Many of us are terrified by the idea of multiple patterns in our designs for small bathrooms. Anything beyond one shade screams decorating heresy. We think that too many patterns in our designs for small bathrooms only distract, make the space seem too wild, too busy, too incomplete. It's no longer part of a home but a testament to color.

The truth, however, is that you can do more than basic solids and limited one patterns in your designs for small bathrooms. You can mix stripes with florals, or geometric ideas with plaids. While some of you may be cringing at that, we promise that it can be done. Assuming you understand restraint and are able to compliment colors.

To begin, you have to decide the shades that you intend to use. While you may have the freedom to choose different patterns, you should still limit yourself on the hues. Why? Because all of the texture and style is going to come from the mixture of patterns; you do not need to overwhelm that with too many colors. This will only make the designs for small bathrooms appear without focus. You have to be able to tie elements together, not stretch the ideas.

When you have selected your color, you can then begin to find patterns that contain it to differing amounts. Your main pattern will, naturally, have the most. This needs to be the pattern that will dominate the room. All other fabrics will compliment it.

The second pattern in designs for small bathrooms will be used in a lesser amount; it is an accent. It still needs the proper colors, though. It can be anything you want as long as it has the right shades. This same rule applies to a third pattern (which many recommend to add complete drama to the room). While you may only use this sparingly, it still must contain the appropriate color. Otherwise, you will find yourself with a disaster.

To give an example of this logic: you have chosen to do your room in red. So, you buy curtains with vertical stripes (alternating red and white) and hang them over the windows. This is your main pattern. You then can find a smaller geometric pattern to use for your mat. And, finally, you finish with towels, done in yet another pattern. This is a small touch and will not distract from the overall theme of your designs for small bathrooms.

As long as the colors match and the patterns grow smaller as they lose their importance, you can do as you please.

Obviously, some groupings will not work: this usually comes from placing patterns side-by-side, however, and making the clash seem more obvious. Learn to balance patterns across the room. Spread them out. Otherwise, you may have cluttered designs for small bathrooms that lose all sense of proportion.

And, of course, remember to decrease the size. One pattern is your focus; the other two become accessories. Do not have them compete with each other. Keep it subtle.

You can use more than one pattern for your designs for small bathrooms. You just have to remember that color and size, rather than the pattern itself, is what's important.