As an interior designer one of my pet peeves is the word ‘match’. I read or hear about ‘matching décor’ or ‘matching furniture’, even ‘matching colour’ and it makes me cringe. For me matching pieces in your home is not the point of interior design. Matching pieces of décor or furniture can create a space that is flat and lacking interest. So, how do you create an interesting space without matching decor in your home?
Defining characteristics of a style
Each style has a wide range of defining characteristics. Characteristics that correspondent to each of the seven interior design elements. Let’s take Hamptons interior style, as an example, a defining characteristics of Hamptons interior style is a blue and white colour scheme.
Another defining feature of Hamptons style is floral and striped patterns. The next major characteristic of Hamptons is generously sized furniture.
But let’s say for example you have a floral pattern in your table lamp, you don’t need to have a floral pattern in your cushion. You can have striped cushions within your chosen colour palette instead.
If you have a white linen Hamptons style sofa you don’t need a matching white coffee table. You can have a timber coffee table if it’s generously sized and in proportion to the sofa.
Complementary colours & materials
We know a successful colour scheme starts with three colours applied in the right quantity. But a good way to avoid matching décor and furniture is to expand your colour scheme and work with different tones and contrast.
So, for example if you like Scandinavian style you can use a wide range of greys. This is true for all colours. You might have a charcoal sofa, mid grey cushion and light grey throw.
Your personal touch
The best tip I can give you when styling your home is to not copy what you see in magazines, shops, or online. Copied spaces are flat, they lack your personal touch. Think carefully about what you like and how you can add a piece, or a colour to differentiate the space as your own within your chosen interior style.
The next best tip I can give you about avoiding matching décor for your home is to buy art. In a Hamptons home your art doesn’t have to be a chrysanthemum print, it can be something unique that you love.
Why repetition is important?
When styling your home being confident with your chosen interior style, colour scheme and all the characteristics of that style will help you avoid matching décor.
But whichever way you choose to differentiate your space, whether it’s through colour, pattern, or materials, it’s important to repeat that element.
Repetition is different to matching. It’s more nuanced and subtle. Let’s say you have a floral pattern in your cushions. You don’t need a floral pattern in your rug, instead you can have a vase of flowers.
What makes a space successful is clever ways to achieve balance and cohesion rather than relying on matching decor in your home.
