Can you mix traditional and contemporary styles in your home?
These pieces might be heirloom antiquities, or modern pieces of assorted styles brought in by members of a blended family. Mixing traditional and contemporary styles can pose a challenge, but it's also a fun way to experiment with contrasts.
What are the benefits of mixing and matching decor styles?
The benefits of mixing and matching modern and traditional décor styles is that they blend well together. Both include natural elements, clean lines, and fun textures. Mixing and matching décor styles makes your modern design look professional. Going with a single style can seem overwhelming and forced.
Can you combine modern furniture and accessories with traditional furniture?
That said, combining modern furniture and accessories with traditional ones can often result in chaos if not planned in advance. To simplify the process, there are major considerations that might make it easier to combine the two very different styles together.
How do you decorate a traditional home with modern decor?
One of the best ways to add striking modern décor to your traditional space is with a unique piece of furniture. Buy a bright colored accent chair or ottoman with a fun fabric for your bedroom or living space. Both styles feature sleek lines and tight upholstery.
How do you combine traditional and modern?
1:083:48Interior Design: How To Mix Traditional And Modern DecorYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWith good quality older pieces breathing new life into them. And throwing in some new where it wasMoreWith good quality older pieces breathing new life into them. And throwing in some new where it was needed. It's very fun and exciting finding that item that just screams.
How do you mix modern and contemporary?
To mix modern and contemporary furniture, use pieces that have similar lines, wood tones or colors. Always keep in mind the traffic flow of the room as well as the overall visual impact. If all the components of a design scheme are from the present era, this style may be referred to as modern-contemporary.
Can you mix different interior styles?
You can decorate with pieces from more than one period or style as long as you find similarities in colors, wood tones, lines, and scale to pull it all together. When you're mixing interior design styles, ensure balance by placing pairs of pieces of the same style in a room so that one doesn't look out of place.
How do you make a contemporary house look traditional?
How to Modernize a Traditional HomeMismatched furniture helps keep a space light. ... Leave some bare space to keep the look clean. ... Use color to highlight architecture. ... Use contrasting colors to create sharper lines. ... Choose one piece of art for more visual impact. ... Ditch heavy drapes for sheer or natural textiles.
Is traditional furniture out of style?
“Traditional and Classic Furniture is coming back.” Due to the pandemic, furniture and home decorating trends have shifted away from the simplicity and sleekness of modern for a return to comfort and coziness and furniture that lasts a lifetime and isn't replaced half a dozen times.
What does contemporary look like?
Contemporary style embraces minimalistic elements highlighting grays, beiges and shades of white. Sleek, thoughtful, hidden details emphasize an edited aesthetic. Contemporary style offers an 'everything in its place' interior featuring designs that are high on function and simplicity and low on collections and fuss.
Should all rooms in a house have the same style?
The rooms in your home should be in a consistent style so rooms relate to each other and make the entire home look cohesive. This doesn't mean that you need to decorate in any one style exactly, but there should be continuity in what you do.
How do you mix two design styles?
How to Mix Styles When DecoratingChoose a Limited Color Palette. Too many colors can detract and make each piece in your room feel like it stands alone. ... Choose a Unifying Pattern. ... Make the Oddball the Focal Point. ... Choose a Few Stock Furnishings. ... Go With a Theme. ... Decorator's Hint.
How do you mix and match interior design?
A Guide To Mixing Interior Design StylesChoose Which Design Styles To Mix. ... Scale To Proportion. ... Remember the 80/20 Rule. ... Find a Unique Focal Point. ... Unify Your Design With Color. ... Limit Your Color Scheme. ... Link Styles Together With Patterns. ... Mix and Match Natural Materials.More items...•
Why are contemporary homes expensive?
Construction is meticulous The sleek lines of contemporary design require meticulous precision, which is extremely labor intensive.
Can you put modern furniture in a traditional home?
Combining traditional and modern furniture may seem like a challenging blend to perfect. However, when done correctly, the mixture creates a unique, multi-layered space. One of the perks of blending traditional and modern interior design styles is developing a personal style that you won't see in other homes.
How do you make a modern house feel old?
10 Ways to Make a New Home Look OldDisplay Real Paintings. Save Pin It See More Images. ... Use High-Quality Organic Materials. Save Pin It See More Images. ... Buy From Multiple Eras. ... Install Crown Molding/Base Boards. ... Put Up a Picture Railing. ... Paint with Lime Wash. ... Replace Modern Hardware. ... Look for Worn Rugs.More items...•
What is the difference between contemporary and modern?
Contemporary is, by definition, what's happening in design at this very moment in time. This definition makes it more fluid and hard to pin down. Modern design, on the other hand, has a distinguishable aesthetic that emphasizes crisp lines, warm neutrals, and balance.
How do you combine mid century modern with traditional?
Layer with art and lighting Modern lighting and art can help you incorporate more traditionally styled pieces into a modern interior. A contemporary light sitting on an antique desk for example, can make a dynamic combination. A vintage dresser with a modern painting hung above will help the two styles come together.
What is traditional contemporary decor?
What Is Contemporary Style? Fundamentally, a contemporary style of decorating is defined by simplicity, subtle sophistication, deliberate use of texture, and clean lines. Interiors tend to showcase space rather than things. Things that are modern and current with the styles of the moment are contemporary style.
How do you mix French provincial with modern?
Large mirrors: These look great in almost any space, helping make it look lighter and larger. Mirrors with ornate gilded frames, which are a hallmark of the French Provincial style, also work well with modern designs.
