Layering prints is a failsafe way to bring depth and dimension to a space, but in a rustic design scheme, I'll admit that it can feel a little kitschy. That's not to say I don't love a cottagecore-inspired room that could belong in a Nancy Meyers movie – it's just tricky to balance coziness and elegance.
I needn't have worried, however: after one glimpse at Amanda Seyfried's stunning Catskills farmhouse, I've been reminded that pattern layering has the potential to look both charming and sophisticated. The secret? A more restrained color palette.
In Amanda's home, a small bedroom becomes a riot of prints – but a sense of balance still prevails. It's a masterclass in how to mix patterns in a room, and I can't wait to bring the same look into my own interiors. (Starting with a few Amanda-inspired blankets and pillows, which you can check out below.)
Recreate Amanda Seyfried's Pattern-Filled Bedroom
Amanda layers up her pillows and throws with a set of striped blue and white bedding – and this classic pattern provides a crisp backdrop that still feels fresh and lively.
Amanda's room showcases plenty of contemporary prints and colors, but she uses a floral rug to ground the space and maintain a sense of elegance and tradition.
In Amanda's room, a navy zigzag pillow demands to be noticed – and you can achieve a similar effect with this handsome geometric pillow, which is guaranteed to bring some joy into your space.
If you're apprehensive about styling mustard yellow, start with accessories like this gorgeous floral pillow. It's striking but sophisticated, and it pairs wonderfully with blue.
There's nothing quite as timeless as a floral coverlet – and this one boasts the same color palette that ties Amanda's room together. Dashes of red really stand out against the mustard and navy hues.
If you don't have the space for an ottoman or bench, I'd also invest in a stylish pouffe like this one. It still offers the opportunity to experiment with color and print, but it won't break the bank.
Decorating with pattern is often viewed as a hallmark of maximalism, but Amanda's bedroom is a brilliant example of a more subdued scheme. It's still joyful – just cast your eye across the floral rug and mustard ottoman – but it doesn't lean too heavily into pattern drenching.
Against a breezy white backdrop, Amanda spotlights two core colors: navy and yellow. The floral rug is used to ground the space, while the ottoman provides a punchy focal point. By choosing from different shades within a narrow palette, Amanda ensures that the space feels energetic but never garish.
On the bed, prints span both contemporary and classic aesthetics: an elegant coverlet feels vintage-inspired, while a vibrant lumbar pillow is an undeniably modern touch. The result is a lively, character-driven room that maintains a feeling of maturity and refinement.
Naturally, Amanda completes the design scheme with plenty of rustic furniture, from a handsome wood bedframe to co-ordinating nightstands and a pair of ornate lamps.
Sloping rafters and wood beams enclose the space, and it could risk feeling a little cramped – but since the wall paneling is finished in a serene white shade, the entire room is unexpectedly airy. The layered patterns have plenty of room to breathe, without creating a sense of claustrophobia (or cliché).
It's true: for all my love of cottagecore interiors, I've long been wary of smaller, pattern-filled rooms becoming claustrophobic or cluttered. What's striking, then, is that Amanda's bedroom is undeniably serene – and instead of overwhelming the space, each pattern helps to refine it.
Take the blue pillow: it brings instant flair to the design scheme, and offers a notable contrast with the more traditional pattern on the coverlet. Finished with the whimsical, mustard yellow ottoman, the area feels polished and yet brimming with personality.
Layering in interior design can take practice, but it all comes down to balance and intention. While Emma's ottoman and pillow showcase a louder, large-scale print, her coverlet and rug offer a more subtle take. Together, the prints draw the eye across the room and add plenty of visual interest, without feeling scattered or jarring.
The organic textures in the room – right down to the soft cream lampshades and glass light pendant – help to soften the patterns and bring everything into harmony. It isn't easy to achieve cohesion in a layered space, but Amanda makes it look effortless.
'This is a lesson in how to design a smaller bedroom that's both elegant and cozy,' says Hebe Hatton, Head of Interiors at Homes & Gardens. 'Often with a small space, it feels like you have to pick: are you going to use design to make the room feel bigger and lighter, or are you going to lean into the small proportions and go down the cozy, cocooning route? But this room balances both.'
I might not have believed that rustic charm and refined luxury can co-exist, but Amanda's space proved me wrong.
'The white walls and symmetrical layout feel light, airy, and elegant, but the layers of texture and mixing of prints give this room a cozy, characterful, lived-in look,' concludes Hebe.
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