Mix it Up: The Art of Fearless Pattern Play
Something exciting is happening in the world of tablescapes, and it is impacting everything from intimate dinner parties to larger celebrations and events. People are moving away from Pinterest Perfection, opting instead to create something that is unique and personal. People are embracing looks that feel collected, whimsical, and a little bit unexpected. And all of this has opened the door for my favorite way to approach a table - pattern mixing!
Pattern mixing isn’t new. It’s been a part of various home decor aesthetics forever. But what we are starting to see is people approaching pattern mixing in a bolder, more carefree way. If you want to try your hand at it but aren’t sure where to start, here’s a few tips to help you along the way.
The goal isn’t to try and make everything match. The goal is to make it look like it belongs together. One of the easiest ways to do this is through color. Create a color story and let that be your anchor. Even if you have completely different patterns, if they pull from the same palette, they will feel surprisingly cohesive.
Another thing to keep in mind is to vary the scale of different prints so that they are not competing with one another. Perhaps a delicate small floral paired with a bold stripe or larger check. To keep the mix of patterns from feeling too busy, give the eye somewhere to rest by incorporating solid elements. A solid charger, a solid placemat layer, a solid color napkin…makes a stronger statement amongst the patterns.
If you aren’t sure where to start, pick one pattern that you really love, maybe a patterned tablecloth or a beautiful plate and build from there. Pull one or two colors from that first pattern and let that guide the rest of the table.
At the end of the day, there are no real rules for mixing patterns - these are simply tips to help get you started. Don’t overthink it. Have fun, trust your eye, and let your tablescape reflect your personality.
Fall has Entered the Chat
My Fall Look Book is now available in my gallery (scroll down for virtual designs)!
While it’s not officially fall, social media tells me that it’s almost Christmas. So I figured I would squeeze in a little bit of autumn tablescape inspiration before the internet is taken over by all things merry and bright.
A lot of people ask me where I get inspiration from. Obviously, the easiest place to look is online at popular stores to see what they carry. For what it’s worth, Williams Sonoma is my favorite because they carry both tried and true tableware, as well as collections that reflect current trends. But I also look to home design and decor trends, because good tablescape design should blend seamlessly in with the rest of your home (unless you are doing a very specific theme for a party).
Color palettes tend to dominate decor trends, and we have finally moved away from light, neutral, minimalism. Deep saturated palettes, vintage patterns with modern gold touches, nature-inspired botanicals, and layered textures are the dominant trends right now, and you can expect to see those carry right into the holiday season.
For the Fall Look Book I opted to create one thoughtfully layered placemat versatile enough to anchor a variety of design aesthetics. A vintage, textured botanical print paired with a bold cabana stripe is the perfect mix of vintage and modern, while the moody blues and greens are both rich but still neutral as a backdrop for other colors.
Gold accents are big right now. Think gold-rimmed plates, brushed gold flatware, and embellishments like napkin rings or candle holders. it can instantly make a table feel more luxurious.
While my fall looks are more on the side of traditional luxury, classic white dishes would look equally at home on these placemats! And as always, each look has a companion Look for Less featuring single-use tableware for easy entertaining.
