Age old question: How to mix modern and traditional decorating styles
Comfort in different forms: a traditional tapestry footstool accompanies a Milo Baughman style Mid Century Modern chair in a New York living room. Design: Time & Place Interiors
Imagine a historic Brooklyn brownstone with ornate crown moldings and preserved millwork, tastefully appointed with stark contemporary furniture. Or a sleek Mid Century Modern ceiling lamp suspended above a bare, rustic farmhouse table.
Intriguing, right? The anachronistic contrast of styles creates a striking effect.
Mixing styles is one of the most rewarding interior design challenges. The chicest homes often embrace eclectic elements from various cultures and eras. While they may lean toward modern or toward traditional, authentic interiors leave enough room for design surprises that push the boundaries of a formulaic style. In contrast, overly planned homes can feel self-important.
So, what’s the trick to mixing interior design styles, especially between modern and traditional?
The key is authenticity. Always choose design elements that are true to form. A traditional piece should ideally be antique or vintage (see more of what I had to say on this for Veranda Magazine). And a contemporary piece should have a modern edge. What doesn’t work are transitional items — those that are neither here nor there in style or form. Each design element should have integrity both individually and when juxtaposed to its counter.
To pull off this authentic, sophisticated look for your own home, read on for ideas on of mixing interior decorating styles.
Create balance
If your interior style leans traditional, add a modern element for nuance. And if your space is contemporary, throw in an antique to create depth. Repeats of shapes help unite disparate elements. Examples could be a traditional reading chair paired with a modern pharmacy reading light; a modern bed frame juxtaposed with an antique tapestry hung as artwork above it; an ornate antique mirror above a minimal bathroom sink.
Antique prints passed down from family soften streamlined Mid Century Modern furniture in a New York City apartment. Design: Time & Place Interiors
In a Hamptons cottage, contemporary monochromatic art refreshes an eclectic combination of antiques and tribal crafts, including a Baroque mirror and 19th Century sofa. Design: Patrick McGrath / Photo: Stephen Kent Johnson
Pick a mood
If you want to stick to a particular feel or palette in your design, mix pieces from different eras and origins that have a similar aesthetic. This makes a house a collected home. Avoid going too literal, however: an overdone theme can make a room appear contrived. As an example, see my tips on how to do a subtle variation the farmhouse aesthetic: The REAL shabby chic: How to do farmhouse style the right way.
This New York space is going for a "clean and simple" look, but it's layered between modern and traditional. the wooden headboard is antique, while the minimal floating nightstand is a custom contemporary production. The Mid Century style Arne Jacobson sconce is juxtaposed against a patina-rich planter. Design: Laura Gottwald / Photo: courtesy of IdS/R Architecture
Art Deco is the theme of a New York Pre-War entryway, with a cluster of 1940s English mirrors and a 1980s Deco Revival console shelf. Design: Time & Place Interiors
Unify with color
Use art and accessories as contrasting yet symbiotic styles. They work especially nicely with a cohesive color scheme woven throughout the design. For styling tips, see my post: From clutter to collection: How to style your decor.
Jewel tones enrich a powder room through an eclectic mix: 17th Century Italian limestone basin sink, Mid Century mirror, Moroccan zellige tiles, and contemporary lighting. Design: Reath Design / Photo: Laure Joliet
Blues & whites repeat between minimal art and antique furniture in a serene country farmhouse. Design: Cassandra Ellis / Photo: Light Locations
Add at least one older piece
“Every room needs at least one good antique to lend it a sense of stability,” write Deborah Needleman, author of my favorite design book, The Perfectly Imperfect Home. To add signs of humanity, introduce an older object, even if it’s small, into your interior design scheme. A small side stool is an easy way to do bring a touch of antique character.
A traditional American footstool makes a soulful antidote to a Mid Century dresser in a New York guest bedroom. Design: Time & Place Interiors
Different shapes complementing each other between a 1980s Mario Botta chair and a more traditional carved side table. Design / Photo: Studio Iro
Use contrast lighting
If you have a traditional space, employ a sleek contemporary or Mid Century Modern lamp to add an element of surprise. Lighting is jewelry for the home, and makes for striking combinations of style from different time periods.
The contemporary linear chandelier (probably by Apparatus) is a surprising update to a traditional home’s stairwell in Melbourne. Design: Ali Ross / Photo: Timothy Kaye
An unusually shaped Akari light sculpture from the Noguchi Museum gives levity to a moody backdrop in a Victorian stairwell. Design: Ridge House / Photo: Sara Smith
Be bold!
Don’t be afraid to mix and match designs, even if something doesn’t fit into a specific style category. If you see an object you love, buy it! When everything you own has a story or evokes a feeling for you, the commonality will be the expression of your taste and personality.
In this eclectic vignette, a Mid Century style lamp by Verner Panton is mixed in with an antique wrought iron garden urn, and a traditional piece of art is hung next to a modern print. Design: Cassandra Ellis / Photo: Catherine Gratwicke
A contemporary artisan chair by Kelly Infield looks striking against original molding in a Brooklyn brownstone. Design: Kai Avent-deLeon / Photo: Mel Walbridge
Need help putting together your varied design styles?
Time & Place Interiors founder Ksenya Malina specializes in creating eclectic spaces that integrate designs from all eras and corners of the world, translating your personality into your curated home with a mix of vintage + modern. To discuss your design project with Ksenya, use the link below to schedule a free 20-minute information call:
