Mixing Up Styles For Fascinating Home Decor
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Many home decorators start feeling like they're the only ones who have such an eclectic mix of furnishings. Aside from some things they may have purchased for themselves over the years, they have lots of inherited items of varying quality, and a few finds from local antique shops and secondhand stores. How can anyone make a beautiful home out of such a hodgepodge of objects?
Truthfully, most amateur decorators cannot – unless they've learned the basic principles of interior design, which are balance, mood and harmony. Here are some suggestions for how to achieve a more unified home look, no matter what collection of styles you may have.
Start by assessing what you've got. What things do your furnishings have in common? It may be that there's a common color or a certain kind of wood, a texture or a style that can help hold things together. Look at sizes and shapes as well. Check out the furniture; does it have great lines and good quality? If so, you may love it for the rest of you life, so keep it. The fabrics may be a bit worn, or in a color that doesn't harmonize with the rest of the room, but fabrics can be replaced or hidden with slipcovers. Concentrate on style and line.
Now start moving things around, grouping similar items together, or adding in that one unusual object that will put a bit of surprise into the mix. If those floral rugs don't seem to coordinate with the more modern look that's emerging for the living room, why not try them in the dining room or a bedroom? Try to think in terms of the entire house, and where some items might be used with a little imagination.
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If you must invest in some new furniture – especially if Granny's brocade couch has finally collapsed on its scrollwork legs – purchase comfortable, functional furniture that evokes feelings of peace and comfort. This will be especially good for your home sanctuary in these turbulent times. Natural-fiber fabrics such as cotton, linen and silk may evoke a greater sense of connectedness with nature, which usually leads to greater serenity. Think in terms of natural floor coverings as well, such as wool rugs or bamboo rugs edged in cotton.
Speaking of nature, bring stones, shells, pine cones and other outdoor "finds" into the home and display them clear glass or pottery. Live plants and fresh flowers also will add to a sense of relationship with the earth.
Don't try to "match" all the colors of your interior world. Instead think in terms of "blend," "harmonize" or "coordinate." This approach will ease your decorating stress and help you apply the principle of harmony as well.
Finally, don't forget that no matter how much you love all your family photos, heirlooms and collections, one of the smartest home decorating rules is: Less is more. In other words, pick the very best pieces from your collections and display them in odd-numbered groups of three or more. Rotate the photos, artwork and objects with the seasons, to give the room a sense of vitality. Then your "mixed-up" decor won't look overdone, but unique to your personality.
