How to Mix Decor Styles
I’m often asked about my personal interior design style and well, it’s not a straight forward answer. The closest match would be organic modern, which itself is a blend of a few different designs. Often, we don’t align with one pure style, and that’s totally ok! There’s no need pick just one lane. However, it can be tricky to mix decor styles. With a few tips though, it’s complete possible to combine interior designs for an overall authentic look.
First, let me say, I don’t believe it hard and fast rules when it comes to design. Sure, there are some handy guidelines to help choose the size of a couch and elements that keep things feeling balanced but I approach home decor with the goal of creating authentic, functional spaces.
Often, sticking to just one decor style can actual make things feel flat or date. Let’s mix it up!

1. Find Common Ground
The first step to mixing decor styles is to identify elements the styles share. This might be color schemes, textures, materials or overall vibes. Once you’ve sorted that out, start there in decorating your home. Here are some common examples:
- Modern and Rustic: Both styles celebrate wood finishes, but with different treatments. Embrace clean lines and smooth finishes for modern pieces, but introduce raw, textured wood for rustic elements.
- Boho and Minimalist: styles both embrace simplicity and natural elements, using neutral tones as a calming base. They share a love for cozy textures and meaningful decor, creating spaces that feel warm and inviting without being cluttered.
- Traditional and Mid-Century Modern: styles both prioritize timeless design, focusing on clean, well-crafted furniture that stands the test of time. Both styles also incorporate warm wood tones and neutral palettes, creating inviting and comfortable spaces with a sense of balance and elegance
- Coastal and Farmhouse: both styles both celebrate natural materials and a relaxed, welcoming vibe, making spaces feel cozy and inviting. They share a love for light, airy colors like whites and soft neutrals, often accented with rustic textures like wood and woven elements.
Finding what your styles have in common helps them blend together and keeps your space feeling balanced.
What’s Your HomeDecor Style?
2. Choose a Primary Style
Ok, this one feels tough but it really helps. The next step to mix decor styles is deciding which style will be the dominant one. This means you’ll focus about 70% of your design choices on that. The other interior decor style plays a secondary role. This approach grounds your space and allows one style to shine, while the secondary style brings in touches of contrast and character.
If you’re not sure, I’d say lean into the architectural style of your home. This is pretty much my go to advice anyway but when deciding between styles, this should tip the scales. For example, if your home is a ranch style or built in 60’s – chances are embracing mid century will really let things shine.
My home, as another example, is considered a Northwest Contemporary build (lots of lines, angles, and windows), so no matter what I do, this should lead the way.
For instance, if you’re combining industrial with Scandinavian, the clean lines and airy feel of Scandinavian decor might be your base, while industrial elements like metal shelving, leather accents, or exposed light fixtures can enhance the look.
Read More: Interior Design Style Guide
3. Choose a Main Color Palette
A cohesive color palette is key to tying together two distinct styles. Choose colors that complement both aesthetics and provide a unified look. Neutral tones, like whites, grays, and earthy hues, are often flexible and work well across many styles.
Here are a few examples:
- Mid-Century Modern and Boho: These styles both work well with neutrals and bold, earthy colors. You could start with soft neutrals and then add warm tones like ochre, deep green, or rich wood tones that nod to both styles.
- Coastal and Transitional: Both styles love soft neutrals and calming colors. Start with pure whites or neutral grays for a fresh base, then add hints of blue or green for a relaxed yet polished look.
- Traditional and Farmhouse: Both styles share a love for warm, welcoming spaces with classic touches. Start with a neutral base of whites and layer in warm wood tones or muted colors like sage green or navy blue for a look that feels timeless and cozy.
Want help choosing colors? Check out my curated paint colors for each design style:
4. Remember Texture
I mean, this is good all around design advice, but blending textures goes along way when you mix decor styles. Contrast smooth surfaces with textured ones or combine organic materials like wood and leather with sleek metals or glass. Without this, the space will feel flat and more like a museum or hotel lobby.
Here are some key textures for various design styles:
- Mid Century Modern: velvet or tweed, smooth wood, brass
- Organic Modern: natural wood, soft linens, stone or concrete
- Coastal: lighter wood, woven fabrics, natural materials like seagrass
- Transitional: polished wood, plush fabrics, brushed metal
- Modern Farmhouse: weathered wood, matte metals, chunky woven textiles
- Traditional: rich dark woods, luxe fabrics, wood work details
5. Mix and Match Furniture Styles
Mixing furniture is an artful way to integrate two decor styles. Try pairing an industrial metal table with plush, mid-century modern chairs. Or, place a sleek, modern sofa alongside a rustic wooden coffee table. The goal is to avoid creating stark visual divides; instead, look for pieces that echo shapes, materials, or design principles from both styles.
When mixing furniture, consider scale and proportion. An oversized farmhouse dining table can work beautifully in a modern space, as long as other pieces, like lighting or seating, align with the dimensions.

6. Balance Decor
Decorative items—such as vases, mirrors, and wall art—are a fun and simple way to blend design styles. Look for pieces that reflect both aesthetics, and don’t be afraid to layer in a few personal items to make the space authentic.
I like to use the 70% rule and include a majority of the dominant style and then pepper in accents from the other style. Totally approximate but gives a rough idea of what to go for. This makes it feel intentional but not overwhelming.
Where Things Go Wrong:
A common issue when mixing decor styles is going a little overboard, which can make your space feel cluttered or all over the place. If you’ve got too many bold pieces or patterns, it can be hard to know where to look. Another challenge is skipping a unifying element, like a shared color scheme or texture, that pulls everything together.
The trick is to find balance—let one style take the spotlight while the other adds just the right amount of support.
Final Thoughts
Blending decor styles is all about balance, harmony, and embracing creativity. Start with a plan, but feel free to adjust as you go. The best part of learning how to mix decor styles is that it creates a space that’s distinctly yours, showcasing your personality and story. Don’t rush the process—enjoy curating each piece and finding just the right mix to create a space that feels complete, inviting, and truly reflective of you.
Read More: Interior Design Styles Defined and Free Home Decor Quiz