Using Checks and Plaids in Every Design Style

Each week, Mansion Global tackles a topic with an elite group of designers from around the world who work on luxury properties. This week, we discuss tips for incorporating checks and plaids into your home design.

Checks and plaids often lean traditional, but even contemporary rooms can benefit from a splash of the geometric crisscross patterns. Available in every scale and color, these classics are like a warm, familiar sweater that goes with every garment in your closet.

“There is something very comforting and almost nostalgic about a plaid or check print, said Amy Leferink, owner and principal designer at Interior Impressions in Woodbury, Minnesota. “It can instantly make a space feel cozy.” 

For tips on introducing checks and plaids into any room, be it traditional or modern, we asked a selection of design pros and here’s what they recommend.

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Play With Color and Scale

“I would recommend starting small. I would say an accent chair is a great place to start as it adds enough of a statement without it being too overwhelming. But if even that is a bit much, throw pillows and blankets, a rug or doormat, or even a simple upholstered bench or ottoman are great ways to start.  

“I like to play with color and scale. A very large plaid or check can almost feel abstract and add a lot of interest without it being too literal. A very neutral color or subtle check print can still have a great impact without it feeling too intense. 

“Colors are also a great way to make it feel fresh. Plaids are usually done in a variety of tonal shades, but you can find great fabrics or textiles now that are more gradual in color and scale, which almost gives a hint of it instead of taking over visually. 

“I am a big fan of mixing and matching plaids and checks, but you have to do this carefully as it can easily go haywire. If you want to mix and match, stick to the same color family, and keep a similar scale.”

— Amy Leferink, Interior Impressions in Woodbury, Minnesota

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Go Minimalist in a Contemporary Room

“When people think of contemporary they often think of very little pattern. But introducing something unexpected like a check that gives a nod to traditional design elements yet still relates to modern design can make a room much more interesting. 

“Plaids and checks are, at the end of the day, geometrics, so while they are often associated with traditional design, inherently they have more in common with sharp-lined, contemporary design.

“There are so many plaids and checks out there, I would consider choosing a more minimalist option for a transitional or contemporary room. A funkier, less understated color scheme can really give a traditionally leaning room a twist.”

— Marea Clark, Marea Clark Interiors in San Francisco

Mix With an Animal Print or Abstract Fabric

“I say go for broke and use checks and plaids anywhere on anything. They’re classic, modern or traditional. The options are truly endless. 

“I think with checks, scale has everything to do with making them feel more modern. In the case of plaids, I think it is less about scale and more about limiting your color palette to three colors max. In a transitional setting, try mixing with an animal print or abstract. 

“On a sofa it is all about how the fabric lays out on the piece; meaning what the repeat dictates and how the seams will be laid out. A good upholstery workroom can help you with this. I would not recommend a tufted or channel piece, which would skew the pattern.”

— Chandos Dodson Epley, Chandos Interiors in Houston

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Try Pairing With Stripes, Solids and Florals

“We believe in using plaids and checks for any soft surface from window treatments to furniture to wallcovering. For a recent project, we used a black and white plaid that served as a regulating backdrop for our client’s modern art collection. The orthogonal pattern looked great with the abstract nature of the artwork. 

“A source we use for plaid is Locharron of Scotland. They make kilts and sell the fabrics by the yard. We think their wide variety of colors allow for so much freedom in selecting a color scheme for the space. 

“Depending on the overall design vibe of the space, we typically use stripes, solids, chinoiserie and floral with plaids. If the furniture piece has a plaid fabric we find that solid or chinoiserie or floral pillows work best.”

— Mark Lavender, M. Lavender Interiors, Winnetka, Illinois

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