Would you like to mix furniture and decor design styles in your home but don’t know how? Are you struggling to create a cohesive look with the mix of furniture and accent pieces you’ve accumulated?

Mixing takes some practice, but it makes the decorating experience much more enjoyable. This loose style is a great equalizer in interior design. A mixed style snubs its nose at the rules by blending old with new, cheap with pricey, bold with subtle, and classic with trendy.

While there are many different interior design styles, few fit into just one category. More and more people favor a mixed style to play off their existing furnishings and incorporate new pieces. Combining what you have on hand with something completely new and unexpected gives you the license to invent a uniquely tailored style for your home.

The good news is you can easily and beautifully mix different decorating styles, like traditional, modern, or farmhouse, to create a stylish interior. Follow these helpful tips and guidelines to design with confidence.

Pick your main style

One way to start mixing and matching interior design styles is to employ the 80/20 rule. This means that approximately 80 percent of your space should feature one design style, and the other 20 percent can include others.

For example, if you have a living room with a traditional sofa and chairs, for instance, you can lighten the look by adding framed contemporary prints and light curtains in a natural material.

Most people end up mixing decorating styles in their home without realizing it. That’s what makes your home warm and inviting.

The neutral color palette in the example shown here, allows the homeowner to easily incorporate fun and trendy accent pieces without needing to completely redo the room.

Consider your space

A room’s built-in features can influence its style. For instance, white-painted crown molding may impart a traditional look, while an open floor plan and concrete flooring can provide a modern feel.

But there are ways to work in other styles, too, despite your space’s existing structural elements. You can make a traditional kitchen with white cabinets and butcher-block counters look more contemporary by giving it a bold backsplash and modern tile flooring.

Or you can warm a modern space with high ceilings by adding a comfy traditional-style sofa, a rustic brick accent wall, and warm pops of color.

Create balance

Combining diverse design styles is a balancing act. To make your space look harmonious, give each side of the room equal visual weight.

For instance, if a large built-in bookcase dominates one area, you could counterbalance it with an overstuffed sofa on the other side of the room. If your coffee table features a red vase, add other red accessories throughout the space.

If you want to combine two design elements in your room, such as Scandinavian and midcentury modern, intersperse both styles throughout instead of featuring one style at one end and the other style at the other.

Find commonality

You can effortlessly mix contrasting furnishings by accentuating the qualities they share.

For instance, a transitional-style sofa, midcentury accent chairs, rustic coffee table, and farmhouse dining table can look perfect together if your sofa and chairs have similar farmhouse-style throw pillows and your rustic and midcentury furnishings have matching wood tones.

Texture can blend design styles and make a room more interesting. If you have a space filled with industrial-style furniture but would like to bring in rustic features, you could add a live-edge wood coffee table with black hairpin legs and a distressed wood mantel over your fireplace.

Use color to unify

Repeating colors is an effective tactic for blending design styles. A good rule of thumb is to develop a color palette with three to five main colors. You can expand this color scheme by adding lighter or darker versions of its core colors.

You can even turn a design element that’s pricey or stands out from the rest of your decor into a focal point by incorporating its palette into your overall color scheme. For example, if you have a red-brick fireplace, you can pick up its rust color as an accent color in your room to make your fireplace pop.

Know your design styles

It’s helpful to know the hallmarks of design styles when planning your decor. Here are some of the most popular ones:

Bohemian: If you love a global aesthetic, this style, which mixes and matches fabrics and decor from around the world, is for you. Think Japanese block prints, handwoven rugs, and hanging macramé planters filled with houseplants.

Industrial: This style suggests an urban loft or warehouse, and it may include exposed beams and ductwork, high ceilings, concrete surfaces, and sparse furniture.

Modern: A modern style is defined by sleek, clean lines, dark-hued colors—think black-framed windows—and a combination of metal, glass, and steel.

Modern farmhouse: Popularized by designer Joanna Gaines, this style features a light and neutral color palette, homey fabrics like chunky knits and grain sacks, natural and painted wood furniture, decorative wood signs, and rustic shiplap walls.

Scandinavian: Rooms with a Scandinavian theme may have white walls and feature uncluttered spaces accented with lush houseplants, minimalistic furniture, and light wood floors à la IKEA.

