Welcome to Flawed yet Functional! I am passionate about living a whole, fulfilled life. While that can look different for everyone, generally spending time and effort in hobbies will result in more joy for everyone. Lately my DIY/home decorating has centered around using some antique furniture I inherited from my Grandma’s estate. Antique furniture is usually more sturdy and durable than new furniture, so well worth keeping around! The saying is definitely true “they just don’t make things like they used to! ” Today I want to show you how to change the accessories paired with old furniture to create cohesive home decor.
The Same & Yet Different
Matchy-matchy is not the way to a cozy, beautiful home. Furniture and decor that is all the same style has a sterile feel. It’s just too perfect.
So embrace the eclectic collection of furniture that I’m sure your home is filled with! Garage sale finds, family heirlooms, or even those remnant college pieces can make a beautiful home. Simply, strategically pair them with accessories that complement the style or contrast.
Contrasting Styles
First, I like to select a piece that will contrast the style of the item I’m working into my home. My bed is an antique cannon ball bed with curvy lines. So I began looking for swing arm lamps that were somewhat modern with a hint of traditional.
Swing arm lamps are in the sconces category which run the gamut from uber-modern to very traditional. There are many options at all price points, but I usually keep my small lamps under $100. Although, even that price has me shuddering at times! I picked up two of these swing arm lamps for $83 each. A great find, I think, in price and style!
The clean lines and bronze finish flow nicely with my transitional style, and the fabric shade and molded base tie in nicely with traditional furniture.
The wall mounted swing arm lamps free up space on the nightstand. (I always need room for my stacks of clothes!) It also allows for pictures on the wall next to the bed since the lamp hangs above the pictures versus a traditional lamp blocking the view of the wall. It’s a decorating and functional win!
The old lamps, while more modern than the bed, were dark and took up a lot of visual space. As you know, I like to “shop my home” instead of constantly buying new items, so I will find a new home for these lamps elsewhere in the house. If I can’t find a home, I’ll sell or donate them to Habitat for Humanity so they will be put to good use no matter what.
Complementing Styles & Tones
Second, while contrasting is good and necessary for a home that looks intentional yet not ordered directly out of a catalog, a few pieces that will complement the color tones and/or styles of the furniture will help tie the room together. A blend of contrasting and complementing pieces will make the room look and feel cohesive rather than chaotic.
The mix and match of pieces should look intentional and thought out. To accomplish this best, mix and match odd numbers. This room is still working to get the right ratios, but in general, have odd numbers in mind as you put together your room.
For the complementing piece in the master bedroom, I hung some sweet and chunky old frames, also from my grandma’s house! I love the thickness and weight of these frames, and I was able to find a matching pair! My grandma’s house was filled, I mean filled, with frames, and this was the only matching pair I could find! The symmetry will look perfect on either side of the bed with the thick molding of the frames complementing the curves of the bed and wardrobe on the other side of the room.
Personal Touches
Finally, your home is your home. Use pictures and artwork you love.
Don’t let the fads for minimalism or tips to depersonalize your home when listing for sale take the life out of your house.
Hang pictures of you and your loved ones around your home. Take the time to print some favorites from your phone, or purchase inexpensive prints from an online shop that speaks to you (Minted.com, Etsy.com, and society6.com are all good places to look!).
Both of the photos on either side of the bed were taken by my husband and I. No, they are not stock! Also, I still really love my silk flower that I made from the leftovers of my Spring Floral Wreath. It is the personal touches that bring warmth to a room and really make it yours.
Change accessories for cohesive home decor that won’t break the bank and will integrate the new with the old in your home. Use both complementing and contrasting styles to bring unity to the pieces in a room. Take one room at a time and ponder what pieces you could purchase or move in from another room to make the furniture flow with one another while still allowing for optimal function. These 3 tips (Contrasting and complementing pieces plus personal touches) will ensure your home is beautiful, intentional, and warm for your family to enjoy.
What have you welcomed into your home lately from thrift store/garage sale/estate sale? How do you usually work to incorporate the new piece into your home? Do you have a favorite spot to purchase art?
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