Interior Design Tips: Mixing & Matching Materials & Patterns

Mixing and matching in interior design is incredibly popular, and when done well, it can make a room’s aesthetics totally unique, but there’s a fine line between harmoniously marrying materials and patterns and creating an interior space that clashes. 

One huge benefit of mixing and matching colours and prints is it allows you to keep pace with ever-shifting interior design trends. Swapping in different fabrics, shades and wallpaper is a thrifty way to refresh your interior without breaking the bank while doing so. 

In regards to this, there’s a big focus on picking accessories and standout features that fit seamlessly with your space, often using neutral walls or impactful wallpapers as a solid, adaptable base to build upon. 

You should know this by now, but our team here at I Love Wallpaper love nothing more than putting together a handy guide to help you out! Read on below for our top interior design tips on mixing and matching materials and patterns. 

What Does Mix and Match Mean? 

First things first, what is mix and match? Though it’s a current trend, mixing and matching has been popular for decades, you’ll find it used creatively in both clothing and interior design to create unique and bold styles. 

Using clever combinations of colours, materials and patterns, designers are able to employ generally contrasting styles and assemble them together to create an interior design then ties together seamlessly. 

So, now you know about mixing and matching, how to put it into practice? 

Consider the Right Contrasts 

If every single surface in a room was the same shade of colour, it would soon get boring. It’s for this reason that we contrast colours in most interior designs, no matter how subtle. When mixing and matching, the contrasting of colours is ramped up to stunning effect, producing a visual spectacle of a room.

It’s important to remember that, when assessing a room, the eye gravitates towards spaces that provide a visual feast, with multiple elements to take in under one whole design. It’s for this reason that mixing and matching are so effective and why using contrasting colours alongside alternating materials and patterns adds to the impact. 

We suggest picking out a main theme for your room and conducting some research into which colours contrast well, allowing you to work different tones seamlessly into your interior. 

Play Around with Patterns

Patterns play a huge part in any successful interior design’s mixing and matching, but it’s rare that you’ll find the right combination right away. In this respect, it’s always a good idea to play around with patterns before committing them to your interior design. 

Patterns allow you to effortlessly add in different shades of colour as well as provide an element of visual stimulation, you can even repeat these patterns around the room in accessories, furnishings and wallpapers, or contrast different patterns against one another. 

One important factor to remember is you’ll need a common theme running between patterns in order to tie them together, this could be ensuring that your colour palettes are in-keeping, or that patterns pair together cohesively and don’t clash. 

The general rule of thumb when experimenting with different patterns is to incorporate a maximum of four different looks into one space. You should also avoid over-doing it on bold colours, using plenty of neutrals in between your contrasting shades to break up the room’s aesthetics. 

Think of patterns like ingredients; you want to add a little spice to a dish but not overpower it, while each food type should also work together in tandem with the next to provide a great-tasting plate of food. Patterns and colours work in the same way, you need to carefully consider each element and be certain that you’re including it for reasons that will only add to the end product of interior space. 

Experiment with Texture

In the well-populated world of interior design, ‘texture’ applies to both the look and feel of a material, print or wallpaper. Considering physical interaction with an item in your interior space as well as its aesthetics is integral when it comes to adding elements that stimulate the senses. 

Contrary to popular belief, our eyes sometimes register rough textures as more visually appealing and comfortable than smooth textures, so finding the perfect balance of the two is important in terms of creating an interior that you simply want to sit in (or sleep in) and enjoy. 

Of course, wallpapering is one of the easiest and most effective means of achieving different textures in your interior design, while repeating these textures in rugs, cushions and other textiles and accessories will tie in the look in one big, comfy swoop. 

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There you have it, three easy steps to achieve an effortless mix-match look in your home! Get a head start on your next project head over to our website here. If you’re looking for more handy advice and interior inspiration, check out our blog section or follow us over on Facebook and Instagram.