Traditional: Traditional design may include luxurious features, such as ornately carved furniture, dark wood finishes, gold flourishes, rich fabrics like velvet, and curved lines.

Transitional: This style mixes modern and traditional styles and may include traditionally inspired furniture that’s toned down in size and ornamentation and a neutral color palette with bright splashes of color.

Tips for Mixing Interior Styles

Sometimes, we spend so much time focusing on interior design that we forget about the outdoor spaces of our homes. Many people with patios neglect that space, which means they’re missing out on having beautiful outdoor retreats. If your patio decor is lacking, there are countless ways to add some flair to it.

Get relaxed with some pillows and rugs

Get floor pillows that you and your guests can use to sit on the ground for more relaxed occasions. You can also cover the ground with an outdoor rug that will bring a little warmth into the space.

Have fun with creative seating

Hang hammocks if you want to use your patio for a relaxing, quiet place to think or read. If you want to make your patio extra comfortable, throw in a futon or daybed.

The right plants will enhance the space

Add a few potted plants to bring nature into this indoor-outdoor space. They’ll brighten up the area nicely. Just make sure that the layout of the patio allows your plants or flowers to get enough sunlight.

So many different ways to enjoy a food area

If you like to eat outdoors, add a small table and a few chairs to your patio space. During the warmer months, you can head outside and enjoy dinner with a sunset view. If you’re feeling fancy, consider purchasing a bar cart, which will help you bring cocktails from the kitchen to the patio seamlessly. You can even install a tabletop firepit if you’re interested in roasting marshmallows on the patio.

Add a little privacy with curtains and partitions

To add an element of privacy, hang a curtain or set up a partition to separate your patio space from the outdoors. You can even repaint old shutters from your home and use them as a barrier between your patio and the rest of your yard. If you’d still like to get natural sunlight, choose a light-colored curtain or only set up a partition on one side of the patio for partial privacy.

Bring the outside in (and vice versa)

Make your patio have a natural transition between your home and backyard. Include furniture that is a mix of both indoors and outdoors, such as wicker chairs with decorative pillows.

Enjoy the night with attractive lighting

Incorporate lighting so that you can use your patio at night. Whether it’s a large light or a number of twinkly string lights, adequate lighting will allow you to get the most use out of your space.

Your patio has more potential than you might’ve realized. Think about how you’d like to use your space, and you’ll be surprised by how easy it is to transform this often overlooked part of the home.

If this article has you inspired, I’d love the opportunity to help you make the most of your patio space for exceptional outdoor living. Just contact me for a consultation.

I’m easy to reach – you can choose a contact method right below this blog post. You can also click this “contact” link, or you can email me at: carmen@sohointeriordesign.com And, of course, you can always call me anytime at (407) 743-2399.

Sometimes wall art might be a painting, and sometimes it’s something else.

There are a handful of “essentials” that make a home or space functional and comfortable. One of these, of course, is a roof over your head. Another obvious one is furniture. I place decorative elements like wall art in this same category of essentials.

And when you have large walls to decorate, it’s the perfect opportunity to tie a room together in many ways.

The right pieces for your walls can introduce intrigue, personality, inspiration, and dimension to your abode. You’ll be amazed at how transformative one large statement piece (or display) can be.

If you have some blank walls to dress up, here are some large wall art ideas that hopefully inspire you in some attractive and unexpected ways, as well as ideas for how you might want to display them. 

Large wall art

If you have tall ceilings in your living room, you should think about hanging a big wall decor piece. With large oversized art, the most important thing is that it fits to scale, meaning it fits with the size of your wall.

Bring the beach fun indoors

If you live by the coast or like beachy home design, why not hang a surfboard?  A simple design can nail the look without going over the top.  

Make light with mirrors

One of the best wall decor ideas for living rooms is to hang multiple mirrors. When placed across from a window, you double the amount of light while creating the illusion of a larger space.  

Gallery walls (and the Rule of Threes)

In the world of interior design, the rule of threes suggests that groups of three (or other odd numbers) are more attractive to the eye than even numbers. You can embrace this concept in your living room by hanging a three-piece framed art set. 

Murals & large maps

There are many wonderful artists who focus a good bit of their time painting incredible murals on the walls of art-loving homeowners. It’s important to select a style that is compatible with your interior decor and furnishings, and mural artists usually have wonderful suggestions once they see your space.

