Colors and patterns are essential elements in any Interior Design project. They can be seen on textiles, walls, tiles, furniture, and so on. The most valuable aspect of color matching in Interior Design and the use of appropriate pattern coordination lies in the ability to give energy to a room, invoke movement, and create visual texture.

Decorating with color and pattern is one of the most powerful techniques in a designer’s toolkit, but it can be challenging for those without theoretical knowledge. Getting the right balance when matching colors and patterns is vital to a successful Interior Design project.

Being aware of this difficulty, we at Sabiina Design Atelier gathered practical information and some design inspiration for color and pattern matching to apply to your new project.

Decorating Interiors with Color and Patterns

Incorporating different colors and patterns into a home’s interior aesthetic can be incredibly challenging. Still, with the knowledge of color theory and some pattern coordination recommendations we’re about to give you, it will certainly be possible.

To use color and match patterns, you need to understand some key principles of interior design. Usually, you should choose colors according to the main guidelines for creating aesthetically pleasing spaces that fulfill their function.

In this case, these principles reflect, among others, the definition of the color palette, temperature, proportion, and balance between warm and cool colors. All of this contributes to evoking an emotion or giving a vibe to the space.

In what it refers to patterns, the ideal is to combine different scales – a more prominent pattern, which sets the tone for the definition of complementary patterns, these in smaller sizes.

Let’s take a closer look at the best techniques for combining colors and patterns in Interior Design.

How to Apply Color Matching in Interior Design

The first step is to define the color palette to apply in the space. To that end, start by setting the tone of the concept that will define the project. If you want to convey passion and energy, you can opt for reds and yellows; greens and blues are the most suitable option if the intention is to transmit peace and tranquility.

From here, the complementary colors are chosen according to the principle of the color scheme:

• Monochrome – This scheme uses a single color with varying shades to produce a consistent design;
• Analogous – Combines a main color with the two complementary colors next to it, on the color wheel. This scheme is used to create a softer design with less contrast;
• Complementary – Based on the use of two colors that are directly opposite and some of the relevant shades, providing greater color contrast;
• Split/Complementary – Includes a dominant color and the two colors adjacent to its complement, creating a more nuanced color palette while maintaining the benefits of contrasting colors;
• Triadic – Colors are selected based on a triangular shape around the color wheel. In this way, high contrast colors are obtained, but of the same tone;
• Square – This color scheme uses four equidistant colors to create a substantial contrast palette. For this reason, it can be advantageous for the design to select a dominant color rather than trying to balance all four colors.

Once the color palette has been created, the 60-30-10 Rule should be kept in mind, as it serves as a starting point for assigning colors to the space in proportion. This means that the main color must represent 60% of the space in relation to the other colors. It is determined by the larger elements of the space, such as walls, large furniture, fireplaces, and floors.

The 30% ratio applies to the secondary color, which should be different enough from the main color to create visual interest, but not so different that it creates inappropriate contrast.

These two colors must coexist in harmony. The accent color should compete for 10% of the space. It is usually applied to design accessories like cushions, artwork pieces, or decorative objects. Here it is already aesthetically ”allowed” to create a bold contrast.

Finally, it is necessary to balance the color temperature of the space. For this purpose, you must look out for the presence of both warm colors – orange, yellow, red – and cold colors – blue, green, violet – whose objective will be to create balance so that the space does not become visually confusing or cold. Mixing the two will make the room comfortable and easy to stay in.

How to Combine Decorative Patterns

The same colors defined in the previous step can (and should!) be incorporated into the patterns to be used. Here, some rules must be followed as well, but in this case, the scale of these patterns is more important and can be divided into small, medium, and large scales.

When selecting patterns to use in decorating the space, you can apply 2-3 patterns and one solid color.

For example:

• One large-scale and one small-scale pattern + one solid color.
• One large, one medium, and one small-scale pattern + one solid color.

When multicolored patterns are used, two or three colors of these patterns should be chosen to be used in small decorative elements such as books, lamps, and florals.

To complete the integration of patterns in a space, the form of these must be taken into account since the aim is to balance the entire design project. Each pattern can be framed in a category – geometric or organic, so having many elements from the same category can cause eye strain due to the fact that they are competing with each other. Combining organic patterns with geometric lines creates variety and balance.

Harmony & Balance

The pattern of a given textile can change the scale of an entire room. Color has the ability to convey a certain emotion. How an individual experiences the impact of the pattern and its relationship with the materials and colors present in the space depends on the designer, the person whose role should not be overlooked, as he is responsible for the balance of the Interior Design.

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Here, at Sabiina Design Atelier, harmony, and balance are principles that are always present in all the projects in which we participate in. Because, at the end of the day, a balanced space represents a life in harmony.

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