Cottage Style Guide :: Day #6 - Mixing Patterns

Cottage Style Guide :: Day #6 – Mixing Patterns

Cottage style decorating means you have permission to spice things up a bit when it comes to patterns. You can mix and match colors, textures, and patterns! It’s okay, I promise. It’s pure joy to find fantastic fabrics and textiles that work together to create a simplistic easy living style in your home.

There are a few general rules of thumb by which you should adhere, even while mixing and matching patterns in a room.

1.) Choose a color palette of 3-4 colors. Be careful to not add too many colors in one room, or it can get overwhelming. If you are working with a floral pattern, you may see many colors, but choose your few favorite hues that you will pull out of that pattern and showcase in a room.

2.) Try to stay within that same color palette, and then but don’t be afraid to mix textures and patterns. You will want to mix florals, stripes, checks, and polka dots as examples.

3.) As long as you stick to that first color palette we discussed, you can safely mix different patterns and textures. This is a key to acheiving classic cottage style.

Fabrics are an easy and quick way to make your cottage style home cozy and comfortable. Don’t be afraid to use textured fabrics like chenille and corduroy to cover pillows for a room.
Hallmarks of a cottage home are light and airy window treatments in sheer fabric or eyelet fabric.
Seat cushions around the dining room table can match or coordinate with one another.
Tablecloths can be used for the table or they can be transformed into window valances, an ottoman cover, or throw pillows.
Throw pillows – stacks of them – are a must in a cottage style home. Pillows practically ‘shout’ comfort, so add all shapes and sizes of pillows in every room possible.
Slipcovers are an excellent way to change up the look of your furniture in just minutes. You can have a blue couch in the summer and a sea green couch in the winter if you like.
Vintage quilts are ideal in a cottage style home. Stack them, toss them over the back of the sofa, or roll them and place in a basket or steamer trunk beside the sitting areas so they’re ready to use any time.
Don’t forget the floor. Adding interesting patterns and textures with rugs is a fun accent for the home.
Remember wallpaper (even though it isn’t a fabric) as a great option for adding an interesting pattern to a focal wall.