Pattern Play: Masculine Ruggedness, Modernized

Different designers have different ways to approach choosing fabrics. Some like to use more solids; others use more pattern — or even a blend of the two. I love patterns, so I tend to shy away from solids and use textures in their place. I also like contrast, so I vary my fabric from light, to medium, to dark.

Here's how I used my rules of thumb to come up with this pattern palette:

1. My starting print. I started with the snake-chain pattern, then chose the big polka-dot pattern. Both are large-scale patterns, but there is still enough contrast between the patterns because the dot is dark, with a heavy texture, and the snake has a light linen texture and well as color.

2. Build the color palette. The snake-chain pattern has a very subtle caramel color in it. This gave me the ability to pull that color in using the diamond pattern and the crocodile. I really like mixing in some warmth whenever I use grays.

3. Vary the style. The crocodile pattern almost reads as a solid rather than pattern but its texture adds depth and interest. I originally tried this with a more uniform snakeskin pattern, but it just looked flat. The croc added more richness.

4. Vary the size of the pattern. The houndstooth I found last. This gave me a smaller pattern to mix in. I also liked it because it was a little unexpected and it had a nice range of grays. There were darker shades to pull in my polka dot and lighter to pull in my snake-chain pattern.

I also like to think in terms of shapes when choosing fabrics. I did use a lot of geometrics, but in this case they seem to work well. The snakes have a softer curve, the polka dot a more solid of a curve and then the diamond a very straight angle that acted more as a texture.

The combination reads slightly masculine to me, and that is the look I was going for with this set.

Try to think about what your prints are saying. Are they reading feminine, traditional, or whimsical? Is your floral looking more island like than country cottage like?

Next, see these patterns up close.

Here is an example of the type of room where the above pattern mix look could work very well. It's a gorgeous space that could read both masculine and feminine.

Let's imagine using our fabrics in a space like this:

Crocodile: Would work well on the bench at the end of the bed.
Snake-Chain: Could be really fun to use as the drapes behind the bed.
Diamond: Could work well on the Roman shades
Polka Dot & Houndstooth: Would look great used as throw pillows.

Next, see more great uses of patterns in interior design:

At first you see a lot of solid used in this room, but at a closer look, you'll see the sheets have a small pattern. The addition of the camel throw and wooden bedside lamps added just enough warmth to a mostly gray room.

Repeating a pattern in the drapes and throw pillows save this room from pattern overload. The large-scale medallion print on the benches was just the right amount of additional pattern mixed in.

More: Design Tips from the Countess of California Cool
Mixing and Matching Bed Linens
How to Layer Patterns Right