How to Mix and Match Bedroom Furniture
Last week on Tik Tok, I made this video. I wanted to demonstrate that while most furniture stores have set us up to believe that matching furniture suites are the way to go...it's not typically what looks best. Browse through any design magazine and you will see that professional interior designers aren't dragging and dropping matching furniture sets into their spaces. I know why they exist and if you have a matching set I'm not here to drag you- I promise!! I think we've all been a victim to that overwhelming feeling of decision paralysis and when someone makes the decision for us it immediately lifts that load- "Here, buy us! We match and come in a set and it's one less thing to think about!" Most people aren't interested in spending the time and effort it takes to find furniture pieces that don't match, but go together in a beautiful and seamless way (and ultimately look far more interesting than a matching furniture set from Rooms To Go). Today I'm sharing three mood boards I put together of bedroom furniture that don't match, but look absolutely incredible together! I'll take you through how and why each one works and some overall tips if you want to venture into the world of un-matched bedroom furniture!
The first suite is actually based off of my real life bedroom. Neutral furniture with hits of brass and blue. Notice how the wood tones on the nightstands and bench match even though the style is a bit different. Then the dresser may feel like it's coming out of left field, but stays cohesive because a) it's a neutral and is talking to the bed and rug and b) it has brass hardware and is talking to the brass on the nightstands and mirror.
bed | nightstand | brass hardware | bench | rug | mirror | dresser
This next design might be my favorite. Which I realize is hilarious because my favorite should probably be the design that's based off of my room, but this set below is much more feminine than I would go in my room currently (I wanted my space to reflect my husband too!). But if I was a single gal living in the city, you can be sure my room might be aiming to look something like this. Notice how the bed and bench don't match at all, but are talking to each other because of their curved shape! So fun right? We've talked about pieces talking to each other due to their finish or color, but shape is another way to accomplish that! Then look at the nightstand- it has rounded corners too! It doesn't match the dresser, but the dresser is feeling cohesive because it's talking to the black nightstand and the brass in the bench. Then we have the blush tying it all up in a pretty little bow.
This last design I wanted to demonstrate that you can choose a few pieces that straight up match. This is a good place to start if the idea of un-matching furniture is making you nervous or if you already have a matching set and don't want to start ALL over. Start with matching nightstands and a dresser and build out from there- here we've got that black bed that is talking to the black hardware on the two matching pieces, the neutral bench that is talking to the neutral tones in the matching pieces, and then that mirror that is basically the cute little brother to that gorgeous arched bed.
Here are the 3 guiding principles to think about when designing your own mix-and-match bedroom:
Repetition. Pick 2-3 elements and repeat them multiple times- whether it's the color of a finish like black or brass, or a shape like the curved arch bed frame and black mirror.
Scale is key. Even if you've chosen repetitive elements and all of your furniture picks look bomb in a mood board, take the time to measure everything for your specific space. Nothing can kill a design faster than a bed that's too large for the room or dinky little nightstands that are barely visible from the sides of the bed. Here are a few scale "rules" to think about:
Make sure you consider the size of your rug and choose one that fits your room/bed properly (here's a guide for you!).
Keep your nightstand within 5" (higher or lower) than your mattress.
Make sure the length of your bench is at least 2/3rds the width of your bed.
3. Choose finishes that are very different. If you're going the wood tone route in your bedroom, pick one wood tone and stick to it, but then mix up the other materials by choosing an upholstered piece or metal. The key is to select objects that don't look like they are trying to match.
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