“You should, of course, consider materials and silhouettes. Everything should look like they are at least cousins, share some similar design DNA. But keeping your colors consistent is the safest bet for making your space look put together.”
—Emily Henderson, Emily Henderson Design
—Amy Sklar, Amy Sklar Design
—Taniya Nayak, Taniya Nayak Design
—Erin Gates, Erin Gates Design
—Tracy Morris, Tracy Morris Design
“For a little more impact, start with something simple like a stripe or go for a monochromatic look in varying shades of one hue. If adding pattern and color, choose a multi-colored palette and mix up the pattern scale with an assortment of small, medium, and large-scale prints.”
—Rebecca Atwood, founder of Rebecca Atwood Designs
Feeling nervous? Start with an inexpensive, low-commitment element. “The easiest, lowest stakes way to start is through pairing pillows. Play around with the use of pattern on the pillows on your sofa or bed before moving to more involved surfaces such as wallpaper and drapery where this also works beautifully!”
—Christina Bryant, founder of St. Frank
—Katie Raffetto, founder of Katie Raffetto Interior Design
“I often have skeptics questioning my white sofa as a mom of two. I’m quick to clarify and sing the praises of Sunbrella, as most stains are easily blotted out, and the covers are spotless after a simple wash. Other great performance fabrics are outdoor rugs in entries and play rooms and for kitchen seating.”
—Jana Bek, Jana Bek Design
—Emilie Munroe, founder of Studio Munroe
