How to Mix and Match Bedroom Furniture

If you’re decorating – or redecorating – a bedroom, the good news is that the days of spending a fortune on those giant, matchy-matchy solid wood bedroom sets are over. Sure, you can still get them if you want, but mixing and matching pieces of furniture gives you more financial and creative freedom over your final look.

We’re going to tell you how to mix and match those pieces so your bedroom is perfect foryou.

Benefits of mixing furniture pieces

People have always mixed and matched their furniture. After all, not everyone’s budget can accommodate those matching sets, and not everyone has the space for them. 

Here are just a few of the reasons mix and match bedrooms can be a better option:

-         It’s a fun way to show off your personal style, taste, and skills

-         You can create a customized bedroom that truely suits you and your sleep regimen

-         You can do the project bit-by-bit without disrupting your sleep space for an extended period of time

-         You can change up the decor more easily if/when you need/want a new piece later on (no more shopping in pairs or buying new sets to replace one item!)

-         It allows you to work with the spaceyou have instead of letting the furniture dictate where things go

-         Itcan be much cheaper (but itcan be expensive if you have a posh taste!)

If you’ve decided to go for it, you have a couple more decisions to make.

Where do I start with my project to mix and match bedroom furniture?

Deciding where to begin can be the most intimidating part. But you can make it a piece of cake by following this advice:

Start slow

It’s better for your mental and physical health if you don’t throw everything into the middle of the room to start. As long as you have a place to sleep, you can take your time. You’ll also save money by not trying to attack the whole project in one weekend.

Choose the things you love and want to keep

Go through your items and decide what you want or need to keep in your bedroom and think about how that might influence your color scheme and overall feel.  

Choose the things you want to replace

Make a list of what you need to replace, such as clocks, lamps, bed linens, wall art, storage options, etc. As you choose new products, be sure they’re in line with your vision for the final product.

Be sure to get rid of things you aren’t using anymore and don’t let them clutter up your life. After all, you have new pieces to purchase.

How do I choose the right pieces?

Mixing and matching gives you the ultimate freedom when it comes to choosing new furniture and decor. But you probably want to think about the overall “feel” you’re going for in your space before you commit to anything.

Decide on a style

Here are a few questions you might want to ask yourself up-front when you’re thinking about your “new” bedroom:

-         How do I want to feel when I’m in this room?

-         Do I like things sparse, busy, simple-but-luxurious, lively, colorful, etc.? Do I like my colors bright or neutral?

-         What space limits do I have (for example, are windows, doors, floor heaters, etc. preventing you from moving furniture to a certain part of the room?)

-         Have I seen any other bedrooms like the one I’m planning? (It’s good to save photos on your computer or phone from design sites or social media to serve as inspiration)

A designer’s tips to help mix and match

Your goal is to have the bedroom be both functional and stylish and you can do this by playing around with materials, colors, styles, shapes, and textures.

Here are just a couple of ways to make it happen:

-         Mix and match materials and textures to add some visual interest to monochrome or neutral-palette rooms. You can mix wood and metal furniture, or try accessorizing with items like faux fur or cable-knit blankets if you have smooth linens, or perhaps velvet pillows or a leather bench.

-         Colors don’t have to match exactly; you can play with different shades to create visual interest. For example, you might prefer turquoise and aqua tones over more basic blues, but throwing a navy blanket with a pop of peach will make you look like a style pro.  

-         Mix up your look with different styles. You have plenty of options to choose from, including modern, rustic, minimalist, industrial, beachy, woodsy, etc. Of course, you can mix and match these as well for an unexpected twist. For example, a sleek, modern bed can look great with a simple, industrial-style nightstand that incorporates wood and steel.

-         It’s possible to mix and match shapes to give your bedroom a personalized feel as well. Let’s say your furniture is all about sleek, straight lines. Well, when it comes to an accessory like a mirror, it might be fun to do something big and rounded as opposed to a rectangle.

-         If your bedroom is starting to look like a hodge-podge of style, you can tie things together using repetition. For example, pops of a bright color around the room will help make eclectic style look more intentional.

Trying out new pieces doesn’t have to be a pricey endeavor. Not only are there apps that let you visualize a piece of furniture in your room before you buy it, but you can bring in different things from around the house to test out different styles before you commit.

Mix and match your personal style until you love it

The great thing about mixing and matching bedroom furniture is that you can find pieces as you go along, only adding to your room what you truly love.

You can switch out lamps, bed linens, and other accessories until you feel like you have it just right. Of course, you may not want your project to be infinite, so in that case, it’s good to have an end goal in mind as well as an inspiration board or group of photos so you can get a sense of when you’ve finally achieved your ideal look.