Metals and marbles and wood tones, Oh My!!

Mixing materials. It’s a funny subject because there isn’t really a right answer. There are definitely opinions and some would go as far to even say there are ‘rules,’ but one of the first things that you learn when studying interior design is that the rules are made to be broken.

I’ve heard lots of differing opinions. Some say not to have more than 3 different materials in a space and some say 5. I’m sure a maximalist would disagree and say there is no limit.

Personally I think that every space should have a mix of materials to stop it feeling too flat and too ‘matchy matchy.’ I also think that it depends entirely on the space and also on the materials that you are using within that space. One may be completely dominant and therefore needs a few other materials to tone it down, or perhaps your main material isn’t dominant enough so you need a strong contrast to make it stand out more.

Lets take my living room for example. I designed it with blonde wood and brass being my two main materials. I chose a textured oatmeal coloured carpet and similar blinds to help soften and warm up the space. However all of these materials are fairly light and without some contrast, the room would have been quite flat and insipid. I introduced some darker wood tones along with some dark metal accessories to add contrast and elevate the scheme which worked really well. Most people may be horrified at the thought of mixing wood tones but actually as long as they aren’t too similar in shade, they work really well.

When choosing materials for your space, I would first chose one or two main ones, for instance, marble and brass in a kitchen. I would then add a contrasting material to the mix, in this instance I would chose a darker wood tone to add warmth and a softer element to the design. These three would sit together nicely as the main theme of the room, then when choosing accessories and styling objects you can then add in some other materials such as some ceramics and a lighter toned wood. Go with your gut at this stage and try to spot when the design is beginning to look cluttered. There is a fine line when it comes to mixing materials and you don’t want to cross it!

The main thing is to have fun with it and experiment. Use powerpoint or photoshop to create design boards and see how materials are going to look against each other.

I’ve added a few images below of how to mix materials well. If you are still struggling though, get in touch!

Until next time

Jade x

Design by Jacqui Daily

Design by Lauren Gilberthorpe

Design by Studio Mcgee