Mixing patterns and prints, in interiors, is an easy way to create a unique and interesting scheme, be that in the living room, kitchen, bedroom, or elsewhere. However, it requires a little more design know-how that other decor ideas, if you're going to pull the look off successfully.
If you’ve previously retreated to plains rather than risk an unhappy result, be inspired by advice and inspiration for ways to mix pattern and prints in interiors.
Looking for more design ideas? Check out our design hub page.
1. Create a visual link with an accent shade
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If you're working with a space that has high ceilings, consider papering up to the dado rail with one printed wallpaper, then using a second above it.
In this instance, picking up an accent shade from the leaf and floral designed paper creates a colour link that allows the pair to sit happily together on one wall, while the all-over print’s textural appearance ensures it doesn’t fight with the pictorial design below. Find similar floral wallpapers at John Lewis & Partners (opens in new tab)
Love a bold wallpaper? Find more statement wallpaper design ideas in our guide.
Find the Pindorama wallpaper in Navy (opens in new tab), £18 per roll, Arthouse (opens in new tab)
2. Be inspired by Moroccan interiors
Moroccan interiors mix patterns and prints with ease, and introducing the typical designs can be a quick route to room scheming success.
Stick to graphic motifs to get the look, but go for those featuring the ornate detail of decorative tiles – as on this wallpaper – as well as bolder and simpler versions to avoid making the overall effect too busy. Picking a range of jewel colours will also help give the room the right vibe. Shop more tile-inspired wallpapers at Wallpaper Direct (opens in new tab)
This look left your considering shutters? Find more advice and inspiration in our guide to how to choose shutters.
Shutters from £166 per square metre, California Shutters (opens in new tab). Alternatively, paint existing shutters with the shade Coral Canyon 1 (opens in new tab) by Dulux
3. Give traditional pattern a contemporary edge
Don't be afraid of pairing a traditional patterned paper with something more contemporary if you love the idea of incorporating more than one interiors style into your scheme.
This romantic birds and blossom wallpaper – inspired by a 20th century piece – is right at home alongside a chevron rug in bold black and white. Painting the doors and skirting in a standout yellow shade only enhances the eclectic feel of the space. Recreate the look with paint and wallpaper from B&Q (opens in new tab)
Like the idea of using grey in your hallway? Find mire inspiration with our grey hallway design ideas.
Find this Little Greene Loriini Wallpaper (opens in new tab) in Dorian, £86 per roll, at John Lewis & Partners. Them find the paint shade Lemon MIVVI (opens in new tab) at Little Greene
4. Contrast angles and curves
Opting for prints with sinuous lines alongside those with stricter geometry can soften a scheme to suit a room that’s made for relaxing.
Pick designs that are equally bold in scale so the contrast is clear, and add in plains to give the eye somewhere to rest. Recreate the look with cushions and fabrics from Habitat (opens in new tab)
Love the geometric prints trend? Find more inspiration with our retro geometric wallpaper design ideas
Printed panels in Opunita 120713, £30 per metre; Nuevo 120711, £30 per metre; Forma 111808 wallpaper, £41 per roll; cushions in a selection of fabrics, from £30 per metre, the Nuevo collection, all Scion (opens in new tab)
5. Mix florals and graphic prints
Teaming beautiful blooms and geometric motifs needn’t be a puzzle. A tops tip for mixing pattern and prints in interior is to look for patterns featuring the same range of colours and they’ll work together a treat.
You can find your own design combinations or – even easier – look within an individual collection from a fabric house, as the different designs within it are made to look good together. Find similar striped wallpapers from Farrow & Ball at Wallpaper Direct (opens in new tab)
Find more inspiration for your bedroom with our bedroom wallpaper design ideas.
Block Print Stripe BP 770 (opens in new tab), £91 per roll, Farrow & Ball. Available in a variety of finishes
6. Smarten up with a linear print
Give a traditional living room a tailored edge with linear pattern. Top-to-toe stripes could look as stuffy as a three-piece suit, bowler hat and rolled umbrella, so mix them with variations like the two sizes of chevron in this scheme, and show off dense colour against less solid hues. Find similar striped sofas at Sofa.com (opens in new tab)
Find more inspiration with these traditional living room design ideas. Looking to make a saving on a new sofa? Browse our pick of the best sofa deals.
Snowdrop two and a half seat sofa in Slade Stripe by Zoe Glencross in Anchor, £2,740; Bluebell regular footstool in Mottram Meadow by Zoe Glencross in Anchor, £600; Mottram Meadow medium rug by Zoe Glencross in Anchor, £299; Bollin Bird scatter 45 x 45cm cushion by Zoe Glencross in Pink Grapefruit, £95, all Sofa.com (opens in new tab)
7. Get creative with scale
Sized-up pattern can turn a wall into a work of art, but featuring a design that’s this bold doesn’t necessarily mean going plain elsewhere in the room.
Here, the rug features a blossom trail print of medium scale, while a sofa cushion features a small-scale print, so that each motif is perfectly sized to the dimensions of the piece on which it’s featured. Find similar floral murals on Etsy (opens in new tab)
Like this idea? Browse our pick of the best mural design ideas for more inspiration.
Kahrs Classic Oak Nouveau Charcoal Wood, £69.99 per square metre; Maestro Butterfly rug, £29.99, both Carpetright (opens in new tab)
8. Go bold with botanical prints
Foliage and botanical prints are bang on trend and are an easy examples of how to combine pattern and prints in interiors.
Give bolder colourways and medium to large sized designs a plain backdrop for a more traditional finish, or choose a graphic clash for a contemporary look. Shop more palm wallpapers at Wallpaper Direct (opens in new tab)
Like this idea? Find more beautiful botanical wallpapers in our design guide.
Vinyl floor tiles, Carpetright (opens in new tab)
9. Choose a neutral colour scheme
Want a room scheme that’s understated but still full of decorative detail? Put together pattern in neutral shades and gentle tints of colour.
This room’s grey and yellow give the eye plenty to enjoy, but the overall effect is wonderfully calming. Find similar yellow accessories at John Lewis & Partners (opens in new tab)
Triple pinch pleat heading curtains in Shibori Light Pigeon, Saffron BORI-57-52, £49.50 per metre; sofa upholstered in Simple Ticking Detail Charcoal TICKING-38, £48 per metre; self-piped and zipped cushion in Origami Pigeon, Saffron GAMI-19-52, £49.50 per metre; piped and zipped in Origami Saffron, Pigeon GAMI-52-19, £49.50 per metre; piped in Charcoal PLAIN-38 £46 per metre; Calmsden chair in Shibori Light Pigeon BORI-57 £49.50 per metre, all The Artisan Collection, Vanessa Arbuthnott (opens in new tab)
10. Mix traditional prints with antique artworks
Wallpapers inspired by traditional prints or printing techniques make a stylish and unique addition to a living room or bedroom. This can be further enhanced by working antique – or antique inspired – artworks into the space.
Find this Wisteria Wallpaper (opens in new tab) by Farrow and Ball at Wallpaper Direct and try a local antiques shop or fair for similar prints.
Wisteria BP 2223 (opens in new tab), £118 per roll, by Farrow & Ball. Available in a variety of colour ways