From your point of view I think the plum one might be safer, as it is less limiting. There are two strong colours in the first one and I would not buy it because I would not enjoy matching other fabrics to it. To be honest, I would not buy the second one either becaue it is not my style, but as I look at ideas are coming into my head of things you could do with it. I look at the first one and I think- "wow- what are the chances of the blue/greens I have not clashing with that?"