Pattern transforms a house into a home. When done well, pattern mixing brings life to interiors. From subtle stripes to bold botanical prints, it makes any interior feel intentional, balanced, and deeply personal. We’ll show you how to unlock this visual harmony using the Rule of Three, which focuses on combining pattern, texture, and colour.
Before diving in, it’s important to understand what “pattern” means in design. Essentially, it refers to repeated decorative elements, think geometrics, stripes, metallic, dots, or florals. Patterns can be woven, printed, or embroidered onto fabric, each adding its own unique texture and character to your home.
Mixing Colours
Determining a cohesive colour scheme is key. Before you start your adventure with pattern, deciding on what you want the space to have and how do you want it to feel (cosy, playful, entertaining…) – having this understanding will determine the overall colour scheme.
Combine shade, scale, and colour when mixing patterns, this will ensure the style remains balanced and evenly spread across the space.
Balancing Colour with Fabric
Featured Fabric: Vine Merlot Curtains with Ortega Cranberry Romans
Colour Palette: The pattern’s mix of warm, deep red (merlot) and a bright pale gold hue establishes a sophisticated colour scheme. Use the dominant deep red as the grounding colour for larger elements (like the solid roman blinds). The gold hue of vine is your high-energy accent, which you can pull out and use in metallic finishes – think: lampshades, decorate trims, curtain rails to brighten the space.
Scale and Rest: To prevent chaos, let the neutrals of a pattern (in this case the cream vines in the curtains) be your guide to balance the scale of colour and pattern. Choose a solid-coloured upholstery (like the sofa) to provide a ‘visual rest’ against the statement window treatment.
Sophisticated Depth: Take the solid deep red from the curtain and repeat it on a few small, solid décor pieces (like cushions or books). This repetition of a pure, saturated colour ensures the entire scheme feels connected, intentional, and complete.
By extracting these core shades from Vine Merlot you create a harmonious foundation ready for mixing in solid fabrics or secondary patterns
Vary the Scale
Pattern mixing can be intimidating, but there’s a simple, fool proof formula designers use to make it look effortless: the Rule of Three. This rule is your ticket to a balanced, layered home.
What is the Rule of Three for Patterns?
The Rule of Three is a simple formula of having three different prints: one large-scale, one medium, and one small. Following this formula will ensure the colours and patterns aren’t competing with each other.
Folina Slate (Medium) & Capella Rose (Small)
Celina Berry (Medium) & Lorenzo Linen (Small)
Applying the Rule to Fabric Trios:
Large-Scale (The Hero): This will be the dominant pattern that sets the whole theme and colour palette (think curtains or a sofa). A large, single image motif also counts as a large pattern in terms of visual weight.
Medium-Scale (The Contrast): Typically, this pattern is half the size of the Hero and contrasts with the main style.
Small Scale / Visual Rest: This element is used in small doses to add depth and provide a visual resting spot for the eye. This role is often filled by a tiny, delicate print or a solid-coloured fabric that provides essential Low Visual Intensity.
Be Bold, Make It Fun!
While mixing multiple patterns in one room might seem daunting or even excessive, at The Fabric Box, we believe in stepping outside your comfort zone and letting patterns tell your story. If there’s one fabric that embodies the boldness of Window Fashion, it’s Flock Melody. It features a fabulous flamingo design, designed to instil that “wow” factor and make heads turn.
The style of this room displays the true power of introducing different patterns into a room, whether that be a flamingo printed design, Victorian chequered tiles with accents of gold, green, and black.
Ready to Master Your Patterns?
The core rule is simple: Always remember The Rule of Three when mixing colour, patterns, and print to prevent design chaos. By structuring your choices around one large, one medium, and one small element, you’re guaranteed a layered, professional finish. Now, go start building your perfect trio!
The Fabric Box offers a wide range of curtains and blinds – from bright, bold colours to soft neutrals – we have you and your windows covered!