Mixing Traditional Design Style with Modern Design

What to do when your home is furnished with traditional styled furniture and accessories, yet you’re ready to move in a different style direction all together different? That design problem is becoming more and more relevant as modern contemporary designed furniture and accessories with their clean simple lines and fresh color schemes fill the pages of home magazines, furniture showrooms and our favorite television shows’ sets. Naturally, we also want to emulate that look in our homes.

If money were no object then it would be easy to toss out the old and usher in the new modern design. But that’s not the case with a great deal of homeowners so the best option is to slowly introduce contemporary decor and modern styled furniture into the home. The big question then becomes, “How do I integrate modern pieces into my current traditional decor without it looking like a hodge-podge design fiasco?”.

Keep it simple and don’t over-do it are two key factors to keep in mind when mixing traditional with modern style. If you do that you can avoid the dreaded design style visual chaos which can occasionally result when decorating styles are mixed.

Start by introducing one piece at a time and get a feel for how it looks to you. You can add more design elements as you feel comfortable. Also keep in mind that the integration of modern contemporary style into a heavily traditionally decorated room may not blend well if you are working with two extremes; a traditionally upholstered Louis XV chair in proximity to a Herman Miller Marshmallow sofa, however that Louis XV might look wonderful residing next to a similar style chair with a modern twist.

Reprint permission.