We see interior designers expertly mixing patterns on Instagram and in glossy magazines, but how do you do it in your home when you don't have formal training or a professional eye? There are some basic rules for getting multiple patterns to coexist harmoniously. Start by selecting a main motif that will set the tone. "You need to have one statement pattern to start with, and then go from there," says Edith-Anne Duncan, an interior designer, who recommends using a floral or chinoiserie wallpaper or fabric as a launching point. Then layer in supporting designs. "Pattern-mixing is a chorus, and you need altos, sopranos, tenors and a bass line," Luckett says. She advises mixing patterns with large and small scales, juxtaposing motifs that have movement (florals) with designs that have structure (geometrics), and embracing repetition through a cohesive colour scheme.