How to mix and match furniture like a pro

A scalloped wicker coffee table injects personality into this new traditional blue and white design. Photos: Handout/TNS

Gone are the days of placing matching big-box furniture in a room and calling it good. And while it’s easy to fall into the trap of following a specific trend, often I find that the spaces with the most impact are the ones that effortlessly combine elements from multiple periods, styles and places.

The trick is to ensure that everything ties together. The whole point of mixing styles is to create a space that truly defines you, and can’t be re-created somewhere else.