The Foolproof Formula for Coordinating Textiles in Any Room

What I wish someone had handed me when I started decorating — and would give any friend moving into a new home

A question I hear all the time, that really speaks to a broader fear, is: how do I coordinate textiles in a room? It’s not like putting together an outfit, which they have experience doing and has relatively low stakes; choosing the rugs, curtains, pillows, and other accents for a room is intimidating and long-lasting not to mention an investment you don’t want to get wrong. The possibilities – and the chances of screwing it up – get exponentially bigger when pattern is introduced.

I refer to this living room often for the text book blend of patterns. (Source unknown to me despite trying to hunt down)

I know this dilemma well because I’ve been through it myself. Over the past few years, I’ve been transforming my white box corporate rental in Brooklyn into a cozy, characterful home by introducing color and pattern. Not only did I fear getting it wrong, I also had to deal with the constraint of cool white walls I could do nothing about. In the process, I came up with a formula that offers the safest entry point for coordinating textiles (and other furniture) with color and pattern for any room in the home.

My bedroom was my first big foray into layering pattern.

For instance, in my bedroom I brought together patterns in various scales with a common color palette, including teal block print curtains (used as a headboard), a striped bed skirt, a Welsh blanket, and small floral pillow. And to balance it all out, I choose a neutral Swedish-inspired flatweave rug and white embroidered sheer curtains. The result is joyful and harmonious.

I’ll break down the formula below and provide some pieces to help you get started. I have a few friends who are moving into new homes, and this is the exact advice — and sources — I would give them. My hope is that you walk away from this with permission and confidence to give it a try yourself.

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Start with your foundation

I always recommend starting with neutral anchors that give the eye a place to rest and provide a canvas to layer in color and pattern. Neutral doesn't mean boring — you can introduce a variety of tones, textures, and interesting details.

• Neutral rugs: sisal rug, white/ivory wool rug (better in a bedroom which doesn’t get a lot of traffic and no shoes)

• Neutral furniture: white slipcover sofa and chairs (don’t worry about keeping them clean with kids/pets – slipcovers come off and can be washed.), wood/raffia tables, painted wood pieces

• Neutral curtains: linen curtains, woven blinds, bamboo blinds

Woven rugs

Jute area rug (the one that Kristin Ellen Hockman has all throughout her house). Geometric seagrass rug (the rug I have in my living room). Custom jute rug (really handy if you have a room with odd dimensions). Ripple border jute rug. Sisal rug in wheat (also a great option for a stair runner). Jute cross area rug.

White sofas

Row 1: Six Penny Esme sofa. Green Row English arm roll (in Belgium Linen). Row 2: Serena & Lily English arm roll sofa. Jenni Kayne Harbor sofa.

Here’s where it gets fun…