The Art Of High Low Style Mixing {7 Tips}

Anytime someone new comes over to my house I get asked the question, “where did you get that?” I think the question comes up because when you look around my house you’ll notice that my decor has been curated over time and has a personalized look and feel. I’ve decorated our house to reflect the things we love and because of that, it’s has its own flair.

My decor is a mix of styles, a combination of vintage and new, plus a combo of high-end pieces and budget friendly finds.The art of mixing high & low furniture and decor is one of the keys to designing a beautiful room. Here are my tips on how to mix high and low like an Interior Design Pro!

THE FORMULA TO HIGH LOW STYLE MIXING

Tip # 1: Invest money in the furniture pieces that will get used the most.

Don’t skimp on statement furniture that you and your family will be using on a daily basis. Look for high-end furniture like a sofa or dining chairs that have solid construction and long wearing fabrics. Quality pieces will elevate the style of a room and make inexpensive accessories look glam.

Tip # 2: Be an equal opportunity shopper because finding the right item is more important than where you bought it.

An equal opportunity shopper simply means being open to shopping a variety of stores for the items you want. Shop your favorite high-end retailers as well as budget friendly big-box stores that might have identical or similar items for less. And don’t count out consignment or thrift stores which can be a great source for high-end looks at a fraction of the cost.

I originally purchased this large blue and white ginger jar from a high-end furniture store. When I decided a needed a second one to flank my fireplace, I went bargain hunting and found the almost identical jar online for $50 less.

Tip #3: Mix materials and finishes to make a room appear more luxurious than it really is.

Adding texture into your decor is an easy way to elevate the style of a room. Choose accessories that incorporate a variety of elements like wood, fabric and metal for a layered and custom look. When a room has visual interest, it automatically looks and feels more polished and sophisticated.

The pieces on my bookshelves include an antique brass bowl (high-end), blue and white pottery (mid to low-end) and a disco ball that I bought on clearance (cheap). The mix creates a curated look that feels like a grouping of treasures collected over the years.

Tip #4: Don’t be afraid to UpStyle a low-end piece with high-end details.

I’m sure you’ve all seen how an inexpensive pieces from Ikea can be UpStyled to look like a high-end piece with a few simple enhancements. A coat of paint, new hardware or the addition of trim work can give a simple piece high-end style. When you’re out shopping and see an inexpensive piece evaluate its potential and how a little refurbishing could give it a whole new look.

A new set of brass knobs elevated the look of this black Ikea cabinet. And $30 worth of fabric transformed a pair of $11 thrift store ottomans in to accent pieces that look like the cost a lot of money.

An empty room is a story waiting to happen, and you are the author!

Tip #5: Invest in a few original pieces like artwork or handmade ceramics.

An original piece of art or handmade craft can be a worthwhile investment and elevate the style of a room. Original pieces don’t have to cost a fortune these days. You can find original oil paintings at antique stores or have a new piece commissioned from sites like Minted for less than $500. Etsy is a great source for handcrafted pottery and wood decor for as little as $20.

TIP #6: Group high and low-priced decorative items by color.

Color is a unifying element and will create a sense of equality between items that are grouped together. Group pieces of similar color on a tabletop or pillows from the same color family on the sofa. To keep things visually interesting, look for items with different patterns or materials so things don’t look to matchy.

A place setting is a great place to experiment with pulling a color theme together. With this pacesetting, I used blue and white as the theme but combined different patterns to create the interest.