These days, murals are often created as panels that are adhesive and easily removable. And the styles available are lovely and astounding. Moody seascapes, bright abstracts, soothing watercolors – they’re all available in square, portrait, and landscape orientations.

I love maps! Large world maps make great wall art because they’re timeless, useful, and often come in versatile hues. What child wouldn’t love exploring the world in his or her bedroom? These can be painted by a muralist or bought as wallpapers, stick-on shapes, or removable printed murals.

Go bright, bold, geometric

For a high-impact dining nook, consider hanging a larger piece with lots of bold colors, geometric shapes, and endless details you’ll want to admire over the years.

Set against simple but striking black furniture, this large-scale, kaleidoscopic piece is clearly meant to be the focal point of the room.

Lighted wall art

Think outside the bulb with lighted wall art. Take a look at how this battery-powered shadowbox showcases natural birch branches with a subtle glow.  

Try a tapestry

An easy way to cover a large amount of space is by choosing a colorful tapestry to hang above your furniture.

While there are endless patterns and designs to choose from, selecting a colorful option can change the vibe of an entire space. This particular piece is playful, and the wrinkled texture draws your attention in an unexpected way.

Repurpose your rug

You can often find wall art inspiration in the most unexpected places. Rugs can tie different elements of a room together, but rather than laying one on the floor, try hanging it up on the wall instead.

The textured, woven design of the rug in this room is perfectly contrasted by the white wall behind it, allowing it to be viewed and admired in a brand new way.

There are so many ways to beautify your large walls with art of all kinds! And what’s shown here is just the tip of the iceberg. If you’d like to explore any of these approaches further, let me know and together, we can determine the best kind of art for your space.

I’m easy to reach – you can choose a contact method right below this blog post, or click this “contact” link. You can also email me at: carmen@sohointeriordesign.com, and, of course, you can always call me anytime at (407) 743-2399. You can also click here to send me a message.

Break the “wreath mold” this season with creative door decor ideas that are sure to stun.

I really do love a gorgeous fall wreath. But sometimes it’s nice to try something new. So this year maybe think about swapping out your usual grapevine wreath for a front door decoration that’s equally as beautiful but totally unexpected. 

Who knew there were so many gorgeous non-wreath options out there? Here are some really cool approaches to wreath alternatives.

Pumpkin Parade

Invoke the warm and fuzzy feelings of fall with this stylish front door design. Cover your door in brown craft paper, then cut store-bought white pumpkins in half. Attach the pumpkins with removable picture hanging hooks and accent with a waterfall of faux fall foliage and plaid ribbon.

DIY Door Tags

Simple and chic, these fall-themed door tags from DIY blogger Jaime Costiglio are a fun, elegant way to add a touch of seasonality to your outdoor decor. Head over to her blog to get the step-by-step instructions.

Basket of Blooms

Fill a single straw tote or basket with a mix of silk sunflowers, faux fall leaves, dried grasses, and seed pods for a rustic look that pulls in all the seasonal shades of fall. Bonus: Add vinyl house numbers for a custom touch.

Wow With Wheat

This quintessential fall door decoration is as pretty to look at as it is easy to make. All you need is a handful of wheat, a rubberband, and some ribbon.

Garden Rake Welcome

Is last year’s rake looking a little worse for the wear? Instead of tossing it, give it new life as a cheery fall welcome arrangement.

Candy Corn Cutie

Some people love it, some hate it, but everyone agrees that candy corn is a seasonal staple. Put your love of this polarizing candy on display by decking your door in a banner of handcrafted candy corn pennants. All you need is a store-bought cardboard pennant banner, some craft paint, and wood beads to pull off this yellow, orange, and white display.

Decorative Corn

Nothing says “fall” quite like a bundle of dried flint corn. For an elegant presentation, choose three large ears, spray paint in varying metallic colors, and braid them together before hanging.

Pretty Paper Dahlias

If you’re feeling particularly crafty, throw together a few of these large DIY paper dahlias for a fun, youthful fall look.

It’s Fall, Y’all

Add some harvest hospitality to your entry by covering the front door in rustic, brown craft paper, faux fall leaves, and hand-lettered words of welcome.

