It is easy to fall in love with a home pictured in a glossy, high end magazine. You turn a page and there is the perfect living room or kitchen or bedroom where the colors are dreamy, providing an elegant background for exquisite furniture and rich textiles. These rooms awe us. They draw us in with color and pattern, they offer something unexpected, like a piece of furniture or art you would have never thought of using, and everything in the room seems to effortlessly suggest comfort. Design elements seem to layer flawlessly to create an alluring space with dimension and details that we cannot help but dream of what it would be like to live there.
Creating the kind of well-designed space that makes you go “ahhh” can be intimidating. It is easier to just stick with the “this looks like me” style and call it good. But we suggest that what is so inspiring about the rooms on the glossy pages is a mixing and matching aesthetic that when done right is magical. Beautiful design is a learned skill. Hiring a professional to help you create a plan and get started is a good idea. They can save you time and money and teach you how to take next steps. Each project will get easier and easier, and you will discover what your eclectic mix and match style is. If it is just time for a little mix-it-up, here are some tips we can share.
Start with figuring out what your style is now by thinking about what the architectural style of your home and your current décor is. Are they traditional or modern? Modern style typically suggests clean, straight lines, bolder colors, textures, and metallic elements. Traditional style is everything else! It is often more muted colors, softer edges to furniture, and stained or white accessory furniture. Then think about what you really like in those magazine photos you drool over. Is it the patterns in the fabrics? Is it the gold touches in the accessories? Is it the size of the furniture or that the space does not look overcrowded?
Once you put your finger on the specific elements you like, you have some direction and are ready to explore new ideas and create a fresh look for your space. Start with a review of what you have and what you might need to edit. If your home is traditional, add something unexpected like a modern acrylic coffee table or a bold piece of abstract art. If your home is more modern and simpler, add an old Persian-looking rug or a family antique that you really love but thought might not fit into your design. Adding something unique creates interest and personality in a room. It is also true that removing a piece you really have not enjoyed for a long time, makes space for something exceptional.
Color and scale will add cohesiveness and keep your space from feeling like a hodge podge of unrelated pieces. Different woods can work together, and it is amazing how distinctively different styled pieces can look great together if the wood tones are the same but consider limiting your woods to three tones. If you have a wood piece that just seems to stick out, paint it in a hue that fits in with the color palette of the room. Repeating colors can help bring things together.
Be careful when adding super large or super small pieces. Furniture similar in scale will look more coordinated, however a big piece of furniture can be a fantastic focal point, just be sure it is worth the disruption! Limit small occasional and accent pieces that can make a room look cluttered and hectic. Natural elements such as stone, wood, glass, and plants work in any design. They add warmth and comfort that our senses recognize right away even before we can articulate why we feel welcome in a space.
We have said time and time again that art is a game changer. Think outside of the box and you may surprise yourself with what you genuinely like and appreciate. We frequently hear clients say, “I really love this piece, but it just won’t go in my home.” Yes, you should only buy art you love, but do not pass up on something that catches your fancy because you are worried it will not fit with what you already have. Mixing and matching is just that, adding a little bit of something different.
We celebrate love and beauty in February. We all want a beautiful home. One that makes us go “ahhh.” Try mixing and matching fabulous furnishings, intriguing textiles, and rich color to create your own design style that you will love coming home to every day of the year.
Holly Harrison has been a licensed interior designer for over 35 years. Shannon Stage has spent nearly 20 years in the giftware industry. Together they own Sassy Bird Interiors in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi.
Sassy Bird Interiors
122 Court St., Bay St. Louis
228.344.3181
www.sassybirdinteriors.com
