To tie furniture together, especially when styles are mismatched, you need to repeat a chosen design element, such as a color, finish, material, or pattern, two to three times in a single space. This creates a binding design element that makes the room feel cohesive, curated, and intentional.
Creating Cohesion with Design Elements
When decorating a space with diverse furniture pieces, the key to achieving a unified look is consistency in specific design aspects. Simply arranging furniture isn't enough; you need visual threads that connect the pieces. By repeating a particular color, finish, material, or pattern, you establish a rhythm and flow that makes the entire room feel purposeful, rather than a random collection of items.
What Elements to Repeat
- Color: Repeating a specific color is one of the most effective ways to tie disparate furniture together. This can be a bold accent color or a subtle neutral.
- Finish: The finish refers to the surface appearance of furniture or decor, such as glossy, matte, metallic, or a specific wood stain color. Repeating a finish helps create visual harmony.
- Material: Using the same material in different parts of the room, like repeating a specific wood type, metal, or fabric texture (e.g., velvet, linen, rattan), links pieces together.
- Pattern: Introducing a consistent pattern through textiles (pillows, throws, rugs), artwork, or accent pieces can visually connect different furniture styles.
How to Implement Repetition
The goal is to scatter the repeated element throughout the space naturally. The recommendation is to repeat the chosen element two to three times. This is enough to establish a connection without becoming monotonous.
Here are some practical ways to apply this concept:
- Color:
- If you have a blue accent chair, repeat the blue in toss pillows on the sofa, a piece of art on the wall, or a decorative vase on a side table.
- Repeating a wood tone from one furniture piece in the frame of a mirror or a photo frame on a shelf.
- Finish:
- Pairing a dining table with metal legs with a floor lamp that has a matching metal finish.
- Using cabinet hardware in the kitchen that matches the finish of faucets or lighting fixtures.
- Material:
- Echoing the rattan material of a chair in a decorative basket or a woven placemat on a nearby surface.
- Repeating a specific type of wood used in a coffee table through the legs of an armchair or a picture frame on a wall.
- Pattern:
- Picking up a stripe from an area rug and repeating it in a throw pillow or the upholstery of a small ottoman.
- Using a geometric pattern from curtains in a piece of wall art or a decorative tray.
By intentionally weaving these elements throughout your space, you create a visual language that speaks to cohesion, transforming a collection of furniture into a well-designed and inviting room.
