How to Mix Stripes & Florals in a Home

Decorating your home can be a fun and exciting venture, but it can also be daunting. Many people enjoy the look of mixed patterns such as stripes and florals but are afraid the end result will clash and appear uncoordinated. Professional interior decorators have the experience and skill to match patterns successfully but homeowners can achieve the same polished, professional look by following a few simple rules.

Instructions

- 1
  
  Bright floral patterns can be carefully paired with stripes, but avoid a "busy" look by incorporating muted colors in one or the other, but not both.
  
  Choose a core solid color as a unifier. One way to give a room a pulled-together look with mixed patterns is to choose a solid color for the sofa and then pick up that color in the other patterns in the room. One example would be to place a red sofa in a room with pinstriped curtains and patterned fabric on the chairs in the same shade of red.
- 2
  Vary the scale of the patterns. For example, pair bold wide stripes with small flowered patterns, or mix subtle pinstripes with large scale floral patterns. Two to three mixed patterns in a room can be attractive but avoid going beyond that number. Too many bold patterns together confuses the eye and makes a room appear cluttered.
- 3
  Look for prepackaged coordinated sets in a home furnishings department or store. Home furnishing designers often offer mixed patterns in coordinated bedding. Even if you are not shopping for bedding, checking out these sets can provide a guide in choosing the right balance and scale for your own home designs.

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