How To Mix Patterns in Your Home

Combining prints brings excitement to a room—but how do you make it work? Set small patterns against large ones, limit your palette, and include one big solid (on sofa, floor, or wall) in the scene. Go ahead: Do try this at home.

Roland Bello

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Ikat + Dot + Paisley

For energy and movement, juxtapose swirling, ethnic ikat prints in saturated tones: one dark and dense (here, the curtains) and one lit up with large swaths of white (the settee). Paisley touches echo the curves of ikat—they're natural mates. And a polka-dot pillow is a dash of sobriety at any lively tonal party.

Aravali Spice ikat curtain panel, $40, worldmarket.com. Rebecca sofette, $2,070, mgbwhome.com for stores. Fabric for paisley pillow: Chamba by Peter Fasano, $132 a yard, John Rosselli & Associates, 212-593-2060 for info. Fabric for polka-dot pillow: Tika Sage, $127 a yard, lisafinetextiles.com for showrooms. Turned-leg nightstand, $249, westelm.com. Mina Baluster porcelain vase (yellow), $156 for two, and Roxanne Covered Mei Ping jar (blue), $247: bungalow5.com for info. Paisley nesting boxes, $44 for three, globaltable.com for info. Paint: Charlotte's Locks No. 268, $85 a gallon, us.farrow-ball.com.