How to Stylishly Decorate With Mismatched Furniture
A tiny, awkward space is furnished with a disparate mix of furnishings that ultimately becomes the perfect spot to kick back.
Unifying Through Color
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.
From:
Brian Patrick Flynn
Apartment-Sized Sofa
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.
From:
Brian Patrick Flynn
Danish Modern
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.
From:
Brian Patrick Flynn
1970s Wicker
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.
From:
Brian Patrick Flynn
Cowhide Rug
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.
From:
Brian Patrick Flynn
Hand-Carved Table
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.
From:
Brian Patrick Flynn
Wire Sculpture
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.
From:
Brian Patrick Flynn
Top Down, Bottom Up
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.
From:
Brian Patrick Flynn
Fake an Entry
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.
From:
Brian Patrick Flynn
Whimsical Wall Hooks
To add personality to the wall above the entry console, a variety of brass coat hooks in interesting shapes were chosen. This is a great way to hint at the overall playful vibe that’s seen throughout the rest of the home.
From:
Brian Patrick Flynn