How to Mix, Match & Style Patterns & Prints in Your Bedroom
Creating a bed that feels perfectly you is one of life’s great joys. While a matching set is beautiful, there’s magic in learning how to mix and match bedding. But where do you start? Mixing patterns can feel daunting, but we promise it’s simple once you know a few secrets.
Forget rigid rules and think of your bed as a canvas for creativity. It’s a chance to play with colour, layer textures, and build a snuggly sanctuary that tells your story. From our classic striped bedding to our playful Gingham, this blog will give you the confidence to become your own interior stylist.
1. Find Your Colour Story
The secret to effortlessly mixing and matching bedding is to start with a simple colour palette. Choose two or three core colours to work with. This doesn’t mean everything has to be the same shade; you can play with different tones of the same colour.
For example, pair a soft blue duvet cover with deep navy pillowcases and a sky-blue throw. This creates a cohesive look that feels considered, not chaotic.
Once you have your base colours, you can use patterns that share at least one of those shades. A floral bedding print with little yellow flowers will look gorgeous paired with a plain fitted sheet, as the shared colour ties the two styles together beautifully.
2. Picking Your Patterns
Zigzags, chevrons, stripes, ditsy, and dots; there is such a plethora of patterns out there that at times the choice can be overwhelming. Most fall into two categories: free-flowing organic designs that are inspired by nature and have lots of movement, and geometric styles that consist of simple repeating shapes like triangles, squares and circles. Similar to chocolate and chilli, opposites attract, so don't be afraid to pair checks with flowers or animal prints with polka dots.
The simplest way to achieve a harmonious scheme is to select a show-stopping focal pattern as your jumping-off point, then choose your other designs based around the same colour palette.
3. Play with Scale
A brilliant trick for successful bedding mix and match styling is to vary the scale of your patterns. The rule of thumb is to combine one large-scale pattern with one small-scale pattern.
For example, a duvet cover with a big, bold floral print works wonderfully with pillowcases that have a tiny, delicate stripe. Or, try pairing our classic with the small, charming checks of our Gingham Bedding. This contrast in scale is pleasing to the eye and ensures the patterns complement each other rather than competing for attention.
4. Know Your Numbers
While you may want to ease into patterns by only picking one to play with first, interior designers often say the key to mixing and matching is to combine three prints in varying sizes, for example, a narrow stripe with a midsize herringbone and an oversized floral.
Then, when layering your chosen pieces, think of your bedroom as a pie (pecan, pumpkin, lemon meringue, whatever takes your fancy). Use a 60% slice of the space for the main pattern (such as on your wallpaper or bed linen), 20% for the smaller prints and designs (scatter cushions or bed throws) and at least 10-15% for a solid colour. The maths doesn't need to be exact but distributing patterns evenly throughout your room, rather than piling them up in one spot, will avoid a lop-sided look and help create a sense of balan
5. Ground Your Look with a Neutral
If you ever feel like your mix of patterns is too busy, the simple solution is to introduce a solid neutral. A plain white, grey, or natural-coloured fitted sheet or a simple bedspread can instantly calm the look and provide a restful space for the eye.
This allows your chosen patterns, like our beautiful new Glassette Collection with subtle, sophisticated designs, to sing.
6. Don’t Forget Texture
Finish your space with designer-inspired flair by enhancing patterns with texture. Slubby linen bedding, quilted cotton throws and chunky waffle knit cushions will add a subtle point of difference, breaking up large chunks of print and lending an extra dose of comfort to your bedroom.
How to Mix and Match Cushions Like a Pro
Cushions are the perfect way to experiment with pattern mixing; the same rules apply. We get the question of how to mix pillows on a sofa or bed all the time, and our simple formula is the key.
Start with a colour palette. Let's say your sofa is a lovely neutral grey. You could choose cushions in shades of green and blush pink. Now, apply the scale rule:
One large pattern: A cushion with a big, leafy botanical print.
One small pattern: A cushion with a fine, delicate herringbone or pinstripe.
One solid or texture: A plain velvet or linen cushion in one of your chosen colours to anchor the look.
Arranging them is easy. Place your largest cushions at the back and layer the smaller ones in front. This method of mixing and matching scatter cushions creates depth and an effortlessly stylish look.
The most important rule is to choose what you love. Have fun, play around with different combinations from our bed linen sets, and create a bed that makes you happy every time you walk into the room.
