Mixing & Matching

August  2015

Mixing & Matching Patterns/Colours

Cushions are the icing to my cake & my favorite way of adding colour & texture to my home.

They are a low cost way of updating that old couch or outdoor area and can be changed at a whim, even seasonally.

But without reason, I just LOVE cushions. 
Now you all know of my undying love of cushions, I thought I would share with you my tips for mixing and matching. 

It’s definitely an art form that I’m still perfecting & all it takes is a little confidence.


So here we go with a few pointers:

Solid – A cushion that is a solid color with no pattern

Semi Patterned– A cushion with 2 colors and a simple pattern

Highly Patterned– A cushion with 3 or more colors and a complex pattern (this is the pillow(s) that pull everything together).  I also call this the main attraction.

Tip # 1:
Use at least 3 Colors in your palette

I usually (but not always) try to stick to three basic colors & in numbers of 3, 5 or 7 and so on.  I recommend using at least three colors because as it will give visual balance, it is interesting to look at, and it gives you more options when it comes to choosing fabrics.  I wouldn't recommend using more than 5 colors.  It is also important to note that all the colours do not have to match perfectly in shade from cushion to  cushion.  It's ok to have variation of shades as long as they are close in colour & still appealing visually.

Tip #2:
Balance Your Solid Colours & Patterns

Keeping a nice balance between solids, semi-patterned, and highly patterned pillows is important.   You run the risk of your cushions looking “too busy” if you try to do too many patterns, but on the other hand you don't want to look too boring if you choose only solids.
 
 *Handy Hint*  If possible, choose your highly patterned pillow fabrics first.  It is often easier to choose the busier fabric that has an abundance of colors first as it can be very difficult to try and find a highly patterned fabric that pulls together cushions you already have.

Tip #3:
Consider Other Colors within the Room

Consider your curtain color(s), wall color, and any other pops of color in the room when determining the color palette that you will use for your cushions.  When I chose my cushion colours, I look at the room in question, existing furniture & how it relates to other pops of color throughout the house.  If you have at least one item in the room that matches a cushion color, then your cushions should be a nice cohesive fit for the room.

At the end of the day, style is individual & everyone likes things differently, so go with your gut & what works for you.  I hope I have given you some inspiration to do some mixing & matching of your own.  Go forth with "confidence" I say!!

If you would like some more inspiration, visit the website @ www.mycushioncrush.com.au to start your Cushion Creations from our Gallery of over 300 Indoor/Outdoor Designer Fabrics that are:

• Water Resistant
• Stain Resistant &
• Fade Resistant

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Good luck & happy decorating!