How to Mix Furniture Styles in Your Home

Mixing furniture styles is a great way to create a space that feels personal, layered, and effortlessly stylish. While sticking to one design style can be safe and cohesive, it can also feel limiting. 

Blending different aesthetics, like Scandinavian with Boho, or Industrial with Art Deco, adds visual interest and character. The key is knowing how to combine these styles in a way that feels intentional, not chaotic.

Whether you're drawn to the minimalism of Scandi design, the vibrancy of Boho style, or the sleek edges of Contemporary interiors, here’s how to bring multiple styles together in your home without it feeling mismatched.

Start with a Base Style

Before you begin mixing, choose one style to be your foundation. This will help ground the space and prevent it from feeling disjointed.

Scandi style makes a great base with its clean lines, neutral palette, and emphasis on light and functionality.

Contemporary interiors also work well as a starting point, offering a neutral canvas with flexibility for layering.

Once you have your base, you can thoughtfully introduce elements from other styles.

Understand the Core Elements of Each Style

Before trying to blend styles, it’s important to understand the key concepts behind each one. Here’s a quick cheat sheet to the key features of some of the most popular interior design styles:

• Scandi: Light wood, simple silhouettes, neutral colours, functional design, minimalism.
• Boho: Rich textures, eclectic patterns, layered textiles, global influences, casual feel.
• Mid-Century Modern: Tapered legs, warm wood tones, organic shapes, retro colour schemes.
• Industrial: Raw materials, metal finishes, exposed brick or pipes, dark colour palettes.
• Art Deco: Glamour, bold geometry, luxe materials like velvet and marble, jewel tones.
• Contemporary: Clean lines, modern shapes, monochromatic tones, emphasis on space and light.

When mixing, look for elements that complement or contrast in a deliberate way, such as pairing the softness of Boho with the strong lines of Mid-Century Modern, or the opulence of Art Deco with the raw and rustic nature of Industrial. 

Use a Cohesive Colour Palette

Colour is one of the most powerful tools for tying different styles together. Even if your furniture spans multiple eras and aesthetics, a unified palette helps everything feel cohesive.

Stick to three or four key colours across your furniture, textiles, and decor. Neutral bases like white, beige, or grey work well to balance more vibrant or contrasting elements.

Add interest with accent colours drawn from your secondary styles, like emerald green for Art Deco or terracotta for Boho.

Balance Shapes and Textures

Contrast is what makes mixed-style interiors exciting, but balance is what makes them work. For example: 

• Pair sleek contemporary or Scandi furniture with textured Boho elements, like woven wall hangings, macrame, or a rattan chair.
• Mix the angular lines of Industrial pieces with the curved shapes of Mid-Century Modern or Art Deco.
• Use texture to break up flatness, try combining velvet cushions with leather chairs, or a shaggy rug beneath a streamlined coffee table.

This creates visual depth and stops your space from feeling too flat or uniform.

Repeat Elements to Create Flow

To avoid a jarring “patchwork” effect, repeat key materials, colours, or shapes throughout the space.

For example, if you have a metal-framed Industrial shelf, echo that metal finish with light fixtures or table legs elsewhere.

Alternatively, use  Boho-style cushions in multiple rooms, or carry through Art Deco brass details from your coffee table to your wall art. Repetition helps different styles speak the same visual language.

Anchor the Space with Key Statement Pieces

Let one or two standout pieces be the stars of your room, and design around them.

A velvet Art Deco sofa becomes a glamorous centrepiece when paired with minimal Scandi side tables and contemporary lighting.

If you’re looking to add multiple styles to your dining room, then an easy way to do this is with a reclaimed wood industrial dining table, which can look striking surrounded by mismatched chairs from different styles.

Alternatively, a mid-century sideboard can be softened with boho accents like woven baskets, plants, and a colourful rug.

Make sure these pieces feel intentional, not like leftovers from different houses.

Trust Your Eye

Ultimately, mixing furniture styles is about creating a home that reflects your personality. Don’t get too bogged down in the rules. If it makes you happy and feels harmonious to you, it works. So embrace the contrast, play with combinations, and let your space evolve.

If you're ever unsure whether your mix of styles is working, take a step back and look at the room as a whole. Does it feel balanced? Do certain elements feel out of place or overly dominant? Small tweaks, like changing a lamp, adding a throw, or switching a piece of art, can make a big difference.

Looking for furniture that works across styles?

From streamlined Scandi chairs to bold Art Deco pieces, our curated collection makes it easy to blend your favourite design styles. Explore our range of furniture now and start creating your perfect mix.