Just as there are “colour-phobes” out there (yes, that includes me and my penchant for a neutral palette at home), there are also many “pattern-phobes” – people who are just a little afraid of using and mixing up patterns in their homes. Yes, it can be a little daunting when faced with not only hundreds of colours, but the mix of colours within the patterns on top of the style of patterns. It can be a bit of a minefield and getting it right is not always straight forward. There are though, as always, some small tips and tricks that can be applied to make it work and give your room a cohesive and interesting look rather than a jumble sale one.

First of all, patterns don’t have to be loud or overly “in your face”. This seems to be a common misconceptions: patterns will overwhelm and distract from their surroundings. However, they can be subtle and integrated into your decor without drawing much attention as long as they fit in with your overall colour scheme. So, if you’re naturally drawn to neutrals and really aren’t looking to add much colour, then a patterned item in the same neutral colours will liven up the space just enough to keep it from looking bland.

 

To make a little more of a statement and liven up a neutral room a little more, why not add just a single, large, multi-coloured item? Note that even though the rug here is fairly bright, the colours themselves match the colour palette of the leather and wood items in their tones. That means that a rug featuring pastels would look rather out of place here. So, when adding patterns in combination with colours, ensure that the overall feel, style and colour tones match the rest of the room.

Matching patterns means that you can vary the colours. Using only using one type of pattern like geometric or floral ones gives you the choice to then work with as many colours as you feel comfortable with. Keep the backdrop fairly neutral if you like a room that is light, fresh and calm.

 

If you’re more daring, however, there’s no reason not to go completely overboard with the patterns and layer them from floor to ceiling and on every surface. Again though, make sure the patterns are of the same kind. Lots of florals in different sizes, incorporating the same strong colours give a room a bohemian yet traditional feel which is at the same time cosy and just on the right side of crazy.

For a slightly less bold, but not less interesting look, layer up fabrics in faded bohemian tones. Again, consider the colours and tones. Ethnic patterns from various countries and backgrounds work well together because the overall “message” is the same. You shouldn’t, for example, add Victorian flowers here as their origin is a completely different one and it would suddenly look too chaotic.