How to Mix Decorating Styles Like a Pro

Hello Decor Friends,

One of the most common design questions is: “How do I mix different styles and still make my space feel pulled together?” Whether you’ve inherited a vintage dresser, fallen in love with a sleek modern sofa, or can’t choose between farmhouse and boho, blending styles doesn’t have to feel chaotic. In fact, some of the most beautiful and interesting rooms are the ones that skillfully mix different aesthetics.

Here are three helpful tips to keep your space feeling intentional, not accidental.

1. Create a Consistent Color Palette

The easiest way to make different pieces feel like they belong together? Unite them with color. Even when your furniture and decor vary in style, a cohesive color palette can visually tie everything together. Choose two or three main hues (plus a few supporting neutrals) and carry those tones throughout your space.

For example, if your style mix includes mid-century modern and coastal elements, try grounding the room with warm wood tones and then layering in soft blues, sandy beiges, and crisp whites. This palette lets each piece shine without fighting for attention.

Designer Tip

Color is the common thread that can pull wildly different elements into one harmonious story.

2. Repeat Materials and Textures

Just like color, repeating textures and materials across different styles helps everything feel connected. Let’s say you have a rustic reclaimed wood dining table and modern metal dining chairs. Add a few more wood or metal accents throughout the space—maybe a wooden frame on the wall or a black metal floor lamp—to make the mix feel purposeful.

This repetition doesn’t have to be exact. If your coffee table is rattan and your side table is cane, the common texture of woven natural materials creates unity. Look for opportunities to echo materials like leather, linen, marble, or brass in different ways across your decor.

3. Balance the Visual Weight

A room feels off when one style dominates and others get lost in the background. Aim for balance by distributing your styles evenly throughout the space. For example, don’t group all your vintage pieces in one corner and all your modern items in another. Mix them together! Pair that antique armchair with a modern floor lamp. Hang abstract art above a traditional console table. When styles are balanced throughout the room, the space feels curated—not cluttered.

Also, consider scale and proportion. Mixing a delicate vintage chair with an oversized modular sofa might look mismatched unless you balance it out with another light, airy piece or an area rug that visually anchors both items.

At the end of the day, mixing styles is about creating a space that reflects your taste, history, and personality. Don’t be afraid to experiment. Start with a solid foundation—color, texture, and balance—and build from there. Some of the most memorable rooms are the ones that break the rules just a little.