Don't be afraid to decorate with black and white buffalo check all year long! Here are some tips to help you break from holiday tradition, and decorate with this pattern from spring to fall!
Black and white buffalo check is a gorgeous pattern that has come back into trend in the last few years. Due to strategic marketing, buffalo check evokes a holiday feeling, especially when brands always try to offer something in buffalo check when Christmas rolls around. However, this bold pattern should not be regulated just to Christmas decor!
Buffalo check can be used year round with the proper design rules in place, not just for Christmas. Since the pattern can convey both a neutral and a bold statement, the thought of mixing buffalo check may stress you out if you are decorating for your home.
I know it can be daunting to decorate with such a bold pattern. Sometimes, you wonder what you can pair it with to make it work in your space.
In this post, I’m going to share with you a few of my favorite buffalo check fall and that will look amazing in any space and some inspiring ways to make it work in your own home.
I’ve found an amazing formula that will show you that using buffalo check in any season is completely possible.
Follow these simple rules design professionals use so that you can bring together a cohesive look in your space that is impeccably flawless.
In This Post
It’s Not Just Red/Black and Black/White
Buffalo check has long been familiarized with the red or black mixed with white, but it has come such a long way in the last few years. At the heart of it, what characterizes buffalo check is that it has a 2 or 3 color pattern stripe that creates equal squares.
While the red and black plaid pattern has become familiar with Christmas, other color schemes like white and beige have become a favorite all year round for those that love the french cottage or farmhouse decor. Most recently, you’ll also see buffalo check used in modern, glam, and shabby chic decor as well.
The design has a charming pattern that provides a comforting allure of visual texture. Buffalo check transitions easily between various styles of design, all the way from modern farmhouse and modern glam.
Biggest Concerns About Decorating with Buffalo Check Plaid
Certainly, the biggest concern with homeowners is how to decorate their space with buffalo check without competing patterns. But with just a few simple rules of the road, I’ll have you decorating with buffalo check in no time!
Buffalo Check Does Not Compete With Other Patterns
Because it has a strong pattern on it’s own, buffalo check actually becomes more of a foundational pattern. With it’s signature checks running about 1 ½ inches to 5 inches in size, it provides a versatile, yet grounded appeal in style and design.
Grouping and Determining the Statement Pattern
The biggest key to decorating with buffalo check is grouping your space so that you can design with the different segments of your space in mind.
After determining the grouping of items you want to decorate with, you’ll want to determine whether buffalo check will be a neutral or a bold statement. That’s the amazing thing about buffalo check, it can play a neutral tone in your space or it can be the star of the show.
Design Dilemma: How to Combine Patterns with Buffalo Check
There was a period of time when you could match patterns entirely throughout the room. However, these days, the modern approach is ensuring that the patterns that you choose compliment each other as well as offer coordinated eye appeal.
Choose Two Other Patterns Along with Buffalo Check to Create Balance
Buffalo check is great in the sense that it can bring both neutral undertones or be a strong bold pattern. To ease into mixing colors and patterns with monotone, you can choose 3-4 different patterns in the shade of buffalo check you are decorating with.
Here’s a great formula that you can use: a floral/paisley, geometric, buffalo check/other stripe, and a solid. You’ll find that buffalo check is very versatile and easy to decorate with other bold prints.
Buffalo Check Becomes Your Neutral Base
As mentioned, the pattern can be a foundational neutral in your design. You can use buffalo check tastefully as an accent chair, rug, or even a sofa.
Using other large or bold prints along with your buffalo check will allow you to layer on other focal points and allow the pattern to fade in the background as a more subdued neutral tone.
Let the Eyes Rest with a Solid Color
In order to streamline the chaos in pattern mixing, make sure you introduce some solid colors along with the buffalo check in order to give your eyes a needed break. Otherwise, using one pattern on top of each other three times will make it seem really chaotic.
The golden rule of decorating is to give patterns and stripes room to breath, otherwise you’ll create a dizzying space that you didn’t intend to do. The simpler and more graphic the prints, the easier it is to mix them!
