How to Put Mismatched Furniture Together

Sort the furniture. Sort by age, if you've got an old versus modern problem, or by hue, if your pieces don't hearken to a particular era but do have mismatched colors or patterns.

Arrange the furniture around your room in groups. Try a modern sofa and coffee table grouping, then place antiques in a separate area for a reading nook. Create a homey parlor area with plush sofas and chairs, then make a sleek TV area with a streamlined entertainment center, leather chair, or other modern pieces.

Balance pieces if you need to put mismatched furniture together. For example, if you need six chairs for your dining room table, look for chairs that are the same size. If you need two sofas to create a parlor area, use two oversized or two sleek pieces, rather than one of each.

Pick four or five accent colors or patterns you can use to bring the room together. Choose colors that are already in your furniture and accent colors that can tie things together. Incorporate patterns, such as stripes, plaid, or paisley, for a bolder look.

Bring in accent colors through rugs, throw pillows, knickknacks and other accessories. Placing a red vase on a table ties it in with a red area rug in the room.

Use artwork to blend the mismatched pieces even more.