How to Mix Modern & Primitive Interiors

Choose one style to dominate each room. This will help the room feel balanced rather than cluttered. You may like modern furnishings with primitive accessories or vice versa. Decide which scheme works best for your taste and allow the dominant style to remain at about 75 to 80 percent of the room.

Paint the walls in your rooms with colors that coordinate with both styles. Modern colors are primarily neutral and primitive colors are subdued or faded shades of blue, yellow, green, brown and gray. Look at the colors on your sofa, chairs, pillows, window treatments and rugs to help you determine what color to put on the walls.

Mix furnishings and accents from modern and primitive styles that share common characteristics. If you're using primarily modern pieces that create clean lines throughout your rooms, you'll want to use primitive pieces that are sleek, such as a weathered bookcase. If the primitive style dominates your room, add modern pieces, such as streamlined lampshades or a sleek chair. In a modern room, a solid quilted throw creates a comfortable ambiance.

Combine primitive and modern accessories for a balanced look. While one style may dominate your room, you shouldn't forget that style when decorating with little accents throughout rooms. Accents, such as bowls, vases, pillows and mirrors make any room feel pulled together. With a mostly primitive room, a sculptural table lamp will add character.

Use wall art to enhance the mood in each room. Paintings and art pieces are an easy way to bring interest to rooms. You can hang modern art pieces in a primitive setting if the colors work within the room's color palette. Modern metal art is another option that brings character to rooms.