Normally, I only use patterns on accent pieces.

COOL! espcially shabby chic chairs...check these...

I like patterned chairs around the dining table with solid colors for the host/hostess chairs.

I love putting pattern on accent chairs. Lately, I've been inspired by Thibaut's collection.

Love pattern on accent chairs with solid couch in the same color family, but not sure about the curtains and carpet- pattern or solid. Afraid it would be too much.

I find that most of my clients will do large pieces of furniture in solids or tweeds and smaller pieces in accent colors and/or patterns. I think it's mostly due to a comfort level with that. It's very personal as to how many patterns/colors someone can live with (or thinks they can live with). I love pattern and you can do several as long as they compliment one another.

I tend to go for solids in main pieces and use pattern for accessories, I change colors quite often in a space so it leaves me a lot more freedom, I have to admit though I do like pattered dining chairs, just did mine in a fabric that allowed me to do each chair in a different part, black trees on a 2 colored lime and white background I love them. I change out my area rugs for different seasons and always make changeable cusion covers in all kinds of patterns and colors, one of my favorite fabrics are used saris that I pick up in consignment stores in calgary they have great colors and usually a little metallic thread that is interesting.

Some design solutions that highlight the use of red .

I just got rid of both a patterned rug and patterned pair of chairs for solids. It was all a bit too much!

My thought is pattern is wonderful to add texture to smaller pieces in the room. Add it with small accent chairs, pillows, rugs (subtle tone on tone pattern preferably). But for large investment pieces, I think solid or a solid texture is the way to go.
Pattern can go all the way from very bold to subdued. Personally I prefer subdued. Much easier to live with an not get tired of!

Pattern adds texture and color...patois.

I decided to go bold after having solid fabric forever throughout my house so I had this chair upholstered in a pink zebra print. I am kind of regretting it now as it seems too trendy and for the price I probably should have gone solid and jazzed it up with pillows.

No patterned furniture but pattern on accessories and curtains.

I generally prefer solids with texture - but I just recently bought a sofa in a black, white, taupe print and I really like it. I think patterns can pull a room together and connect different colors/items.

For my taste and money, I think an accent chair could be fine (and fun!) but the large pieces should stay neutral with pillows and accessories adding the punch. I also love color on the walls, Much less expensive to change your look which I like to do every 2-3 years.

lorideas, those chairs are fab! Agree with sunnydrew, well done :-)

I use a lot of patterns and colors and love the rich variety in the rooms. I find using only solids and neutrals very boring and lifeless. My calming color is red and I get antsy with greys and greiges. I tend to buy only things that I truly love so I don't often feel the need for change, at least not on a whole scale level. I've been told I have a high "color tolerance" level. I know that not everyone can live with my choices but they make me happy and that's what really matters, right?

I love pattern, it adds interst, originality and a more custom look than solids.

These are my new armchairs, just walking by them makes me smile.

I'm with rngp. LOVE patterns and colors and yet my home is not flashy or loud in any way. Colors wake up a room (to whatever degree one is comfortable) and pattern animates it. I, too, subscribe to larger pieces in solids, then side chairs, etc., with a pattern — or a couple of coordinating patterns. Are we counting stripes as a pattern? They are the very easiest to work with, like pairing a striped chair with an oriental rug. The key in working with two patterns is often coordinating one or two colors and contrasting the size and density of the patterns.

The chairs displayed are not my style, but they are gorgeous. The red box kills the effect.
I prefer patterns...not bold, muted usually. It's probably more the texture I'm after. I only go /w solid colours in leathers.

Exactly usergray! I hadn't thought about it until you mentioned it but the only solids I have are leather as well. My sofa is a gorgeous café au lait color and I have an Empire style chair in a cola leather. Well, actually, I do have one other solid - a Chinese red armoire - very plain but quite the statement because of the color.

I like how the pattern and color compliment. Color and pattern add a complexity to a room....and warmth!

OK guys...I'm a designer and also have a trade showroom. There is NO right or wrong. It's what you live with best. As long as the room is balanced it works. Everyone has different taste and that is a GOOD thing! This is the fun stuff....go with it and always take some risks!

I like a subtle pattern :)

I have an off-white sofa and love seat and patterned pillows in neutral browns/black/gray. I would love to get a patterned occasional chair to co-ordinate with them once our new house is built. As long as the pattern is not to loud or busy, it would be great!! It would be nice if the pattern could pull another colour into the present neutral scheme supported by other accents.

I love pattern ,my last three Sofia's have had a pattern ,this one is Ethan Allen

I have found that I grow tired more quickly of prints on large pieces (Sofas, etc.)
Finally learned after the expense of reupholstering to add my prints on the accents pieces or chairs I can recover myself. I do like a subtle (or not so subtle) pattern on my window treatments.

As much as I love patterned furniture, I've never been able to bring myself to purchase any. I keep my furniture until it wears out, so I buy pieces that would go with any wall color, and in a style that will not look dated in a couple years.

