Have you ever found yourself admiring someone’s personal style, whether in their home or wardrobe, and wondered why it feels so sophisticated? Perhaps you were inspired to create a similar outfit or room in your home and ended up feeling like yours just wasn’t on the same level of style. Today we’re discussing how mixing patterns and patina creates a personal style in your wardrobe and home that tells a story, adds character, and creates a timeless collected look.
Welcome back to our fall series Falling for Home: A Weekly Autumn Journal. If you’re just joining us from Google, Pinterest, or Instagram, I invite you to browse through the other articles in the series, which can be found linked at the end of this article.
Patterns: Mixing with Confidence
In the South we never miss an opportunity to dress something up. Whether it is a specially wrapped gift, a room in our home, or ourselves, we find opportunities to express our personality and present it to the world on a visual platter.
It’s often true that the most charming aesthetics are created when patterns are thoughtfully combined and layered to create depth and interest throughout your home and wardrobe. Interior and fashion designers use this technique in both clothing and home decor selections to create a visual conversation and unique story.
Our subconscious minds are attuned to visual interest. In last week’s article, Home as a Haven, we briefly discussed how too much visual interest can prevent you from getting rest in your bedroom. Similarly, too much visual interest in your outfit or home décor can cause unpleasant clashing.
With some practice and a few guiding principles, mixing patterns to create a polished and collected look can be done by anyone. Here are some tips I’ve learned along the way.
What to Pay Attention To
If you’re just getting started with pattern mixing, there are four things to be mindful of to achieve your desired effect.
- Color Family – Be mindful to keep color tones in the same palette. Too many different colors, or colors that don’t blend well, will end up clashing with each other. Colors that are next to each other on a color wheel or opposite from each other are usually successful choices.
- Scale – When mixing patterns, be aware of size and scale. For example, if you’re selecting a large floral pattern, consider a smaller stripe or plaid to complement it.
- Texture – Remember to consider the fabrics and materials of the patterns you’re choosing. Compare how different a velvet paisley is from a crisp cotton plaid.
- Balance – An important factor when mixing patterns is balance. Let one pattern be the star of the show, and the other patterns play a supporting role. For example, two different stripes can be successfully combined when one is a large bold stripe, and the other is a small, subtle stripe. Avoid being so over-the-top that you get lost in your aesthetic from trying to do “too much.”
Example Combinations
Have you ever heard people say, “Never mix plaids with stripes”? That’s not necessarily a good piece of advice. There aren’t many hard-and-fast rules for which patterns to mix, and if you follow the 4 design rules that I mentioned above, you can create endless combinations.
If you’re having trouble getting started, here are a few of my favorite patterns to combine for a polished look in both fashion and home décor:
- Leopard + Plaid – This combination is classic and bold. It works in interiors with combinations like a leopard pillow and a plaid footstool. In fashion, a plaid blazer can be combined with a leopard belt for a touch of playfulness.
- Paisley + Herringbone – These two traditional patterns can be combined for a refined and classic statement. Select paisley drapery panels with a herringbone chair for a timeless duo. You can’t miss when you combine a paisley scarf with a tweed herringbone jacket.
- Floral + Buffalo Check – Florals balance the bold, graphic nature of buffalo check to create a charming and approachable look. In your home, combine a floral sofa with buffalo check throw pillows. In your closet, a delicate floral scarf pairs well with a buffalo check skirt or shirt.
- Stripe + Plaid – These linear patterns can be combined to create an energetic, tailored look. In décor, a striped rug can be successful under plaid armchairs. In fashion, a crisp white shirt layered under a subtle striped sweater and paired with a plaid blazer will be seen as polished and sophisticated.
Patina: The Beauty of Time
Patterns catch the eye, but patina holds attention. It’s what makes a room or outfit feel lived in. Patina adds authenticity, character, and a sense of permanence. Patina is the way a lived-in surface changes appearance, and it can only be achieved with use, age, or weathering. Patina is what gives items soul. Antique appraisers look for signs of patina when determining authenticity of an item in question. Furniture will see patina around drawer pulls and surfaces with heavy use. Jewelry and other accessories show patina in the gentle softening of shine and wear on the surface,
When we’re aiming to achieve an aesthetic that includes items with patina, it’s necessary to consider whether new items we purchase will age with time and use. Items made of acrylic, vinyl, “vegan” leather, and laminated finishes do not age well or achieve the desired patina effect. For this reason, items made of those materials should not be treated as investment pieces.
Wondering how to incorporate patina into your home or closet? Here are a few examples of what to be on the lookout for:
Interiors
- Leather armchairs darkening with use.
- Unpolished silver trays, candlesticks, or cutlery.
- Natural wood: farm tables, cutting boards, frames with softened edges.
- Stoneware or pottery with subtle crazing.
- Seasonal touches: a patinaed copper bucket for firewood, a weathered wicker basket for blankets.
Wardrobe & Accessories
- Leather belts, handbags, boots that soften and show character.
- Jewelry that develops a mellow sheen rather than a perfect shine.
- Brass buckles, buttons, or clasps with gentle wear.
Bringing it Together
Many of us understand that having a solid foundation is essential to décor and fashion. However, a well-honed personal sense of style goes behind finding colors that match. Don’t be afraid to create a style that feels layered and personal.
It’s easy to settle for beige walls and a plain sofa, but your signature look is developed when you begin to layer coordinating patterns to showcase your unique personality. When we add touches of patina to our home and closet, we can explore opportunities to add soul to otherwise lackluster choices. After patterns and patina are combined, they seem to effortlessly create spaces and wardrobes that feel collected rather than staged.
I invite you to embrace layering styles at home and in your daily style. In addition to all the timeless Southern style recommendations that I’ve given in this article, the ultimate test is how your space and outfit make you feel. If it doesn’t feel right, it’s probably not. If it makes you happy and comfortable, then it’s probably a good choice. That’s the beauty of a personal style – it should matter most of all to you.
Join me next week for the final article in this series, Falling for Home: A Weekly Autumn Journal. Next week’s article, Front Doors & First Impressions, is all about the importance of first impressions and how your entryway sets the tone.
Explore More from Falling for Home: A Weekly Autumn Journal
This article is part of my series called Falling for Home: A Weekly Autumn Journal. Be sure to check out these reader favorites:
- Gathering Baskets & Dried Blooms
- The Velvet Season
- Chicken Mull
- When Summer Lingers
- Home as a Haven
- The Collected Kitchen
- Front Doors & First Impressions
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