How to Stylishly Decorate With Mismatched Furniture

To fit her informal, collected bohemian style, the living room of this Atlanta homeowner was outfitted with mismatched seating and a collection of disparate pieces unified by color.

Measuring nine feet deep by 10 feet wide, the small living area of the cottage was difficult to furnish with a three-seat sofa. Instead, a two-seater sofa considered "apartment size" was chosen.

A fan of eclectic style, the homeowner preferred seating pieces that worked well together, but were of different styles and eras. To complement the classic, traditional lines of the apartment-sized sofa, a Danish modern armchair upholstered in red velvet was used. Since both pieces are similar in scale and proportion, they look balanced when paired together.

To introduce a new texture to the small space, a 1970s wicker chair was picked up at a flea market for only $50. By investing in a custom seat cushion, the piece became as comfortable as it is sculptural.

Although the elements of the living room design were meant to be mismatched, it was important to the homeowner that they all be made of organic, natural materials. Due to its organic texture and shape, a cowhide rug was used to anchor the space.

A touch of Polynesian style was brought into the space with a hand-carved wooden coffee table. With a space plan calling for four seats flanking the fireplace, the table’s round shape allows for easy traffic flow.

Corner fireplaces can be difficult to decorate around due to their lack of flat wall space above. To properly decorate the mantel, a wire 1960s lion sculpture was bought at an antique store. 

Since the windows of the living room face directly out to the street, it was important to cover them for privacy reasons but without keeping the space dark. To allow privacy and light harmoniously, a style of Roman shade known as top down, bottom up was installed. When privacy is needed, the shades slide down to the bottom of the window, allowing light in but blocking the view of the interior. When full light is needed, the Roman shade slides all of the way upward.

To create the look and feel of an entryway, a properly scaled console table was placed just inside the door to hold keys, mail and wallets. The space above is used to hold jackets, scarves and bags while the space below houses baskets for shoes and pet supplies.