Why Embracing Juxtaposition in Interior Design Projects Matters
My favorite technique at every stage of the design process is to use juxtaposition. I love the concept so much that if I had been able to include the term in my firm name without it sounding like a juvenile play on words, I would have done so.
Juxtaposition is the practice, or as far as I’m concerned—the art—of pairing opposite, dissimilar, or non-matching items to create a contrasting effect. It is the most enjoyable and interesting way to bring energy into a design. And it keeps a room from feeling flat.
Anyone with a credit card can go to the store and buy a matching set of furniture or pillows. But to artistically mix and coordinate textures and finishes? That's when the magic happens!
A chandelier with a timber body and metal candle tubes and cups? Yes.
A tweed throw pillow resting on a mohair side chair? Yes.
An antique typewriter next to your modern art print? YES, YES, YES!
Juxtaposition makes a room come alive.
During a renovation project, I recommend finishes and materials that the homeowners would not think to mix on their own. When I source furniture, it’s almost always a carefully curated collection of pieces from various vendors. When I accessorize with decorative items at the last stage of the project, I attempt to find a special heirloom full of memories or a treasure from their travels, then select an antique that makes me think of them, and assemble it all with something new and refined. Mixing these old and new elements together creates a completely custom example of juxtaposition every time and helps to establish the personality of a room.
Admittedly, this is a really difficult technique for a DIY-er to execute successfully. But as a designer, it's just part of my process.
If you are interested in learning more about creating opportunities for a juxtaposition in your home, I would love to hear from you. Please click here to get started with me. And you might also enjoy this related article I posted last month.
Until then,
MB