Tell a Story
When mixing and matching styles in a bedroom, designer Louis Duncan-He likes to take a holistic approach first. “Think about the overall design style of your bedroom,” he suggests. “Are you going for more of a global vibe? Maybe it’s a little bohemian? Once you decide, use textures that work within that overall aesthetic.” If you’re unsure what types of pieces support your dream aesthetic, Duncan-He offers a few examples. “A global bedroom may have lighter and darker wood tones mixed together with a mix of sculptural shapes,” he explains. “A bohemian bedroom uses a lot of secondary tones and jewel tones with interesting millwork details and more fluid and whimsical shapes.”
Think Tone-on-Tone
Pair like with like when it comes to a family of hues, and you’re golden. “When you mix tone-on-tone, it’s virtually impossible to do it wrong,” Duncan-He notes. “If you love a monochromatic palette but want to add some interest and richness, consider mixing in variations of the same color.” Duncan-He explains how to do so. “Use a fluid or dynamic wallpaper with different shades of your base color, and then add in wood with a neutral wash and other richer fabrics like velvet,” he shares. “It will look cohesive yet so dynamic and interesting.” Designer Heather McKeown of Land and Sky Designs agrees. “For the primary bedroom in this bachelor pad, we wanted it to feel luxe without having it be too matchy-matchy,” she says of the space pictured above. The color black played a key role in tying together all of the pieces McKeown used. “We paired black iron nightstands with an ebony wood dresser and a plush charcoal velvet bed,” she explains. “From a design point of view, this really works because these pieces are all different materials but within the same color palette.”
Pair Warm with Cold
Don’t hesitate to incorporate pieces made from softer materials alongside more industrial style furnishings. “I love mixing highly textural fabrics like velvets, boucle, and faux furs with metals because I think it increases the energy in a space,” McKeown states.
Play Favorites
There’s nothing wrong with prioritizing a particular furniture style in your design scheme. “If you are feeling unsure about where to start or how to mix together different finishes, one suggestion would be to figure out which you gravitate toward the most and make sure that finish is used,” notes Jennifer Backstein of JBI Interiors. “In one bedroom, various upholstery styles and patterns, neutral wood tones, mixed metals and even natural stone was used. We made sure to create balance and movement which helps the eye comfortably move around the space. It also creates depth and interest, which helps elevate the space.”
Use Select Materials to Convey Glamour
The right materials can elevate a space without making it appear too overwhelming or maximalist. “For this bedroom [above], we were working with a very serene and soft color palette,” Backstein says of the above space. “We still wanted to create impact and interest so we made sure to include, polished and textural materials.” All it took was making a few simple tweaks to existing pieces. “For the night tables, we had a fresh, creamy lacquered finish applied to the fluted drawer fronts and had custom lucite and brass pulls made to finish them off,” Backstein explains. “These two materials together provide a glamorous vibe and add depth to the feature wall.”
Mix Shapes and Sizes
In addition to mixing and matching materials, incorporate a variety of shapes and sizes of furniture into your bedroom, too, Backstein advises. “Don’t be afraid to include round shapes with square shapes, or curved lines with straight lines,” she says. “The best way to work these pieces together is through balance. If you make sure to repeat these elements throughout the space, there is no question that it will all come together to create harmony!”
Don’t Forget About Scale
No matter what types of pieces you’re using, you’ll want to ensure that they are all the correct proportions for the space. “It’s important to consider the size of the items that you are considering and make sure they work with the items that they will be placed beside,” Backstein notes. So don’t go too small or too large when it comes to selecting furniture. “If you have a large wall that you place your bed against and place small side tables next to it, it will automatically feel like something is off, especially if there is a lot of wall space left on either end,” Backstein adds. “Keeping in mind the scale of the items you are considering and making sure that you are selecting the right sizes will also help to unify they space.”
