Basic Pattern Ideas for Design & Décor

• Add variety to a room and glamorize it instantly. Harmonious pattern combination should also count how dense a pattern is. Use patterns closer together to make a room appear cozier while patterns far apart can make room appear bigger.
• An expert can experiment with combination of pattern styles. Three plaids may look dull while sensible use of a floral pattern; a plaid pattern and a stripe pattern may add a dramatic touch to the Decor. Checks, geometric patterns and abstract designs make experimenting almost a fun.
• As a novice, it is always a good idea to choose one basic fabric pattern and use it as a foundation to decorate your room. Choose the wall colors and accessories according to the fabric and its pattern. Various patterns that are most commonly used are cheery ornamental florals; classic plaids, funky multicolored stripes or even traditional solid colors.
• In case you are not able to get the hang of the right use of scales while using patterns, choose medium-scale patterns as they can be used both for larger spaces and for smaller spaces too.
• It is advisable to use more than three patterns in a single room, unless you want to disrupt the harmony of the room and make it look chaotic. However, if the room or area is very large, you may use some subdued and understated pattern to give definition to certain part of the room or make it the focal point of your Decor.
• Large-scale patterns may be cut to bits and pieces when used to cover smaller areas or small pieces of furniture and accents and may lose their beauty. They may also make a room appear smaller. On the other hand, they look bold, energetic, vibrant and lively in a large room and add a touch of elegance and grandeur to large furniture pieces.
• Never ever use contrasting patterns in a single area as it can become chaotic. Instead choose three different areas over a large room in a way that visual and aesthetic balance can be achieved.
• Not only the patterns but also their scales can be experimented with. Large to medium to small sized plaids all have a different look that can be learned from experience. Use large-scale patterns in larger rooms while small scale in smaller rooms. You can define different work areas in a room, simply by changing the scales of the patterns used. Try using a small-scale floral design for the corners, medium-scale stripes for the kitchen and large-scale plaids for the living area. A very small-scale pattern in a very large room may be lost and may be mistaken for texture or solid color, when seen at a distance.
• The trick is to have unity in patterns though they may vary in style or scale. Common color can be this unity factor for one. If the foundation fabric or color that you have chosen is blue in color, choose the patterns that have same shade of blue as the main color.
• Vertical stripes add illusion of height and are meant for rooms with lower ceilings and low furniture, while horizontal stripes add illusion of width to the narrow rooms or furniture pieces.