The days of matching furniture sets are behind us. These days, it’s all about mixing and matching pieces from different styles and eras to create an eclectic, sophisticated, and interesting layered look.
But if you’re not an interior designer, mixing and matching your furniture can feel overwhelming. How can you use eclectic styles to create interest in a room without making it look crowded or incohesive? Follow these tips to make it happen.
Stick to a Color Scheme
One easy way to make sure your room looks pulled together is to stick to a color scheme. Pieces of furniture in different styles will look more like they belong together if they’re all the same color, or very close to it. For example, choose a variety of pieces in a matching wood color you like, then create pops of color with throw pillows, blankets, or objets d’art. Plants can also provide a source of color – greenery can make a room look nice, and some plants might even flower, too.
Create Textural Contrast
Using contrasting textures in your decorating can create a layered and interesting look. Unrelated pieces can look like they go together when they use the same textures. Choose pieces with similar upholstery. Mix and match different textures like sisal, glass, wood, and metal. Differing textures can make your decor more appealing to the touch, and can help reinforce the theme of the space. For example, you can buy some leather bar & counter stools to contrast with the marble countertops in your kitchen.
Repeat Patterns
Patterns are a great way to create interest in a room, as long as you don’t overdo it. It can be easy to overuse patterns, so stick to using them over smaller surface areas and lean towards more subtle ones, too. Create repetition with colors and patterns throughout the room, to add some polish to the look.
Use the Rule of Threes
The rule of threes refers to organizing furniture in groups of three pieces. Two chairs alone can look awkward, but two chairs arranged around a table suggests a warm and welcoming space. Use two bigger pieces and one smaller piece, or choose a large, medium, and small piece. Group pieces together so that there is plenty of room between them. Use groupings of pieces to break up larger rooms.
Create a Focal Point in Each Room
Every room needs a focal point to draw the eye and tie things together. However, it can be easy to get carried away and put too many focal points into one room. With all the unique and fun things you can buy to decorate your home, it’s tempting to cram each room full of as many interesting things as you can find. 
However, a focal point should be unique in the room and should be styled to draw attention. A focal point can be a nice painting, a fireplace, a mirror, or a striking piece of furniture. You can even create a focal point by painting an accent wall and decorating it with interesting finds. Decorate around your focal point using a color scheme that complements it.
Achieve Balance
It’s important to pay close attention to the scale of the pieces you’re buying so you can make sure you achieve a balance of scale in your room. For example, a thick, heavy piece will look better next to a dainty one even if they’re from two different decorating styles. Place a heavy coffee table in front of a dainty sofa.
You also need to balance out the textures and patterns you use in the room. Patterns should be balanced with plenty of solid colors. You should really only be using patterns in small amounts, so large pieces like sofas and chairs should be in solid colors. Save the patterns for things like throw blankets, woodwork, and perhaps a smaller piece like a side table or arm chair. Balance a smooth texture like marble or metal with a rough texture like wicker or rattan, or a dark wood finish with a blonde wood finish.
Mixing and matching furniture and decor items can be the hardest part of putting your home together. You’ll need to pay careful attention to colors, patterns, and scale in order to put together an eclectic room that still looks cohesive. But it’s well worth it to learn how to mix and match your furniture – your home will look more stylish, and you’ll have the fun of searching for unique pieces to add to your collection.