SANTO DOMINGO.- There was a time when a "well decorated" house was one where everything matched: the sofa had the same finish as the coffee table, the dining room repeated the same wood as the sideboard, and the room looked like it came out of a catalog.
But that way of decorating has changed.
Today, interior designers agree that the most attractive spaces are not necessarily the most uniform, but those that combine pieces with different materials, textures and styles without losing harmony.
According to Kaimok Design, the current trend seeks to make homes reflect the personality of those who inhabit them, leaving behind environments that look like they were taken from a showroom.
From catalog to identity
For much of the 20th century, furniture manufacturers popularized so-called "complete sets." Buying all the pieces from the same collection guaranteed uniformity and made decorating easier.
However, Elle Decor explains that contemporary design favors more authentic interiors, where an inherited table can coexist with modern chairs or an industrial-style lamp can complement a classically inspired sofa.
The intention is no longer for everything to be the same, but for each element to contribute character to the space.
Mixing also has rules
Although mixing styles has become a trend, this does not mean combining furniture randomly.
For Homes & Gardens, balance remains key. Designers often maintain a consistent color palette or repeat materials and textures to achieve visual continuity, even when the pieces belong to different styles.
The result is environments with greater depth and personality, without losing order.
Spaces that tell stories
Another reason behind this trend is the value that pieces with history have regained.
A restored table, a vintage armchair, or a handcrafted piece of furniture can become the focal point of a space precisely because they contrast with contemporary elements.
According to Architecture and Design, incorporating inherited furniture or furniture acquired at different times helps to create warmer and less impersonal interiors.
Harmony replaced perfection
Far from disappearing, the idea of combining evolved.
Today, the goal is no longer for all the furniture to be the same, but for it to have a dialogue with each other through colors, proportions, shapes, or materials.
Because a house with personality isn't always the one that follows the same rules. Sometimes, it's the one that dares to break them.
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