How to Combine Traditional and Contemporary Furniture

Choosing to combine traditional and contemporary furniture is a great way to blend the best of both worlds. Traditional pieces of furniture are great personal additions and provide conversational pieces for guests. Contemporary pieces provide a clean modern look to any room. Learn creative tips on how to blend the two.

1. Build around the traditional pieces. Traditional pieces of furniture are much harder to come by than contemporary pieces. In most cases, you have inherited or found your traditional furniture. Take inventory of what pieces you already have and choose to add whatever pieces of furniture you are missing with a contemporary theme. If you don’t have any traditional pieces, visit local consignment stores or antique shops to find what you are looking for. Splurge on the traditional pieces, as they are rare finds and you will be able to find contemporary pieces for less money.

2. Make small renovation changes if necessary. You want to be sure that everything will flow together accordingly. Simple fixes such as wall color and flooring can make a major difference in the look of any room. Since you are choosing to blend two very different themes of furniture, pick soft neutral colors for the walls. Hardwood flooring is a great idea for flooring because it is timeless and will never go out of style. Add a ceiling fan for extra detail.

3. Decorate. Accentuate the room with plush rugs, floor length drapes, and unique lamps. Be sure that you have an overall theme and stick to it. However don’t be afraid to step outside the box with decorative pillows or lamp shades. Be sure not to overload the room with unnecessary pieces. There is a thin line between class and clutter so be aware that you stay within the guidelines.