Hi Sam! 

First and foremost, I think the key here is to select the right patterns. If you look closely, a lot of the patterns I use don’t have a very tight, consistent repeat, and they’re larger in scale. For example, a lot of the rugs I use have more of a mural look. The same is true for my curtains — they were hand-painted by a friend and are actually more graphic than patterned. And my yellow and black striped chair — the stripes change in width and length throughout the print. 

These loose, large-scale prints are a great starting point, especially if you’re a bit nervous about dipping your toe into the world of pattern. They give you a little more room to play in terms of mixing and matching, and they don’t make as strong of a visual statement as a tight, high-repeat pattern (like a plaid couch, for example). 

Secondly, I think it’s helpful to select the largest surface that you’re willing to add pattern to, and go from there. The walls or ceiling would be the biggest, followed by a couch, rug, or bedspread, depending on the room. That gives you a starting point for pattern and color, and you can  anchor the design around that statement print. From there, anything goes — you can carry a specific color from that larger pattern into the rest of your space, or add a second pattern that’s maybe a bit more subtle, like stripes. You can even add in small touches of secondary pattern via accessories, like a lampshade or throw pillow — it’s all about what you’re comfortable with.

I also think that keeping the color story tight allows you to play with a lot of pattern without it feeling visually overwhelming. For example, I designed a bedroom that has a ton of pattern and texture, but everything is blue, grey, or white for the most part. The space is still print-heavy, but it easily registers as a blue and white room. 

As far as grounding a space goes, I love using wood furniture and black accents. I think black can really anchor a room, and wood adds a natural element, which balances out a super bold space. It can be a tree stump side table or even hardwood floors surrounding a rug, but I think wood is incredibly important. Time is also very helpful when deciding on a design. Our brains are evolutionarily wired to resist change, so you may not like your new space when adding new color and pattern all at once. It’s important to sit with a design and see how you feel over time, especially if you’ve really gone outside of your comfort zone. 

My last bit of advice would be to always order physical samples — they’re so important when working with loud colors and patterns! Get paint swatches, fabric samples; everything you can to help you truly envision the design before you dive in.

Hope this helps!

Noz