How to Mix Modern and Traditional Styles Without Clashing
If you’ve ever looked at your Pinterest board and seen a mix of modern, traditional, and boho, don’t worry, you’re not alone. Most of us are drawn to more than one style. And the good news? You can blend them when it’s done with intention.
Love the warmth of traditional design but also drawn to the clean lines of modern style? You’re not alone, and the good news is: you don’t have to choose. Some of the most beautiful, designer-curated homes seamlessly blend both worlds.
As a designer, I enjoy blending different styles. It adds depth, personality, and a lived-in feel to any space. But without the proper structure, it can also feel disjointed. Here’s how to strike that balance so your space feels cohesive, not chaotic.
Here’s how to do it without making your space feel disjointed or mismatched.
1. Start with a Dominant Style
Start by selecting one design style to anchor the space; this will comprise approximately 70% of your overall look. The other 30% can come from supporting styles. To maintain cohesion, choose one style to lead and let the others support it.
Want a cleaner, more minimalist look? Go modern with traditional accents
Want warmth and character? Start traditional and add sleek modern touches
Think of it as 70/30, your dominant style gets the spotlight, and the other adds contrast.
2. Unify With Color and Materials
Even if your furniture pieces come from different styles, a unified color palette ties everything together.
Use consistent undertones (warm or cool). When mixing two neutrals with either warm or cool undertones, they should be analogous based on their undertones. For example, blue and green.
Repeat a few core colors throughout the room, pulled either from a rug or artwork.
Neutrals help balance the mix and create breathing room. Main and common areas should all be the same neutral color, with either a warm or cool undertone. If the home has separate formal areas, you can pull the undertone color and use a saturated version to make a statement by accenting a wall or ceiling (your fifth wall). Or you can use wall treatments such as wallpapers or murals.
3. Contrast Materials and Silhouettes
One of my favorite styling tricks is to repeat similar shapes to build consistency. This is where the magic happens:
Pair a modern marble coffee table with an antique wood chest
Place a sleek leather chair next to a traditional rolled-arm sofa
Use a classic Persian rug to ground a space with clean-lined furniture
Your eye naturally links these forms, making the whole space feel more harmonious, even across styles. The mix adds depth and character, and tells a more interesting story.
4. Balance Shapes and Scale
One of my favorite styling tricks: repeat similar shapes to build consistency.
Curves and straight lines
Solid and airy pieces
Tall and low elements
Your eye naturally links these forms, making the whole space feel more harmonious, even across styles. This balance is what keeps your room from leaning too hard in either direction.
5. Create Transitions Between Spaces
If you’re mixing styles in different rooms (like a modern living room and a more rustic dining room), create soft transitions. Artwork, mirrors, and styling pieces are the easiest way to unify styles.
Choose art that has both classic subject matter and modern framing
Mix old and new vases or books on shelves
Add a modern lamp to a traditional side table, or vice versa
It’s the layering that makes the space feel curated, not chaotic.
This makes your whole home feel connected, even as each space tells its own story.
BONUS: Use a Concept Board to Get the Blend Right
Before making a purchase, try pulling all your pieces together into a single visual plan. That’s exactly what a concept board does: it shows you how different styles interact and whether they balance well together. Each curated board demonstrates how to balance different styles thoughtfully, without clashing. Whether you’re drawn to a modern, organic look or a more heritage-inspired one, you’ll see how pieces work together before committing.
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