It’s been a standard in the furniture industry for many years to create a suite of pieces with matching styling, finish and hardware. It reduced the stress of the consumer who could be sure that their room, once done, would all “go” together. But the old ways are being challenged. Gaining steadily greater momentum in the interior design world is that of mixing a variety of styles and finishes of home decor within a single room. As in so many other areas, the internet changed the public’s attitude toward the boxed set look. All the interest in going green made re-used, recycled and one-of-a-kind pieces the new norm. Social media sites like Pinterest and Polyvore spread the look as users assembled their own collections of pieces and assimilated the looks pinned by others. People looking to freshen up their homes post recession – without breaking their budgets – saw the utility of occasional pieces that could be used in different ways throughout the house.

The furniture industry is notoriously slow to accept change, and the matched set has been its bread and butter for many years, but now manufacturers are beginning to embrace the change, and the accent piece business is booming.  The industry is also incorporating this change by  including different finishes and styles within one collection. This makes it easier for the timid customer to get an eclectic look with the assurance that the varied styles will all work together.

If  you are ready to take the plunge into mix and match, the bedroom is perhaps the easiest place to start.  Headboards and footboards are increasingly luxurious and ornate, and they are more and more upstaging the case pieces in a room.

Let an occasional piece stand in for the bedside table, use a decorative mirror instead of one that matches the dresser and POOF! You’ve got a much more collected and personal  look,  rather than something that looks like it all came out of one big box.

The same approach can be used in a living area. Instead of two matching lamps on two matching end tables, try mixing it up.  A good way to maintain scale when using mismatched pieces is to use a taller end table with a shorter lamp on one side of your sofa, and the reverse on the other.

And by all means use a chair in a coordinating fabric  rather than the one that comes with the sofa group!

If you’re unsure about creating a cohesive look with individual pieces, ask your furniture salesperson to assist you. They are trained to help you put together a look that works visually, while at the same time expressing your unique personality.

The best part of this eclectic decorating approach is that your home becomes a mirror of your personality, a place that feels like an extension of yourself. And you’ll never have to worry about visitors walking in your front door and saying “My sister’s living room looks just like this!”