This dining room works well with mismatched furnishings.
Design rules morph and change as the decades pass, and homeowners can now dress up homes with free rein. Though past guidelines called for matching furniture ensembles, you can now mix and match decor regardless of your home's period or style. Your space will look more attractive if you've gathered your furnishings over time, rather than all at once. Matching sets are out; mixed materials are in.
Mixing Colors
Because black and wood both function as neutral bases, you can confidently coordinate the two in adjacent rooms. Whether you prefer traditional, eclectic, modern, contemporary or country design schemes, a black breakfast table near a wood dining table will not discombobulate the eye. In fact, black grounds a space, so use some quantity of black in every room.
Balance
Mixing materials creates interest in a space. Though black offers color value, wood offers texture. By using different surfaces throughout your space, including rough-hewn woods and sleek black tables, you'll achieve balance. If you use too many smooth surfaces, your space will seem cold. Use too many rough textures, and your home will appear unsophisticated. If your breakfast table, dining table, flooring and kitchen cabinets all match, your home will seem like a one-note space.
Breakfast Nook Choices
Homeowners put breakfast tables in either the kitchen or a separate breakfast nook. Smaller than dining tables, breakfast tables look like pub tables, and the size works well for informal meals or a cup of coffee. In the spirit of flexible decorating, your breakfast seating needn't match the table either. Designers now focus on comfort rather than stiff and stilted displays of furniture. Use your as desired. Rather than using the formulaic combination of a breakfast table and stools, some homeowners skip the ensemble altogether and select club chairs instead. Some daring decorators put full-size tables in the middle of the kitchen.
Tying the Rooms Together
Don't throw out all of the old design rules just yet. To create harmony between adjacent rooms, use the tried and true method of repeating a color or pattern. For example, if your breakfast table sports a green centerpiece, repeat the color or style in your dining room vase. Synchronize the placemats in the breakfast room with the upholstery in the dining room, or put sea-grass rugs under both tables.
Tags: your breakfast, dining room, your home, adjacent rooms, breakfast nook, breakfast table