I don't match patterns exactly, like using the same fabric in multiple places in a room, but I like using a pattern style multiple ways, like two different florals or two different geometric patterns.

LOVE the blue and white room. I like the idea of mixing monochromatic patterns. I think it's easiest to start with some throw pillows on the couch.

Interesting. I like patterns, I like them mixed in a controlled way, but now that you ask the question, I realize that I decorate almost exclusively with plain colors or stripes. I never thought about that fact before.

Just looking at the pics, I don't think I could live with matching patterns. It's too much for me! And the pics of totally mixed patterns just look wrong to me. Guess I'm in the middle. I don't have much pattern in my apartment, but I do like to mix a few IF the colours are well-coordinated.

I mix paisley and brocade type fabrics in jewel tones, mainly red

I think the "easiest" designs are different patterns same color or same patterns different colors. In general, moving just a bit away from that, as Pi, suggests I think looks more sophisticated. For example, in the mixing patterns section, photos 2 (leafy scroll), 4 (geometric), and 5 (plantation) are thematically similar and even in photo 3, I think the dominant pattern is "patchwork."

I've recently been on a clothing fabric pattern kick (in my mind -- my house is pretty drab), with thoughts of houndstooth, herringbone, chalk- and pin-stripes in my head.

While I admire the courage of others to mix bold patterns, I get cross-eyed when there are more than one or two in a room, unless the patterns are in the small details (i.e. pillows, maybe one chair, etc.) Wallpaper mixed with drapes in a different pattern just don't appeal to me. I do have lots of color in my home, though, and textures, but a little goes a long way. Same is true of matching everything, something I'm certainly not one to do.

I guess I'm a mixer. All the mix-pics are much more pleasing to the eye. It's how I wear my clothes, too. Although in some ways I admire the matchy-matchy outfit, I can't seem to pull it off in my own life. I usually have a jumble of things going on. I think it's a controlled jumble, but others may disagree!

My boldest patterns tend to be in curtains and I don't particularly care whether they match with others. The curtains in my kitchen don't work at all with the curtains in my dining room but if you look at them in context of the rooms they're in, it makes more sense.

I'm not confident enough about my own aesthetic to invest in anything patterned. I'm trying to do more textures to make up for the huge swaths of solids. The only things with patterns in my living room are throw pillows.... BORING!

Definitely a mixer. The top photos of the all-matched rooms make me grind my teeth.

I'm a mixer. That last bedroom photo is amazing!

Bizzarre that 90% of the photos on here are from one of my pininterest boards.

I LOVE mixing and matching patterns together, as long as the colors complement each other, I love the ecclectic feel. I think it's an outward expression of my personality. I like the flare, flavor and introducing new things. If it was all the same pattern or color, I would get bored, and wouldn't feel as though I could bring new pieces I like in. With mixing and matching you can bring in new pieces that play off of and complement each other!!

I love mixing patterns, but the colors have to all go together. My bedroom has different patterns but all of the same color scheme and people always love it.

I love mixing patterns, but the colors have to all go together. My bedroom has different patterns but all of the same color scheme and people always love it.

I've certainly been in the same place before, and I have found that the best way to get over this is to realize that there are few mistakes that you can make that you can't fix. If you can afford it, I have found it really worthwhile to try something dramatic and -- in the worst case scenario -- you're out some money, but come out much more in tune with what works for you and what doesn't. (And more often than not, you can return some items that don't work out quite so well.)

I guess I'd have to say that I'm both. It just depends on what is getting mixed or matched. If it's dining chairs, glassware, dinner plates and the like...it's GOT to match. But otherwise I'm open to mixing it up! I'm an opportunist when it comes to furnishings and while I like to keep all the pieces "period" (1950-1970) to the house...I don't mind mixing up the colors and styles. Check out the difference between my living room a little over a year ago ...and what it looks like now.

Go big or go home. Mix patterns and colors!

Also, 'quite a few minutes ago', AT? I am tickled.

I definitely cannot stand the matchy-matchy thing, but I generally try to stick to the same color palette, and use a repetition of shape/form if I'm mixing bold patterns.

mix it all! color, texture and pattern. i'm attracted to things that all work together. my aunt once commented that all of the colors in my striped hat were featured in my apartment. the rabble comforts me.

I wear mixed patterns. I like to keep the colors in the same family but mix the patterns without going overboard. The red floral room and the Kate Spade room are great but the blue toile room is just too much.

"blue floral room" not "blue toile room"

Strongly disagree with the statement "Repeating the same pattern on multiple surfaces... gives the illusion of more space." I find the result completely claustrophobic.

I'm a huge fan of mixing. Not only do I find the whole "matchy" look dizzifying...but face it, the parts will wear out at different rates. Do you want to redecorate the whole bedroom because the cat upchucked and left an indelible stain on the bedspread? (Unless you had the foresight to hoard yards and yards of extra fabric.) Me neither. A mix-and-match look is far more flexible, and in my opinion, sophisticated.

Maybe these lessons are out-of-date, but I learned to look out not just for color but also for scale. And it often seems to work best to mix florals and paisleys with geometrics, rather than with other florals.

I like to mix patterns and colours but always in a semi-controlled way. All of the rooms you have shown would overwhelm me. My first house after my marriage breakup reflected complete freedom but after that I toned things down again so that even with an eclectic style I feel peaceful.

I'm ALL of these. I go through changes. But I like to do different treatments to different rooms (which is why I hate open floor plans -- but that's another issue).

"Mixing patterns" is the aesthetic that speaks to me. (Actually, it sings to me. I love it.) But I haven't employed it in my home. My rooms are small and I lack the confidence to do it in a way that would require forethought and investment.

Bring back patterns, I say. People are too precious with their interiors these days.

I'm not at all fond of large patterns on the walls. It's just too overwhelming to me. I had to scan through them pretty quickly because just looking at them, I felt anxious. Living with that type of decor would be a deal breaker.

But, I don't like everything plain, either. Mixing things up is fun, with both colors and textures, but there is a line of distinction between 'fun eclectic' & 'brain pain'. The first set of pics was very overwhelming, but there were rooms in both the 2nd & 3rd that were great. LOL, there were a couple of rooms in the last set that were so busy that I kind of wanted to clean them up. One in particular brought a laundry explosion to mind - but it was still far better & more liveable than that first set.