Patterns
& their friends
Practical tips
and tricks

more

Summertime! You can feel it: at cocktail hour, at the beach bar, in the garden, cheerfulness and joie de vivre are in the air. Colours, patterns, styles – all mixed together and combined to create the summer style of 2025. Those who know how to play the game are the champions. Those who don't and still want to hear some good advice should read on.

Now, we're not talking about fashion here – although it is our number one inspiration. When it comes to interior design, it's important to think in the long run. After all, we should still like the sofa fabric next year. This is precisely why many people are rather hesitant when it comes to colours, textures, and patterns in home furnishings.

The good news is that not everything has to be tone-on-tone to be long-lasting, and not every concept is based on reduction. In areas where people should feel at ease – in hotel lobbies, suites or living rooms – textile design can have more depth. For example, the Peternhof in Kössen shows how fabrics can build an outstanding whole: using different colours, textures, patterns and materials, the architects at Geisler & Trimmel created a harmonious and impressive atmosphere.

Diversity of patterns is not necessarily loud. It can radiate a feeling of liveliness – and that is what we want.

Key Facts

Subject: Textile diversity and mixing patterns in interior design

Key questions:
How can different patterns and fabrics be combined harmoniously?
How many patterns can a room take?
What are the rules that help with colours, textures and scales?

Best practice examples: Peternhof (Kössen), Hotel Das Ludwig (Lindau), K-Lodge View, Sonnen Resort

Advice: Use a maximum of three patterns per room.
Consider colour accents and varying dimensions.
Check how materials work together.
Create areas of calm (plain surfaces, materials such as wood or stone).

Conclusion: Patterns do not clash when combined thoughtfully – varied textiles add character and individuality.

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Layers create depth

A room that works with multiple levels never appears flat. This applies to architecture as well as fabrics. Heavy curtains can stand alongside transparent voiles, coarse bouclés alongside smooth velour. The principle of layering makes rooms clearer and more tangible.

This is precisely what has happened at Peternhof. Pure, textured plains create the basis, alongside individual pieces with patterns – such as cushions, upholstery fabrics and wall coverings. It is important not to use them all at once, but to do so in layers, depending on their function and the effect they have on the room.

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TIP #01

A calm and textured base creates the freedom to add bold accents while working as a stage or frame. This will ensure that the space does not lose its clarity.

Pattern with moderation

Floral designs, geometric lines, classic weaves – can you mix them at all? Yes, but you still should hold your horses. It's not really about the pattern itself, but how it works with other patterns. If you're mixing patterns, keep an eye on the size: small motifs add to the overall look, while big patterns make a statement.

Both can be found at the Peternhof. The secret lies in the arrangement of the patterns, which alternate between the sofa, curtains and walls. They keep up a common language because they share a colour family or are made from similiar raw materials.

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TIP #02

Do not exceed three patterns per room. Establish a hierarchy, for example, by means of pattern size or colour choice.

Patterns & materials

Patterns alone don't tell us a lot. The overall message becomes clear when paired with a certain material. Velvet, for example, looks dramatic on its own. Linen can make a pattern look rustic or elegant, depending on the weave and yarn thickness. And shiny fabrics reflect light, adding another dimension to the story.

Fabrics do not work on their own. Their appearance changes with each adjacent fabric. A good example: place a coarse wool fabric next to a slightly shimmering jacquard; this can work well if both fabrics are of a comparable quality and have a similar appearance.

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TIP #03

Opposites will work if they take each other seriously and do not counteract each other. Consider strong patterns as a person with character and look for a perfect partner for it (as you would in real life).

From hotels to homes

What works in hotels, can be an inspiration for private homes.

The trick: you can easily use the same patterns at home, but it's more important to understand how they work together. It's not all about uniformity, but about smart combinations.

A textured sofa, a patterned curtain, a rug with organically shaped colour blocks. Just three elements are enough to give a room drama and character. The key is how they work together, not how similar they are.

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TIP #04

Never look at individual patterns. Always consider them in combination with other patterns and, above all, materials – in daylight, indoors, in motion. You could create a mood board. Or visit our Design Centre, where our team of consultants will be happy to help.

INTERIOR INSIGHTS

FIVE RULES FOR USING PATTERNS
  1. Define a colour scheme
    A cohesive colour range creates stability. It is not about a tone-on-tone world, but rather about the fundamental decision of how clear, muted, yellow or red the colour palette should be. Colours from the same family complement each other, thus the pattern can vary.

  2. Vary dimensions
    Small, medium, large – not always using the same rhythm. This applies beyond product groups. For example, a wallpaper with large, stylised flowers can perfectly complement a finely striped curtain, while the sofa features a micro pattern.

  3. Think structure
    Surfaces can express more than colours. Some textures are very distinctive, creating a patterned visual effect. It is essential to consider this when developing the overall design, to avoid introducing an additional element into the space that may create a sense of unease.

  4. Choose different types of textiles
    Not everything in the same weave, not everything made from the same yarn. This is actually THE top tip for monochrome design, but it also applies to patterns. Precisely because weaves can also create patterns in textiles and then enter the competition for predominance in the room.

  5. Plan breaks
    A strong fabric requires subtle neighbours. The stronger and more exciting a pattern is, the more the eye seeks rest. Quiet, plain surfaces and materials – often wood, marble, concrete – provide a framework and keep everything together.

Conclusion

Overt harmony does not make rooms interesting,
rather, it's attention to exciting details.

The Peternhof in Kössen demonstrates how well-coordinated textiles can create different moods for guests. It's important to note that the aim is not to provoke a break in style. It’s about having stylistic confidence.

This is difficult to learn unless you are very talented. Otherwise, it means practising, trying, failing, and starting again. This is how you build experience and develop a sense of what constitutes good coordination.

Designing with patterns is a strong trend in interior design. Nowadays, rooms should be flexible, comfortable and personalised, and the potential of patterns is widely recognised. Fabrics can structure, zone and accentuate spaces, as well as influence light and sound. Patterned fabrics further enhance these functions, taking them to a new level.

Teresa Gruber

BSc.; Team for Private Living

With her eye for textures, colours and the delicate balance between functionality and design, Teresa manages interior design in a wide variety of projects. In her articles, she shares insights from her professional experience, inspirations from the world of interior design and tips for a clever planning process.

‘For me, good interior design begins where materials have a subtle effect and shape the ambience.’

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Images: Hannes C. Niederkofler, Adobe Stock, home INTERIOR, home IMMOBILIEN

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