flowing together nicely and if it’s not then you’re stuck with tons of pillows that you have no use for. That’s when the 2 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 when it comes to 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 are wanting 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 are wanting, 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 w/ one colored pattern) or 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 one single pillow. Large patterns should be the choice that contains all the colors, if possible.
5. Choose 2 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 be a floral/paisley to offset the other 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 in it, and your Medium movement print can then just have two colors (if using a few colors).
6. Placement
This is where the fun begins. You now have your color scheme with a hint/pop of dramatic color, a light/neutral pattern, a large and small scale movement print, and a pattern with 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!
