The various magazines
that show all that glitzy photographs of celebrity
homes make such a good use of fabrics that they can
change the entire look of a room merely by changing
their patterns. However, pattern combination is not
everyone's cup of tea so most people prefer to make do
with colors and accessories for home décor.
It is a skill that comes with good imagination
and creativity. We have brought you some basic rules of the
thumb that will help you decorate your homes and work areas look
grand and instantly likeable by spending just a few bucks. If
you learn how to best place combination of chosen patterns, you
can change the look of your home every time you want quite
easily without having to strip down your home totally. So here
are our secrets:
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 décor. 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 décor.
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.
