The basis of any sort of interior design would be the selection of your décor style or theme. That would be the platform from which you would then build up to your design aesthetic. But does the selection of one décor style mean the renunciation of all others? That fortunately is not the case. Most spaces look their ultimate best when combined with an element or aesthetic from a different design period.
The combinations are vast and multitudinous and hence very daunting. But there is a very simple rule to follow for those nervous about this undertaking. The 80/20 rule states that 80 per cent of your décor should be of your predominant décor style and then throw in something different for the balance 20 per cent of the space. If your overall design sensibility leans towards the modern or the contemporary, this is the easiest format in which to introduce a style from another period. For example, if you have a stark, modern white lacquered dining table, it could be complemented by rustic wooden cane chairs painted white to match the table or even in a contrasting wood tone. Or if you have a contemporary console table, a vintage mirror over it will give it a cool, eclectic look.
Here are a few more examples of how you can achieve a combination look of design elements.
1. Place vintage gold-framed pictures over modern clean-lined sofas.
2. Pair classic chairs with contemporary coffee tables.
3. Place traditional side tables against a contemporary bed or vice versa.
4. Place a vintage chandelier over a modern dining table.
5. Place a modern animal print rug under a Victorian-styled sofa.
Prints and patterns are another way of mixing the looks. Chic bohemian Indian prints and patterns look very appealing when thrown on contemporary sofas, as do a Bohemian-themed feature wall against plain backgrounds. Patterns like an Indian ikat print add an interesting touch to an otherwise conventional sense of design.
Traditional décor is also undergoing its own transformation. No longer is it all about matching sets and design; throwing caution to the wind has caught on in this genre as well. Vintage Victorian, Georgian or Colonial design themes can be blended with an 80 per cent overall main aesthetic and a 20 per cent modern touch by introducing cleaner fabric colours into the set-up and doing away with the heavy prints. Blending traditional design with doses of modernism is quite the rage these days as well. Clean frames, mirrors, contemporary lamps or vases will often sit comfortably side by side to an antique. Even in these cases, however, the 80/20 rule should be adhered to.
Size, proportions, colours and overall look are some of the factors that need to be kept in mind to create a unifying look to your space. If you, however, wish to go in for an entirely eclectic design space, only then can the rule be thrown out the window. But this can be attained if you are absolutely sure about your design sensibilities and your tastes. After all, you can break the rules only if you know all of them. You have to be careful in these set-ups as it is a fine line between an eclectic look and just a plain ol’ mess. By grouping pieces of similar lines, shapes and colours together, it should be easy to avoid these mishaps.
There are many reasons to mix and match your furniture. It could be an inherited piece from your family that needs to be incorporated into the look, or you absolutely love a piece of furniture or knick knack that you cannot bear to part with, or you need to incorporate your partner’s style into your setup. Whatever the reasoning, it will be easy to execute if you try and stick to the 80/20 rule and try and just have fun with it.
The writer is an interior designer, with offices in Delhi and Mumbai. E-mail her at info@fleurxavierdesign.com