Dried Florals

Get a long-lasting fresh flower look by filling a vintage hanging container with dried hydrangea, cotton stems, and curly willow branches. When it’s time to switch out your fall door decor, simply rearrange all materials in a vase to be enjoyed indoors.

Pumpkins Aren’t Just for Carving

A rustic metal basket lined with wheat straw creates the perfect base for displaying pumpkins, apples or other decorative seasonal produce. Opt for high-quality faux varieties instead of the real thing to keep the basket from getting too heavy and to ensure your decor will last throughout the season.

I hope these fall door styling ideas have inspired you! If you’d like to talk about other ways to inject some fall styling into your home or office decor, you can choose a contact method right below this blog post. And feel free to give me a call anytime at (407) 743-2399, and we can explore some delightful options together. You can also email me at: carmen@sohointeriordesign.com and you can also click this link to message me via my website.

Both the Glidden and PPG paint brands chose the on-trend teal for their joint 2023 color of the year selection.

Vining Ivy is the 2023 color of the year

PPG announced its 2023 Color of the Year, Vining Ivy. Color experts at the company say the “bluish-greenish-something-in-betweenish” hue is as adaptable as its botanical namesake and intertwines bold blue and refined green to create a captivating color symbolic of deep water.

“Consumers are seeking to simplify in this post-COVID era, as the past two years have shed a new light on the importance of serenity and little moments,” says Ashley McCollum, Glidden color expert. “Vining Ivy embodies this vibe perfectly. It is energizing yet grounding, and it works in literally any space.”

Vining Ivy is a very calming color

The new teal tone can be used to set a calming mood in spaces, as its blue communicates feelings of tranquility while the emerald evokes feelings of balance. When paired together, these two undertones create an ultra-rich color that has us “in our feels” as we cautiously emerge from the pandemic.

In a residential setting, the color can be used for an interior or an exterior. For an interior, the experts see it used on full wall settings for a dramatic yet calming space, or as an accent wall to add personality. It can be dressed up with gold accents and white trim for a more glamorous look.

As an exterior, it adds plenty of curb appeal and personality to the body of a home, or as a front door color to compliment colorful landscaping.

The 2023 color of the year is moody and elegant

“Those who love this moody hue but are still feeling in-betweenish on how to bring it into their space can treat themselves to the understated elegance of a teal accent wall or serve up a statement by featuring Vining Ivy on their kitchen cabinetry,” adds McCollum. “Even the most modest spaces can benefit from the teal treatment. For those short on square footage but big on style, we recommend using this rich hue as bold contrast to a neutral palette, making a petite room feel plush.”

If this new color for 2023 has inspired you, and you’d like to see how to incorporate it into your spaces, I’m always available for consultations If this sounds appealing, and we can talk more about how Vining Ivy can enhance your interiors. Choose a contact method right below this blog post, or click this “contact” link. You can also email me at: carmen@sohointeriordesign.com And you can always call me anytime at (407) 743-2399.

Looking to add a touch of the tropics to your home decor? Island living is something that many of us aspire to. Regardless of where you live, there are many ways in which you can create an inspiring tropical style for your spaces.

Tropical style is all about paradise and island life, and it can be achieved with the right furniture, colors, and accessories. It’s all about providing a sense of escape and relaxation. And it’s the perfect way to bring the outdoors into your home.

When decorating with a tropical theme, it’s easy to go over the top. My suggestion is to start small and add one or two tropical accessories, take it slow, and see what you might enjoy living with. You’ll gradually find your perfect balance. Here are a few easy tips to help you get started:

Simple tips on how to create a tropical home decor theme

Start with a neutral base

This gives you a blank canvas to work with. Light-colored walls and floors will help to brighten up your space and make it feel more open and airy – perfect for those hot summer days.

Decorating with plants is an easy way to create tropical style for your spaces

Nothing spells tropical style more than leafy green plants. From the structural shapes of monastera and rubber tree plants to softer ferns, there’s something for everyone. Palms and bird of paradise are two other excellent choices. Try mixing different styles of tropical plants together for a lush jungle ambiance. Remember to spray your plants regularly with a water bottle to increase humidity and your tropical house plants will thrive.

Bring in natural elements

Tropical style should evoke a sense of relaxation and escape, so bring in natural elements like wicker, rattan, and bamboo to help create that feeling. Find furniture and accents made from these materials, or add them in through textiles and wall coverings.

