"Humans are multi-faceted. We have different preferences and characteristics that round us out and give our lives dimension. So it's only natural that we'd want our homes to feel the same way. Layered, cohesive environments that tell complete stories. Want to move out of one-dimensional design and bridge the gap between different design styles you love? Here are 4 tips to create harmony and depth of design in your home. We get it — it's super satisfying. But for most people, it's also super unrealistic. Big reveals take big budgets, and for some building a dream home isn't an overnight process. It takes time, intentionality, and patience."
If you want to update your home, but an immediate and full-scale overhaul is overwhelming or out-of-reach, fear not. You aren't alone. Here are our 5 key steps to designing your home over time.
1. CONSIDER YOUR BASE
Start off by knowing your base: What is the natural style of your home? Prior to furnishings, finishes, or lighting, understanding your home's starting aesthetic will inform the choices you make moving forward. While you can incorporate different styles as you develop the design, you always want to make sure you include selections that honor the home's natural tendencies. This helps the space have a solid foundation that feels grounded rather than arbitrary.
2. KEEP A RESTRAINED COLOR PALETTE
Restraint is one of the most important tools in a designer's toolbox. When most people feel like something isn't quite right, they add. They include more and more hoping that just another element will make the space feel just right. But often more is the problem. If you're mixing styles, you're already creating a lot of interest. Balance this out by restraining your color palette. Simplifying the tones in a room will help the different stylistic furnishings and elements feel more cohesive and have room to breathe.
3. ADD CONTRAST WITH HARDWARE AND FINISHES
One of the simplest ways to begin mixing styles is through hardware and finishes. These polishing elements are perfect places to marry different design directions in a seamless way. Consider your kitchen. If you have a beautiful, modern shaker cabinets but don't want the space to feel too cold and contemporary, lean into textured, traditional knobs and pulls. Or a beautiful brass gooseneck faucet that seems plucked from an English estate. These warm, character-filled details will soften the strong lines of your modern design, blending the strengths of both styles.
4. BALANCE YOUR RECIPE
A successful recipe is about creating harmony with a variety of ingredients. You put too much of one thing and it quickly becomes overpowering—throwing the whole recipe out of whack. Designing a room is similar. You want to be thoughtful about the ingredients you incorporate, ensuring you're "speaking" to each style. You don't want to lean too heavily in one direction or your other elements will feel random and out of place.
OUR FAVORITE STYLES TO WEAVE TOGETHER
Organic + Modern
This is all about neutral layers. Pair the crisp, clean style of modern design with textured layers of organic elements.
Formal + Casual
There is little worse than "look but don't touch." Formal is too stuffy and unapproachable. We want our Sunday best to be comfortable. With casual luxury, you marry beautiful materials and impeccable silhouettes with an open-door invitation.
Electic + Farmhouse
Shea McGee, but make it vintage. You take the traditional but comfortable nature of farmhouse and infuse it with collected, iconic elements that burst with character.
TRANSITIONAL FURNISHINGS TO MIX AND MATCH
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