Furniture Pieces vs. Collections

Why Match Furniture?

Matching furniture can create a sense of continuity and order.  The practice of matching furniture often comes about when you have a theme oriented design.  For example, if you live in a Mediterranean style home and want it to have Mediterranean furnishings to match the integrity of the architecture then you’d match your furnishings to that purpose.  It can add great drama to a space when you have that kind of continuity.  But, even if the architecture of your home is a Mid-century Ranch style home, the love of the Mediterranean style might still rule your decorating choices and have you incorporating it into your home by painting the walls a Tuscan yellow and filling your home with Mediterranean pieces and artwork.  It’s our choice and there are no rules to decorating your space!

Why not Match Furniture?

Mixing different pieces allows you to be really creative and express your diverse personality.  Many people have found the joy of eclectic design and have really seen the benefit of mixing different pieces together.  The juxtaposition of a French provincial sideboard with the contemporary glass table can bring interest and character to your space.  It’s unexpected and surprising.  Although, I said there were no rules in designing your space, there are great tricks to successfully mixing furniture pieces to assign them something that links them together.  In finding a likeness in the different pieces, the seemingly different styles will become a cohesive expression of your design style.  Often times elements that have a common color, pattern, or finish can pull completely different styles of furnishings into one unified note that will bring harmony into your design space.

Most importantly, you should have fun with your design choices!  Don’t fret and be indecisive about what you want.  See where that got Hamlet (wink, wink?)