Furniture Pairings: How to Positively Nail the Mix and Match

Elevate Your Living Space by Mixing and Matching Your Furniture Pairings.

This much is true, gone are the days of placing matching big-box furniture in a room and calling it good. And while it’s easy to fall into the trap of following a specific trend, often I find that the most impactful spaces are the ones that effortlessly combine elements from multiple periods, styles, and places.

Homes that layer in different styles and types of furniture are dynamic and interesting. Although the versatility brought about is certainly welcomed, the trick is to ensure that everything ties together cohesively at the end. The whole point of mixing and matching styles is to create a space that truly defines you, and can’t be recreated somewhere else. It’s all about finding the right balance of color, texture, style, and proportion to create a unified and visually appealing look. In this blog post, we’ll explore some tips and tricks to help you mix and match furniture like a pro, no matter for what style you’re aiming.

metal and leather chair

With it’s metal frame, sharp angles and pop of leather, this chair is the star of the show.

Furniture Pairing for Tight Spaces

Finding the right furniture pairings for a tight space can be challenging, but with some thoughtful planning, you can make the most of your limited space. The first step is to measure your room and determine the size and shape of your furniture pieces. When selecting furniture, it might also be a good idea to choose items that can serve multiple purposes, like finding an ottoman that can be used as extra seating in a pinch. This will help you not only save space but maximize functionality.

Two apartment sofas facing each other is a beautiful way to fill a space and maximize seating, especially in a room without a television. It’s the setup I have in my own living room and is fantastic for entertaining. But what I’d consider the most tried and true way to provide maximum flexibility of seating for guests (and for lounging when no one else is around) is to use a sectional-style sofa and compact, small-framed chairs. The sectional gives space to spread out if you need it, and the chairs add some pleasing visual contrast to the design without adding too much bulk to the space.

grey compact chair

A compact chair adds to both the color and texture-filled living room.

But the best thing about a small room is that by adding just a few finishing touches, you can make your space feel ultra-stylish in a breeze! Treat yourself to a sculptural side table, a glam new accessory or simply a few faux flowers, and the entire space will feel big-budget.

scalloped wicker coffee table

A scalloped wicker coffee table injects personality into this new traditional blue and white design.

Two-Tone Furniture

Two-tone furniture is another fun and exciting way to create pairings in your custom pieces. Sometimes there is a practical reason for a two-tone piece – for designer-forward kid-friendly spaces, you can apply performance fabric to the seat of your piece and then any fabric you like on the body where it won’t get as much wear (in theory!). Even if practicality isn’t your primary concern, going two-tone injects a little texture and personality into the piece.

two charcoal chair

The charcoal fabric on these two-tone chairs adds interest to the design and is a great partner to the polka-dot.

Aim for Repetition, Not Matching

Repetition works wonders in design. When curating your look with mixed and matched furniture, try to work in a common element or two to tie the pieces and overall space together. Using a defined color palette, having a couple wood pieces from the same time period, or carrying a motif throughout help to add a touch of polish. To create cohesion in your design and tie the look together, repeat a chosen color, finish, material, shape or pattern two to three times. This also helps to make the space feel curated and intentional.

vallone chair with blue and white accessories

Swirling vines with leaves are repeated in the fabric of the Vallone chair, the tape trim on the pillow, and on the blue and white accessories on the shelving.

Furniture Pairings is a Balancing Act

When it comes to mixing and matching furniture pieces to create your perfect style, it might feel like a little bit of a balancing act. Too few details and it feels like something’s missing, and too much of the same is uninteresting. Cultivating balance, defined as the visual distribution of colors, patterns, silhouettes, and texture in a space, is absolutely essential when mixing furniture styles. Do the colors and scale of the pieces feel evenly dispersed throughout the space? Does anything need to be moved or re-distributed? Don’t be afraid to take a step away and come back with fresh eyes. It’s easy to get carried away with a mix and match style!

dark wooden dresser

This heaviness of this bedside table is balanced by the light fabric of the bedding design.

Mixing and matching your furniture is the perfect way to achieve the sought after “collected” look. Remember, good design is more of an evolution than a destination, and collected spaces take time to build. I hope you enjoy the journey as much as I do! Until next time – happy decorating!