Decorating your bedroom with an eclectic array of stripes, florals, and prints creates a well-loved, lived-in space. Of course, to get the right combination of prints and patterns can be a bit of a challenge.
Here are some tips to help you create the look successfully:
1. Think Color:
One way to organize a diverse arrangement of pattern is to think about color — it is great way to help unify a space. First, choose a color palette that you want to work around. Colour Lovers is a great tool if you are looking for help choosing a color scheme.
2. Think Key Object:
Another way to create harmony using different patterns in your bedroom is to base the room around one object (pillow, lamp shade, duvet, quilt, vase, etc) that you love. Use the colors and designs from that object to help determine what other elements will work well together.
3.Think Variation:
If you decide to create a room around your favorite ditsy floral-printed pillow, think about balancing the tiny print with something bold, like a wide striped throw at the end of the bed and maybe a solid textured duvet to ground the different prints. Using a variety of prints that are different sizes, shapes and styles but fall within your color palette will help to create a cohesive story.
images: 1. the hunt beautiful 2. design sponge 3. LivingEtc 4. Home Sweet Home 5. Design, Decor... 6. LivingEtc







White Enamel Flatwa...
The first photo is gorgeous! I love the art on the wall.
Good post! We're totally mixing and matching patterns all over our house these days.
Can anyone source the throw blanket in photo 1? I traced the photo to photographer Rachel Whiting, but that's where the trail ended!
Ok, it's Missoni...
http://www.unicahome.com/p57923/missoni-home/lisbona-throw-by-missoni-home.html
...and a cool $850! Think I'll file that one away in "inspirational".
I love the bedding in # 3.
I'm keeping it for inspiration.
i want the bedspread/blanket in photo #1!!!!!!!!! looks vintage...wonder if it's not? holler if anyone finds anything. rachel whiting's website doesn't hold any clues. boo.
I love them all. It's as if you went into my inspiration folder and copied the pictures straight out of there!
I just don't think I have the pattern mixing knack. When done well, it's so pretty. When done poorly it's... my living room.
Me, too, alahoop. I'm looking forward to moving out of my parent's place (living at home during grad school, what a challenge...) into my own place where I can try mixing patterns up. I'm pretty sure I don't have the knack!
applebomb, The grey bedding in #3 is IKEA! I have it on my bed now. I just wish I knew where that floral was from in the same pic.
I love the quilt in #6 any clues?
oooh, I'm with those who aren't sure they have the knack... I'm a designer, and my work for clients is typically very stripped back - almost minimalist... no matter how hard I try to bring this kind of eclecticism into my own space, I always seem to come home with more charcoal and white... haha!
These are great tips - I love the third room and the stripes on the walls.
anyone know the source of the hanging bedside lamp in photo 2? so pretty!
First photo is lovely. I'm in the middle of redoing my bedroom and I'm hesitant to use certain colors but nope I'm just going to go for it.
I love the first picture as well as the last--and the next to last one with the lime green walls has been in my inspiration archive for a few years now. But the wall art above the bed in the second pic is cringe-making for me. . . right up there with reversable tonight/not tonight pillows.
Some of these make me want to puke!
Rooms 1 and 6 make my heart sing. If anyone wants to try mixing and matching patterns, here's what worked for me. Without a plan, I started with a Pottery Barn quilt with lots of different Indian fabrics...then I saw some similar printed curtains that I thought would work since I already had so much pattern. Later I covered some lamp shades in a similar weight Amy Butler quilting fabric, upholstered a vanity chair, found pillows at Goodwill that worked. I love it!
@ saragrz My city doesn't have an IKEA yet, I still have to wait two years until it's finished building, I'm sure I can find similar bedding elsewhere though if I look hard enough
I love apartment therapy, but some of these are way too busy and the colors don't work creating mud. If I had to look at that floral mess of a painting before I went to bed every night I can only imagine the nightmares I would have. Harmonies!
Those branches in the second last photo!
Does anyone know if there are any processes involved with preserving something like that.
Branches over my bed is a lovely idea, or white towering tree trunks in my loft...
@applebomb Try Target. The "Home Essentials" line is very affordable and they have a ton of basic colors. They are sold as "separates," too, which I appreciate. If there's no Target in your area, you can try their website. I find it a little hard to search and the variety always seems low to me, but it's worth a shot.
@indie darling I've dealt with branches and other "raw" wood items in different ways. I have manzanita/madrone in my current apartment and it doesn't really need anything. Softer and barkier woods can basically be shellacked for ultra preservation, or oiled with danish oil or something similar. If you like the intense silhouette effect as in #5, you could even paint them.
@danamt Unfortanutly, there is no Target yet, but it should be here by next year. I will definately look online, but I don't mind waiting a year or two to change by bedding.
Where is the quilt in # 6 from I would buy that in a heartbeat....anyone know??
Those who loved #6, that is Kantha work from India. It's done in West Bengal - simple running stitch over a printed fabric. My friend Rajee retails them in India and you could pick it up if you have someone heading this way. It's pretty common at fairs and exhibitions too.
here's a closer look - http://www.rajeesood.com/#!__floral-silk-with-kantha
this is the same embroidery done on plain fabric in the traditional designs.http://www.craftandartisans.com/kantha-embroidery-of-west-bengal.html
I'm having similar challenges as alahoop in my living room, but I'm figuring out some things about how to mix patterns in dinnerware (which I wrote about here: http://www.thissortaoldlife.com/2012/02/20/the-70s-called/). Much less expensive/noticeable to make mistakes with something as small as plates, and learning some stuff that will help me move onto bigger things.