The most interesting and charming homes tend to have one thing in common: They aren't beholden to just one design style. Mixing different interior styles keeps a home from feeling impersonal or overly trendy. But it can also be tricky to choose design elements that don't overwhelm each other. We asked professional designers to identify the common mistakes people make when mixing design styles, so you know what not to do.
Many people make the mistake of doing too much when it comes to their home's design. Your conversation pieces need a little room to shine, and it's harder for them to do so when every piece of furniture and art is competing for attention. “True luxury requires empty spaces for the eye to rest," explains Caroline Kopp, founder and principal designer at Caroline Kopp Interior Design.
It's also best to pick a few design styles and lean into those, rather than trying to mix five or six aesthetics in one room. For example, my home is a mix of 1970s bohemian touches with sleek midcentury pieces. It's cohesive, visually interesting, and doesn't look like anyone else's space.
Keep reading for more tips from design experts on mixing design approaches for an eclectic, yet curated feel.
Why Is It a Good Idea to Mix Design Approaches?
“Mixing design approaches in a single space is the key to making a space feel lived-in,” says Bambi A’Lynn Bratton of Bambi A’Lynn Interior Design. “I love to blend different styles to give a room a more curated and collected feel. Not only does it keep it from looking stark and sterile, mixing design approaches is also a great way to reflect a homeowner’s taste, personality, and travels.”
Emily Spanos, creative director of Emily June Designs, says that it’s also practical to mix eras and styles, especially if you’ve inherited furnishings and decor from family, you’re designing over time, or you may have some budget constraints. In other words, you won’t be boxed in to a single theme—instead, you’ll embrace an eclectic vibe that allows you more freedom.
How to Mix Design Eras and Styles
✔️ Combine various types of vintage art. “Accessories and artwork are the easiest ways to bring in vintage design eras,” Kopp says. “There is so much out there, and it is very easy to pick up at your local vintage shop.”
✔️ Repeat silhouettes. To keep your mix looking cohesive, Spanos recommends “repeating silhouettes,” in which you’ll wrap in similar shapes throughout a space. “Finding items that speak to each other, like rounded or rectilinear forms across styles, creates harmony and ties things together,” she notes.
✔️ Skip maximalism if you’re a beginner. While it may seem as if you need to be all about maximalism when combining styles, Kopp says that it isn’t required—in fact, she thinks that the maximalist look is “expert-level” mixing, “so tread carefully!” she adds. She advises, “I would approach this by adding a few pieces at a time, which allows you space to slow down if things start looking like a junk shop. As always, you need to edit things in order to not overwhelm.”
✔️ Combine traditional with modern. “Pair something traditional with something modern,” Spanos advises. “Balancing opposites creates energy and prevents either style from overpowering the space. For example, a midcentury chair can lend a modern feel to a more traditional farmhouse table.”
✔️ Check proportions. When it comes to mixing seating from various styles, A’Lynn Bratton suggests making sure the sizes work together. She says, “For example, you wouldn't want to pair a low midcentury modern sofa with a tall English wingback chair, because the visual weight and proportions would be unbalanced.”
✔️ Connect with color. “Use color as the glue that ties mixed eras together to create a cohesive palette,” Spanos says. “It makes even drastically different pieces feel connected.”
✔️ Think through fabric choices. “One way I love to make sure that everything in a mixed design works well together is through thoughtful fabric selections,” A’Lynn Bratton shares. “Reupholstering items is a key way to ensure that a space feels cohesive.”
Shelby Deering is a freelance lifestyle writer who frequently covers home design and decor for national publications. She has worked as a full-time freelance writer for over a decade, and has worked in the industry for nearly 20 years, writing home tours, interviewing top designers, and beautifying her own home. She holds a master's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and when she's not writing, you can find her at thrift stores and flea markets, running, or exploring local trails in Madison, Wisconsin, with her husband and corgi, Dolly.
