3 Easy Ways to Mix and Match Different Colors, Patterns, and Design Styles

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Filling up your home with stylish picks is hard enough without attempting to pair contrasting colors, patterns, and prints. Between selecting different color palettes and researching design styles, furnishing a home can quickly become a full-time job (that we wish paid better). But, don't be afraid to embrace your inner maximalist!

Bloomingdale's and New York-based interior designer Bennett Leifer have partnered up to share easily digestible tips for becoming a mix master. From mixing light and dark hues to understanding how different styles can work together, here are some of his best tips for creating a completely unique and personalized living space.

According to Leifer, black is the perfect neutral: "I look at black as a neutral tone and often find it can ground a space to help avoid over-saturating with too much color." he explains. In the living room above, he uses the black sofas as a base and then throws in an array of colors and shades that all seamlessly work together.

There's nothing wrong with mixing two different styles, but Leifer says that consistency when it comes to materials is key. In this example, he used metallics to meld both traditional and modern picks: "The dinnerware itself has gilded details, the chairs have brass frames, and there's a beautiful banding detail on the cabinets," he tells Bloomingdale's.

"When mixing patterns, it's important to find a unifying force," Leifer says. In this curated selection, he uses the artwork above the bed as a base for the room's color palette. But he says not to focus on the colors in that piece of art; instead, focus on the organic shapes and geometric lines in it and use that to incorporate similar prints throughout.