Pattern Combinations
Pick 3
Three is the magic number. (One is the loneliest.)
Everything looks better in groups of three, and pattern is no exception. I tested this out myself, and it's so true. 2 patterns look great, but 3 patterns combined successfully will change your life. (If your life revolves around fabric. And whose doesn't?)
Vary the scale
The key to combining patterns is varying the scale. Vary the scale of your patterns from small to large. For example, pick a large scale fabric for pattern 1. For pattern 2, pick a fabric that is half the scale. Then for fabric 3, you can use either scale, but mix the colors.
Vary the colors
Pick 2-3 colors. Try limiting the color on fabric 1 and/or fabric 2 and then combining all the colors on fabric 3. This ties everything together.
Add solids & texture
Adding a solid or textured fabric into the mix will also help bring everything together. For solids, pick one of the colors in your patterns that you love. You can take it one step further by picking a textured solid fabric. For example, if your patterns have an ivory background, try adding a soft, woven ivory pillow to the mix.
Use friendly fabrics
This is my favorite tip, and the one I had the most fun playing with and learning about. Apparently there are fabrics that just inherently look great together....they're fabric friends. Who knew?
I tested out this theory at the fabric store, and it's my favorite thing ever.
Three is the magic number. (One is the loneliest.)
Everything looks better in groups of three, and pattern is no exception. I tested this out myself, and it's so true. 2 patterns look great, but 3 patterns combined successfully will change your life. (If your life revolves around fabric. And whose doesn't?)
Vary the scale
The key to combining patterns is varying the scale. Vary the scale of your patterns from small to large. For example, pick a large scale fabric for pattern 1. For pattern 2, pick a fabric that is half the scale. Then for fabric 3, you can use either scale, but mix the colors.
Vary the colors
Pick 2-3 colors. Try limiting the color on fabric 1 and/or fabric 2 and then combining all the colors on fabric 3. This ties everything together.
Add solids & texture
Adding a solid or textured fabric into the mix will also help bring everything together. For solids, pick one of the colors in your patterns that you love. You can take it one step further by picking a textured solid fabric. For example, if your patterns have an ivory background, try adding a soft, woven ivory pillow to the mix.
Use friendly fabrics
This is my favorite tip, and the one I had the most fun playing with and learning about. Apparently there are fabrics that just inherently look great together....they're fabric friends. Who knew?
I tested out this theory at the fabric store, and it's my favorite thing ever.
Floral, Stripes, and Houndstooth
Q