You've Heard of a Color Scheme – But What About a Furniture Scheme? Here's How to Mix and Match Furniture After the Death of Matching Sets

For the last few years, buying furniture has felt oddly similar to getting dressed in the dark – safer to choose the full matching set and hope for the best.

And while I do love a co-ord in my wardrobe, a couch, armchair, dining table, and chairs all cut from the same cloth rarely feels particularly interesting nowadays. Furniture trends are being treated less like a checklist and more like a curated collection – with pieces chosen for how they speak to one another, rather than how perfectly they match.

Much like a color scheme, a furniture scheme aims to bring your mismatched pieces a level of cohesion and harmony, minus the predictability of matching sets. Instead, designers say it’s about making a few key decisions that allow different styles, eras, and materials to sit comfortably together. Here's how the experts approach it.

What is a Furniture Scheme?

At its core, the idea of a 'furniture scheme' is about creating a sense of cohesiveness, not duplication. Instead of relying on identical catalogue pieces to create cohesion, designers prefer to focus on balance by allowing different interior design styles to coexist.

The key is that they must share something in common, whether that’s scale, tone, or material.

As Laura Lubin of Ellerslie Interiors explains, 'Matching furniture sets have given way to something far more sophisticated: thoughtful composition,' she explains. 'A successful furniture scheme is about balance, not symmetry. We focus on shared elements like scale, tone, or material, rather than identical pieces.'

The problem with matching furniture sets isn’t that they’re inherently wrong – it’s that they often feel static. When every piece in a room is bought at the same time, from the same place, the result can lack depth and individuality.

Kristina Khersonsky of Studio KEETA adds: 'When every piece in a room is brand new and from the same retailer, it starts to feel soulless. A space should look like it’s evolved over time, not like it was added to the cart all at once.'

'I always encourage clients to mix in vintage, artisan-made pieces, or items with personal meaning to give the space more depth and individuality,' she continues. 'The days of the neutral, oversized sectional being the star of the room are behind us. We’re seeing clients lean into expressive upholstery, layered textiles, and even pattern-on-pattern moments that feel personal and collected.'

Ultimately, this new approach reframes how we think about buying furniture. Rather than picking out pieces designed to match exactly, designers now look for subtle connections that allow furniture to feel related without being repetitive.

When pieces “speak the same language" or share a red thread, the room feels curated rather than coordinated. Designer Sean Symington sums it up perfectly when he says: 'A good furniture scheme should feel cohesive without being overly matchy-matchy, think collected and purposeful rather than perfect.'

It’s this characterful approach that makes spaces feel layered, more personal, and far more reflective of how we actually live now.

How to Create a Cohesive Furniture Scheme

1. Start with One Anchor Piece

One of the biggest misconceptions about mixing furniture is that you need to have everything figured out from the outset. In reality, the most successful furniture schemes often begin with a single anchor piece – one item that sets the tone for the entire room.

This might be a couch upholstered in a standout fabric, a vintage wooden dining table, or an armchair with a playful silhouette. Rather than designing a room all at once, this approach allows the scheme to unfold gradually and with far more personality.

Sean advocates starting with what he calls a 'hero fabric', using it as the visual foundation for the space. 'We don’t tend to follow rigid rules or what you think you’re supposed to do, but what we always start with is one hero fabric.'

'This fabric, with its color and pattern, sets the tone for the space,' he continues. 'From there, we pull complementary tones and patterns from it, letting the palette spread naturally across the furniture. It’s this layered approach that ties everything together while keeping the scheme interesting and personal.'

2. Define Your Wants Before You Shop

If mixing furniture feels daunting, it’s usually because there are no 'filters' in place. Without some criteria or starting point, every new piece risks feeling like a wildcard or like you've got too many competing main characters.

Defining your vibe early on is what turns a potentially chaotic mix into a cohesive scheme – and it makes shopping far easier.

Kailee Blalock of House of Hive Design Co. recommends starting with three foundational considerations, beginning with wood tones. 'I always recommend starting with a few guiding decisions,' she says. 'Do you want light, dark, or a mix of wood tones? I personally love combining both to add depth,' she adds.

Next, she advises considering texture. 'Are you drawn to wicker, bouclé, leather, lacquer, or stone?' Identifying the materials that resonate with you helps establish a through-line across the room. Finally, narrow down your accents and finishes – whether that’s brass, chrome, aged bronze, or a mix of metals. 'Once these elements are defined, selecting furniture becomes far easier; every piece is filtered through the same lens, even if the styles differ.'

3. Mix Pattern, Materials and Textures for Depth

When a furniture scheme starts to feel flat, it’s rarely because of the color palette – more often than not, it’s a lack of contrast. Mixing patterns, materials, and textures is what gives a space depth, helping it feel layered. While color tends to set the mood, it’s the interplay between finishes and surfaces that makes a room feel tactile and inviting.

Designer Kathy Kuo describes furniture pairing as 'an art, not a science,' but stresses that balance comes from variety. 'Make sure to include a healthy mix of materials in your furniture scheme,' she adds.

'Wood furniture is a classic choice, but there’s also metal, rattan, glass, marble, and acrylic, to name just a few! While you’re selecting your materials, keep texture in mind as well,' Kathy advises. 'Curating a mix of textural elements plays a large role in designing a sensorial, welcoming space that feels richly layered.'

'To give an example, in a living room I might combine a polished marble coffee table with a burl wood side table, add rattan floor lamps and brass sconces, and mix a plush velvet sofa with slubbed linen armchairs.'

4. Create a Contrast Between Old and New

One of the most effective ways to create interest within a furniture scheme is by mixing old with new. When done intentionally, this kind of transitional decorating introduces tension in the best possible way.

Kailee Blalock suggests employing 'intentional juxtaposition' and suggests pairing an antique console with a modern sofa or mixing sculptural contemporary chairs with a traditional dining table.

'These contrasts create tension, interest, and a sense of evolution,' she adds. 'The room feels collected, not coordinated, and that’s exactly where interiors are headed in 2026.'

Laura Lubin agrees, adding: 'We focus on shared elements like scale, tone, or material, rather than identical pieces. A sculptural contemporary sofa can live beautifully beside an antique chair if their proportions speak the same language. Mixing eras creates depth, while mixing finishes keeps a space from feeling static. The key is restraint. When every piece has a reason to be there, the room feels intentional, collected, and quietly luxurious.'

The most stylish interiors in 2026 aren’t defined by perfection, but by personality. They allow for contrast, collection over time, and the occasional unexpected pairing, creating spaces that feel warm, layered, and genuinely lived-in.

And while matching sets once promised ease, it’s this more considered, collected approach to furnishing that delivers something far more appealing: a home that feels like you.