Create Contrast
Aim to emphasize the contrast among different shapes, materials, textures or decorative details. For example, mix a sleek, minimal, Mid-Century Modern dresser with ornately patterned wallpaper. Pair a rustic wooden table with clear acrylic chairs, or lay a textured antique rug over a smooth tile floor.
Maintain Proportion
Emphasize contrasts in every area except size. Keep pieces of different styles in proportion to maintain a sense of scale, and so that none of the pieces get lost or overwhelmed. Balance a long sofa with a long coffee table and a small nightstand with a proportionately small lamp.
Tie in Accessories
To help control mindless clutter, limit groupings of accessories to one or two interesting pieces that can help tie in different styles with a common detail.
Update Traditional Furniture
For a piece that just doesn't seem to fit no matter how you decorate around it, consider updating it. Reupholster an antique chair in a modern shade, like neon pink or yellow or in a patterned textile, such as a colorful ikat print. Paint a traditional piece of woodwork in a fresh sky blue or mint green or in a geometric pattern.
What is traditional design?
Noel Gatts, owner/principal designer at beam&bloom interiors, explains the idea of traditional design. “It pulls inspiration from classic lines, intricate fabrics, and timeless styles that generally stem from European influences,” she explains. It is one of the most popular design styles, and encompasses lots of different looks.
What is contemporary design?
Contemporary design, on the other hand, “implies a continuously evolving aesthetic pulling inspiration from absolutely anything with a focus on being on trend or ‘fashion’ forward,” says Gatts. There are a lot more clean lines, defined geometrics, bright colors, and eccentric elements to it.
What happens when traditional meets contemporary design?
While opting for either a contemporary or traditional design aesthetic is an easier way of maintaining fluidity and staying safe in terms of design, by combining them there is more opportunity to express creativity and create a truly unique and inspiring space.
Edit your space
If you want to incorporate one of the aesthetics to your space, you need to be willing to purge. “Our advice here at beam&bloom is to edit!” says Gatts. “Focus on your favorite shapes, and consider melding them in a precise way,” she says.
Update your paint
An easy way to modernize a traditional space is by adding some modern color to the mix. “Enhance your classic colonial or Victorian furniture and architecture with a bright contemporary paint color in a high gloss finish,” she suggests. “Paint is easy to update.”
Add some organic elements
You can also balance out your traditional furniture by adding an on-trend contemporary organic piece. “Something beautiful and natural like a live edge coffee table will always be relevant,” she suggests.
Update window treatments
Window treatments can also bring a more traditional space up to date. If your home has dated drapery — like heavy valances or curtains in an outdated print — swap it out for something more in-the-now. “Some colorful drapery melds traditional and contemporary, and helps tie your look together,” Gatts states.
What Is Traditional Home Décor?
Achieve comfort and elegance with traditional style. Everything goes together with this style that marries muted, mid-range colors and fabrics with a mixture of shapes and lines. Traditional furniture may have straight edges, puffy curves, or anything in between. Natural woods and whites are common in this simple décor style.
What Is Modern Home Décor?
Not to be confused with contemporary style, you’ll recognize modern interior design for its bold elements. It’s a minimal style with much contrast. For the most part, pieces in modern home décor are striking and unique. Modern décor features:
Reasons To Mix and Match Décor Styles
Loving two different décor styles can make decorating challenging. Especially if you and the person you live with can’t agree, you may need to find a way to compromise. The benefits of mixing and matching modern and traditional décor styles is that they blend well together. Both include natural elements, clean lines, and fun textures.
Choose a Dominant Style
Follow the 80/20 rule when mixing and matching décor styles. This ratio can help you determine which styles to buy for your furniture versus your accent pieces. If traditional style is your main décor, you should purchase traditional furniture and use modern accents.
Embrace Contrast
People who enjoy modern décor love striking elements. Use the best parts of modern décor to spruce up your traditional living spaces. For instance, glass, metal, stone, and other natural elements mix well with both modern and traditional spaces. Consider adding mirrors, wooden accent tables, or plants to your space.
Limit Your Color Palette
A general rule to keep in mind when mixing décor styles is to stick to a few key colors. Don’t forget to choose a natural or neutral shade when creating a palette for your modern and traditional mix and match. Once you decide on two or three colors, choose furniture, rugs, curtains, and other elements.
Create Flow
Tie the elements of your room décor together by repeating colors, shapes, and textures. Find modern and traditional pieces that have the same types of wood finishes, shades, and lines. Make sure you pay attention to the details of each piece you add to your space and build off them to create flow.
Create a home in your own style
Abe Abbas is a furniture expert who has worked as a design consultant for Sears Home Life, Levitz, and La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries. He has over 30 years of experience in the furniture industry—working with all facets from retail sales, design, buying, marketing, and importing.
Modern or Traditional?
To create a really great balance, decide whether you want your space to be primarily modern or primarily traditional. Letting one style dominate is crucial because you don’t want to create a space where everything is fighting for equal attention.
Why Do You Love It?
Once you’ve figured out where your loyalties lie, find out why that style appeals to you. Look at the visual attributes of a piece of furniture. When you find yourself attracted to a piece is it because of its shape and lines, or do you admire it for its color and texture?
Harmony or Contrast?
After figuring out what you like and why you like it, it is time to settle another important question. What kind of a look are you going for, harmony or contrast?
Mix It Up
Now that you've figured out which elements are important to you, go ahead and start mixing it up.