Hotel decor is a great inspiration for tropical style

Take inspiration from tropical homes or hotels, and consider investing in a day bed – perfect for lounging around. You can enhance that island vibe with fabrics utilizing tropical themes such as seashells or tropical leaves. These can range from very subtle to bright and bold.

Bring the outdoors in

One example is, if you’ve ever experienced a luxurious outdoor shower, you know how exotic that can be. But since most of us aren’t situated where we can install an outdoor shower, how about installing a high-tech rain shower inside your home instead? If you accessorize with stone or wooden furniture then you could almost believe you were outdoors.

Add some bright colors to create tropical style

Tropical style is known for its bold, bright colors. Think fiery reds, vibrant oranges, and sunny yellows. Incorporate this color palette into your space through fabrics, artwork, and accessories. One of the best tropical shades is coral, a vibrant color that will breathe life into any decor. This color works particularly well for pillows, rugs and paired with gold accents. While green is a key element in any tropical look, don’t forget to throw a few contrasting colors into the mix. One example would be to team hot pink with turquoise for a vibrant look.

Keep it cool

If you live in a hot climate like Florida where I am, or if you just want to emulate tropical home decor, then a ceiling fan might be a great investment. There’s something so relaxing about watching the blades whir away. Tropical furniture made from rattan, wicker, and bamboo looks good in most homes, being lightweight and sturdy.

Create a romantic atmosphere

Bedrooms lend themselves nicely to tropical home decor. For an elegant island vibe, add billowing muslin curtains to your bed. You can install a four-poster bed frame or simply opt for a muslin bed canopy. It’s also a lovely look for a children’s bedroom!

Here are some more photos of lovely tropical style spaces and accessories to jumpstart your creative thinking…

If you’re now itching for a cool tropical vibe for your home spaces, let’s talk more about how to move things in that direction – I’m always here to help. Choose a contact method right below this blog post, or click this “contact” link. You can also email me at: carmen@sohointeriordesign.com And you can always call me anytime at (407) 743-2399.

Plants are a given. Adding nature, especially in the form of greenery, into your home interiors is a win-win! It looks beautiful, it adds a pop of natural color, and it helps clean the air. Sure they require a little care, but the rewards are great.

I’m thinking beyond plants. With the resurgence of “getting back to nature”, there’s been a recent trend to bring a variety of green colors into our spaces. Whether through the easiest route, an application of paint, or by introducing lovely accents, fabrics, artwork, or wall and window coverings, the opportunities are endless. Just don’t pile everything into one room! There are so many lovely green tones that can meander in subtle ways throughout your home, linking together in a harmonious flow. Unless green is hands-down your favorite color, there’s no reason to overdo it.

Repeat the color in your decor

If you do happen to decide to paint your walls a new (green) color, once you do it, don’t panic if it doesn’t feel right. Take a breath, and then another, and remember: don’t judge a new paint color until you’ve pulled the room back together. The key is to repeat the color at least twice in the rest of that room or space. And it doesn’t have to be the same shade. It’s a lot more interesting if you add varying shades of the hue. And don’t overdo it. Consider repeating the color green in a pattern on throw pillows, or a rug, on lamps or lampshades, in artwork, etc. Subtle things can tie it all together beautifully.

There are so many ways of accenting your spaces with the color green. I’d love to show you a variety of options that would work best for your space, so if what you’ve seen here has inspired you, definitely let me know. I’m easy to reach – you can choose a contact method right below this blog post, or click this “contact” link. You can also email me at: carmen@sohointeriordesign.com, and you can always call me anytime at (407) 743-2399.

Are you interested in elevating the look of your accent walls? By creating intricate and thoughtful designs out of molding and trim, it’s a simple task to take your accent wall to the next level. Here are nine accent wall molding and trim design ideas to get those ideas flowing:

1. Use a Subtle Hand with Minimal Chair Rails

The designer for this beautiful room utilized a flat, angular molding to create a chair rail that perfectly accentuates the minimal aesthetic. This choice provides a break in the taupe-colored accent wall, adding a subtle touch of personality.

Notice how the molding enhances the look of the baseboards and trim along the windows. Each piece adds energy to the room without pulling focus or overwhelming the design. This is a perfect choice for any dining room, where family, friends, and guests can gather to eat, socialize, and celebrate.

