Curious about patterns? Experts share how best to use them By The Washington Post Marissa Hermanson Dorothy Draper, the mother of American interior design, was a master at mixing patterns, with her liberal use of motifs and colours. She paired glossy black-and-white checkered floors and thick-striped wallpapers with furnishings upholstered in chintz, plaid and houndstooth check. Her ability to blend contrasting colours, scales and shapes made her artfully composed spaces feel like an immersive experience. Pattern adds instant dimension and personality to a room, but it's a little scary when thinking about where to start. "Pattern-mixing requires some skill, and like selecting a paint colour, people are afraid they are going to get it wrong," says Cheryl Luckett, an interior designer in Charlotte.