I used to be more paranoid and stressed, constantly worrying about my Plan B. But the truth is I don't have one.
If there is a reason for keeping the wall very quiet, choose a pattern that works all over without pronounced lines. . . Put very succinctly, architectural effect depends upon a nice balance of horizontal, vertical and oblique. No rules can say how much of each; so nothing can really take the place of feeling and good judgement.