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cgrimes75

struggling to mix patterns

7 years ago
I love mixing and matching textures and patterns...and I’m struggling with my dining room rug. Can anyone suggest some coordinating patterns? I’ve read articles about how to pair patterns with oriental and Persian rugs but I just can’t seem to get it right!

Comments (27)

  • 7 years ago

    What will the patterns/fabric be going on in that room?? Window treatments? Looks like your chairs have rush seats?

  • 7 years ago

    Beautiful rug.

    I consider Oriental/Persian rugs to be neutrals. What are you looking to co-ordinate with the rug?

  • PRO
    7 years ago

    Keep it pretty clean & simple >





    cgrimes75 thanked Color Zen
  • 7 years ago

    Thank you all! Yes, I have two side by side windows that should have panels. The room is an open dining room/kitchen in a taupe-ish grey color. I have panels that need to be changed but I like the look of a panel. I was hoping for a pattern on the panel, and then I have a large window seat (that will not have panels) but will have a cushion and throw pillows.


  • 7 years ago

    Pink_peony, yes-- the chairs are black with woven seats. It's a casual dining room so the whimsy of patterns keeps the mood light.

  • 7 years ago

    cgrimes, could you post a photo of the room? I think that would be helpful.

  • PRO
    7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    These fabrics are all from Kravet and might not be in your price range, but it will at least give you some suggestions of how to proceed.




    Those options from Color Zen will never work. Too pastel in appearance.


    These are the colors pulled from your rug. This is what you are looking for in coordinating your fabrics.


  • 7 years ago

    Thank you! I am willing to spend on fabric. I have Diane Furstenburg "Funky debra" panels that I am hoping to re-purpose as throw pillows. I love bold patterns.

  • 7 years ago


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    Here are some additional photos of the room. Light is not great but at least you can see the layout.

  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    Beautiful room, cgrimes. I really like all of the Kravet samples Beverly posted, especially the two Ikat ones, Tegal and Surat. I was going to suggest a blue and white Ikat.

    I just bought some ikat panels from Anthropologie for the living room windows in our new house. Will take a picture in a bit and post here.


  • 7 years ago

    there are a lot of colors in that rug, you could definitely do a lot with it! Its beautiful!

  • 7 years ago

    I just realized from the colors Beverly pulled out of your rug that most seem to be in my new Anthro curtains (the Stretched Ikat in Multi) so here's the link to take a look,

    https://www.anthropologie.com/shop/stretched-ikat-curtain?category=print-pattern-curtains&color=044&quantity=1&type=REGULAR

    They were just on sale, so if you like them, I would wait for another one to come around : )

  • PRO
    7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    I posted mostly upholstery fabric thinking you were talking about seats, but I see that your seats are woven. I'm not sure I would put this on draperies, also I'm not sure I would do draperies in this room.


    I do think it needs paint, more vibrant art selections and a new chandelier




  • 7 years ago
    Thanks Beverly. I love the blue paint. Unfortunately the room is completely open with the kitchen and I think for my own preference I’d like them to stay the same color.
  • 7 years ago
    Becky sharp—love those drapes!! Totally my style. I prefer ikats to geometrics.
  • 7 years ago

    I would do a Roman shade on the windows and then dummy panels. The Roman shades could be operable or not but since the table and chairs are casual i think They would keep with architwcture of your home and add to the casualness you’re looking for. I’d keep the pattern going since you want to keep the walls neutral and elevate the feel of the space . Here is your rug with a fun blue and white print Roman shade and a Jacobean/Williamsburg print drape with a coral background.

    Yes


    cgrimes75 thanked pink_peony
  • 7 years ago

    I am wondering about curtain placement with both sets of windows. With the smaller windows, are those small square things radiators/heaters? If they are, you certainly don't want to block them. And a bow window is notoriously difficult for curtain placement. Roman shades might be the way to go.

    cgrimes75 thanked beckysharp Reinstate SW Unconditionally
  • 7 years ago

    cgrimes, here's one of the panels on the sofa from two different angles, so hopefully you can see the pattern with the rug. There'll also be bamboo shades under the curtains. And that white part under the curtain panel is the lining.

    cgrimes75 thanked beckysharp Reinstate SW Unconditionally
  • 7 years ago

    cgrimes75,

    I feel compelled to respond as we seem to have the same taste and the same last name! I have had Oriental rugs in my living room and dining rooms for years. The rugs are red, navy, and cream. I have had a mixture of fabrics in those colors such that there is a cream color on a Queen Anne chair, striped floral on wing chair, ( blue, red, khaki ),blue sofa and a blue and cream ikat on a small chair and a red linen on the dining chairs...The secret is to find a pattern you love with colors you love and use that pattern as the basis for your color scheme. Good luck.

    cgrimes75 thanked threers
  • 7 years ago

    Thanks you threers and so funny about the name! I have so many patterns that I love. For me the problem is feeling confident that they coordinate with my rug. I appreciate all of the feedback. I'm going to look at some roman shades and pull some fabrics from my local fabric store and lay them around the room.

  • PRO
    7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    IMO none of the patterns shown work with that rug I think persian rugs should be the star in a room and use a color from the rug for drapes and BTW make those drspes full enought to still look great when closed not just some skimpy panels hung on each side of a window I think maybe a stripe for the window seat if you can find one with colors from the rug.

    cgrimes75 thanked Patricia Colwell Consulting
  • 7 years ago

    Patricia Colwell thank you. Would you recommend a solid for the drapes? This is my favorite rug and I'm struggling to feature it while also pulling in patterns to keep the room warm and cozy. My kids spend a lot of time doing homework, reading and hanging out on the window seat, etc.

  • 7 years ago

    I think when you are struggling with something, you should listen to that because for me it usually means that I'm not feeling it. And as I look at that rug I, too, am struggling with what I'd pair with it and it's because I don't like that rug. More specifically, I don't like the colors in that rug, so it's difficult to find something to go with it because that would just be using more colors I don't like. But if you say you like that rug and that's what you're going to use, then ..... I would not put up any drapery panels in that space because of the bay window. But if that's what you're going to do, then I would use a solid drapery panel in a light color that coordinates with your wall paint color. If you let the panels blend in with the walls (instead of contrasting loudly against them with a dark color like blue) it will make the space seem larger. Then I would remove the bench seat in the bay window. I think bench seats are for kitchens, not dining rooms. But if you're going to keep that, then I would pick out either a floral or a small geometric pattern for the cushion on the bench seat. And then I would upgrade the dining chairs to upholstery in a light neutral color that has a soft pattern.

  • 7 years ago

    Literally any pattern!! The size of The pattern is more the key. Gorgeous rug, glad you have some decorating chutzpah!!

  • 7 years ago

    greenfish is correct about the scale of the pattern, esp if you're able to select your own fabric, which is an option I don't have between my budget and location.

  • 7 years ago

    Oh those panels are amazing...