LOVE mixing patterns and textures as long as the relative scales are correct. Use solids, jaquards, monochromatic patterns, or a tone on tone for large pieces like sofas, and use patterned toss pillows on it. You can get more daring with smaller pieces. A single accent piece can make a fabulously dramatic statement! Use a few solid pillows (can be textured) and throws to unify.

It is great to mix various prints and patterns together in interior design. Make sure the prints and patterns complement each other.

Sunnydrew and carolins, thank you for your nice comment!

Patterned furniture is ALWAYS fun when it's an accent piece, rather than the focus.

Interesting Lori Dennis. I would think patterned pieces could be a focus as well. E.g, Robin Lechner's pics above (#2 and #4).

As an accent piece, it's great. However, for the major pieces, pillows and rugs are less expensive to change. At least for me, I get tired of things and want to change them, but my budget only allows major changes every 10 years or so, so the major pieces need to stay neutral and solid and timeless.

Patterned for accent pieces or smaller pieces, neutral solids for large pieces.

I have seen pattern used on large pieces and on accent pieces. It seems like the best in the biz can make it work either way. Has anyone seen Alexander Brancas latest work in Elle Decor?...she's is doing some major work with patterns and it looks fabulous.

Here is my own living room with club chairs that my wife and I used Fabricut Studio 51 velvet to cover.

If you can afford to change it out when you get tired of it, then go for it!!! I think it's beautiful but due to my small budget, I have to pretty much stay away from it.

Lorideas, I think your chairs are fab! Animal prints are organic and never trendy. After all, they have been around forever! Enjoy those chairs! They are not boring or expected like so many are.

Smo123 love your new chairs and they work with the rug. All my chairs are patterned, two with more muted pattern and one bold. Sofa is a leather. Patterned rug too, like your. All works and not tired even after years because the colors are MY colors.

I love pattern! But for most large pieces of furniture I buy them in a solid color and put the pattern in the rugs and pillows. I do however succumb occasionally...

Here is a better pic of the patterned chair

I like my patterned sofa. It gives some warmth to this somewhat neutral room.

Don't normally do patterned upholstery but I had this leftover material

This chair was free at a garage sale - recovered it in a fun fabric and it takes center stage in my living room! Love it still after 8 years!

I mostly use patterns on accent pieces. However, if the pattern, in a color like gray, is barely noticeable, then I'm okay with it. But big bold patterns on chairs, couches and walls...absolutely not. I like a soothing palette in my home - nothing jarring. Some of those flowery patterns I've seen are just too reminiscent of the 60's and 70's. It makes the decor look as though they're stuck in a time-warp. It's just too dated for my taste.

There are several people that seem to think decorating with bold pattern on large furniture is breaking a rule....its not, its just about what you like! Really, it's just an opinion guys, not a rule. As stated in a previous post above, there really is no right or wrong when working with pattern and color, as long it is unified with common colors and is balanced! It can be a little scary for some people to commit to a bold pattern even when they are drawn to it. I (my opinion) think It also depends on your personality, and how you want to feel when you walk in your home or when you are just hanging out with your family all day. Neutrals with pops of color is, as others have been saying, safe and have definate longevity, and can be calm and serene. But that doesn't mean its for eveyone. Others get pleasure from the warmth and life color and pattern bring to their home. And still others want their home to be unique and not cookie cutter. The "right" way to choose your decor is whatever makes you smile when you wake up and get out of bed. I read a long time ago to use your main furniture as a "neutral canvas" and use accessories to "paint the color" so thats what I did for for 12 years (and 2 living room sets) and was always... ALWAYS....changing my colors, my decorating style, trying to put some LIFE into the space. I recently got a new living room set, a unique chaise with attached seating in a colorful medallion print! A pattern! Color! Yay! Red with wheat accents, which I DID pair with a beautiful leather club chair and ottoman. It's not too much for me, as my walls are a neutral light wheat, with solid drapes to the ceiling that match the walls, and a large area rug that is the same color. So my "neutral" is the larger space, not the furniture. I have large palm plants in the corners of the room, I have large canvas paintings on the walls in terra cotta, red, and mustard yellow.....colorful red & copper ikat print poufs by the fireplace (which is a tall stucco fireplace I painted Kings Gold). .....I have color everywhere! And I love it. Finally, their is life in the space and I am satisfied :)

I love to mix patterns, but do not have much patterned furniture right now. I like to make my own pillows and curtains to add the patterns. I have some very patterned rugs in the public rooms.

In the guest room I made my own curtains and had a very inexpensive chair from a big box furniture store recovered in this lively hexagon pattern for my black and cream theme. It became an expensive chair!

I am glad to see this thread still around after a year.

ARKfabric-
I love your color boards. Always so inspiring.

yes, i like patterned chairs and solid couches.