2. Elevate the Look of Your Fireplace

This living room exemplifies the idea of an accent wall by focusing all the attention on the fireplace. This is a fixture meant to grab and hold your attention as soon as you walk into the room.

The built-in woodgrain shelves pop in contrast to the white shiplap covering the fireplace wall. The crown molding used at the top and bottom of the wall accentuates the fireplace, making it stand out even more. Instead of a typical wooden mantel, they’ve mounted a flat-screen television that perfectly matches the width and deep black of the fireplace. This living room belongs to a family that entertains in style.

3. Create Sharp Angles with Dark Molding

Let’s challenge the idea that molding and trim need to be white. This room utilizes molding with chocolate tones to cut a sharp angle along the edge of the ceiling, floors, and windows. This pairs well with the industrialized light fixtures and darker design elements throughout this kitchen.

It’s impossible not to notice how well the chocolate trim around the door perfectly complements the courtyard green of the accent wall. The choice to keep this color uniform allows the accent wall to pop. Everything about this room feels modern and luxurious.

4. Create Floor-to-Ceiling Panels

The choice to use molding to create panels from the floor to the ceiling allowed this designer to take a standard accent wall and transform it into a showstopper. The molding is also utilized on the non-accent walls, creating a striped texture to accentuate the décor.

The best decision here, by far, was the decision to keep everything the same color. This allows the molding to create contrast with shadows. Depending on the lighting and where you’re standing, the panels will have a different look and depth.

5. Transform Your Ceilings and Walls

Aside from the blue steel accent wall, this room is packed with intricate design techniques that create an awe-inspiring and cozy living space. The molding accents on the ceiling and along the top of the accent wall create a sense of dimension that is anything but typical.

This design creates a focal point that draws your attention to the accent wall and fireplace, which perfectly complements the design aesthetic of the built-ins on the adjacent wall.

6. Create the Look of Picture Frames

Dark accent walls are quickly becoming a hallmark of modern design aesthetics. They draw your attention immediately and offer a splash of personality without making the room feel too dark.

But why stop there? The designer of this living space transformed the green accent wall by creating the look of empty picture frames. They used actual picture frames to create this effect, but the same can be done with molding. In fact, if you want the edges more uniform and the sizes more customizable, molding is the ideal choice.

7. Embrace a Chic and Minimal Office Design

Less is more with a minimal office design. This accent wall is cut in half with an elevated chair rail. This is a smart choice because the room still feels warm, bright, and inviting, even with the darker shades of blue.

The designer of this room decided to take the chair rail concept a step further by adding molding to create panels along the wall. This makes it almost feel like the room is split into three sections. This is both intriguing and modern, but also timeless.

8. Utilize Thin Molding to Create Narrow Panels

While we’re into the idea of revolutionizing accent walls, let’s focus on a different type of paneling. You don’t have to use thick molding to create this effect. In fact, you can use thinner strips of molding to create narrow panels that look both expensive and sophisticated.

This navy accent wall is the definition of luxury. The thin panels give a touch of personality to the wall without drawing too much attention. The white baseboards highlight the accent wall, drawing warmth and brightness from the rest of the room.

9. Get Creative with Intricate Molding Designs

No rule says you can’t have fun with your molding and trim designs. This room is a prime example of that. By creating an unconventional striped pattern along this juniper-colored wall, you immediately feel like this room is ripped straight from a modern interior design catalog.

Adding a touch of nature to this design aesthetic, the rich dark color of the accent wall perfectly complements the plants, woodgrain, and wicker basket. Pairing it all with the industrial black light fixture and grey metal headboard makes this bedroom absolutely stunning.

What’s Your Design Style?

After seeing all these inspiring design ideas, you’re probably itching to do something with your own accent walls. If you don’t know which molding or trim to choose or you’re unsure of how to get started, I’m here to help you determine the molding and trim styles that are perfect for your design aesthetic. I can show you all kinds of design treatments that would work best for your space, so just let me know if what you’ve seen here has inspired you. I’m easy to reach – you can choose a contact method right below this blog post, or click this “contact” link. You can also email me at: carmen@sohointeriordesign.com, and, of course, you can always call me anytime at (407) 743-2399.