Mix Prints of Smaller Scale with the Buffalo Check
For example, you can use smaller IKAT patterns that are smaller than the width of the buffalo check print. You should use at least three patterns in the room, and trust your own intuition on what looks good. You can choose one that is larger in size, and the other two should either be two smalls, two mediums, or one of each.
The second pattern should have similar tones and a smaller version of the dominant pattern. The third pattern should be a compliment to the other pieces, but not necessarily in the same color.
Example of Patterns to Pair with Buffalo Check Plaid
You can combine paisley as well as graphic prints all year round for a seasonal look with buffalo check. Decorating with buffalo check doesn’t have to be hard. Just layer on!
Buffalo check can be your large scale pattern that can be incorporated with smaller scale prints when used in the same color palette.
The more variety in sizes and scale you choose, the more inviting, welcoming, and comforting your space will become.
Pair Two Similar Checkered Plaids Together
You can pair buffalo print with the smaller scale gingham print for a dramatic look. Gingham has a smaller checkered print than of buffalo check.
Related Post: Buffalo Check versus Gingham Pattern
Use Similar Hues and Tones
Depending on what color buffalo check pattern you use, ensure that you have the same colors that are the same intensity as well as hues. This one rule of thumb will make it really easy for you to pair buffalo check with other prints.
Choose to Be Non-Committal
If you are weary of going all in on using buffalo check with a sofa or an accent chair, star with throw pillows, window treatments, lamp shades and bedding!
You can then introduce coordinating solid colors to mix and match. After a while, you will find that you love the print enough to commit!
The next base to round is to get the print in an ottoman! They are a great affordable option if you wanted to dip your toes into using the pattern. When you pair with with mid-modern design, it provides a pop of charm to the space.
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Checkered Wallpaper (without fully committing too!)
If you use a black, white and grey stripe for your buffalo check walls, you are committing it to not only a bold statement, but also a neutral foundation.
You can incorporate wood tones and simple, solid color bedding. If you can’t commit to a statement wall using buffalo check, you can use adhesive wallpaper without fully committing to the pattern.
Choosing Furniture with Buffalo Check
I’ve written all about decorating with accent chairs upholstered in buffalo check here, but it’s not just specific to arm chairs.
You can upholster sofas, benches, beds, stools, and armchairs and incorporate in with your other interior decorating. If you know you LOVE buffalo check in all it’s black and white glory, the pattern offers the ability to provide a powerful impact in the space.
My Favorite Picks for Using Buffalo Check All Year Round
I’m listing out from not-commitment all the way to full commitment my favorite finds for decorating with buffalo check. If you need some inspiration, check out the products below on things you can coordinate with buffalo check prints!
Coordinating Buffalo Check Accent Chair Design
This is a simple accent chair that has one contrasting pillow with a solid color pairing. This is a very simple way to coordinate this palette.
Coordinating Buffalo Check Cozy Living Room
Adding a throw blanket along with some coordinating throw pillows will take your room from boring to cute and cozy in no time.
Coordinating Buffalo Check Kitchen
I think the kitchen is the hardest place to decorate with buffalo check. You could always do a patterned valance if your kitchen has a window. Mine does not!
Coordinating Front Door with Buffalo Check
The easiest way of all to decorate your home with buffalo check is changing out your wreath! Here is amazing collection of wreaths that I found while searching for my own.
Designing with Buffalo Check
If you want to decorate with buffalo check outside of Christmas, you absolutely can with the rules above. It’s more fun that way anyway! While mixing and matching buffalo check can be a challenge, it doesn’t have to be if you choose the right complementary colors and scale of patterns to use.
While black and white buffalo check has been the go-to for workhorse fabric for railroad workers and to the holidays, it can be used all season long with the right complementary colors and patterns. Black and white buffalo check can provide your home a cozy and vintage charm any time of year. So leave your prejudice about the pattern with old man winter, and start using black and white buffalo check with the other seasons!
Other Buffalo Check and Plaid Inspiration
- Difference Between Buffalo Check and Gingham and Plaid
