GUIDE TO MIXING PATTERNS AND TEXTURES SUCCESFULLY

Mixing patterns and textures is one of the easiest ways to make a space feel layered, rich, and intentional - but it’s also where even the most confident decorators can slip up.

Here's how to get it right.

Layer Your Finishes

Any interior can look good, but a truly great interior needs layers:

A bold flat colour – e.g., a statement sofa.
A neutral texture – think linens, boucle, or woven fabrics.
A pattern – whether geometric, floral, or repeat motifs.

Look at a room twice: first you notice the obvious elements, like a bright sofa or patterned cushions. On a second look, you’ll spot the linking details - wall colour echoing the footstool, cushions picking up tones from the rug, joinery matching plants or velvet, even black details repeating in table legs or window frames. This is where balance and cohesion happen.

Respect Materiality

Materials are more than surface - they carry tone, feel, and meaning. A client once swapped a boucle cushion I’d specified for a patterned velvet. On paper it matched, but in reality it disrupted the scheme. Boucle had offered a modern counterpoint to a refined pattern and block colour; velvet, with its softness and luxury connotations, felt heavy against the lighter linens and cherry wood of a French summer house.

The lesson: consider texture and context, not just colour.

Link Your Colours Thoughtfully

Even “trendy” colour combos can jar if not handled with care. I recently saw a blue-pink door in an orange-red brick wall - very on-trend, but it made my eyes go funny. Brick is never neutral; it’s usually red or orange-red. When colours clash:

Use a white trim or border as a buffer.

Work with older or faded materials for softer tones.

Introduce natural links like plants or subtle echoes in textiles.

If your brand isn’t “edgy,” tweak colours to harmonise rather than shock.

Window Treatments Matter

I had a client in Prestbury where the window treatment simply wasn’t playing ball. I had to get a bit sample-happy, weighing up cost vs finish, manufacturing time vs quality.

Each sample denoted a better or worse option for my specific brief - whether that was the width of the stripe, the background colour, or the size of the weave. Not all stripes are created equal for each project, and small differences can completely affect how a room feels.

A well-layered, thoughtfully textured room doesn’t happen by accident.

Use Natural Materials to Ground a Scheme

Wood, stone, and marble are quietly heroic - they support the overall palette without shouting. Unlike bricks or highly saturated surfaces, these materials anchor a room, letting patterns and colours shine without competing.

Look Beyond the First Impression

Pay attention to how colours and patterns behave in different light - north- vs. south-facing rooms, morning vs. evening light. Join interior groups, follow paint boards, and keep an eye on what others are doing. Inspiration often comes with a side of “how not to do it,” which is just as valuable.

A well-layered, thoughtfully textured room doesn’t happen by accident. Consider layers, textures, materials, and colour links at every step - including window treatments. When you get it right, your home feels effortless, balanced, and beautifully yours.