If you're moving in with someone and trying to figure out how to combine your home decorations to make everything work together, it will take some high-level planning. But once you put in the background work, everything can come together seamlessly. Here are some guides from the experts to help you learn how to create balance in your new home.
How to Mix Styles When Decorating
"Mixing decorating styles is easier than you might think. In truth, there are very few 'pure' decorating styles. Most styles are a blend of several different eras and periods. Design styles are usually birthed when designers (or even homemakers) take the best of certain periods or fashions and incorporate these elements into homes. Maybe your spouse is traditional yet you love shabby chic. Or maybe you would like to figure out a way to use your grandmother’s antique armoire in your über contemporary living room.
Your goal is to create a space that the eyes and the mind view as a whole. Try these tips to mix styles effortlessly and create a room that appears cohesive and unified."
—Tonya Lee, The Spruce
Here Are Your 4 Go-To Tips for Mixing Design Styles Like a Pro
"Above all, you want to make sure that both of the design styles you’re using end up working together rather than fighting against each other. To do this, you’ll need to assign each one a definitive role to play in the design and, as hard as it may be, stick to them as you piece the room together.
Your best bet is to follow the 80/20 rule, meaning that you’ll devote 80% of the room’s design to one style. This will be your main focus and will likely have influence over your choice of colors, furniture, lighting, flooring, etc. It should, understandably, be whichever style you identify with more strongly.
Your second style will take on more of a background role. It should account for approximately 20% of your overall design. Accent items like statement pieces of furniture, bold lighting fixtures, and eye-catching wall art are all excellent choices to fill this role."
—Tara Mastroeni, Fresh Home
Combining Styles + Decorating for the Two of You
"Repetition is key. Repeating an element (whether that be color, pattern, shapes, or textures) always helps unify a space. So no matter what two styles you are blending together, remember to repeat an element throughout the space to bring it together. For example, if you were melding traditional with contemporary styles, you could bring the room together by sprinkling green elements throughout the room (pillows, plants, vases and books for bookcases, etc.)"
—Michaela Noelle Designs
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