Should I buy the full matching furniture set or mix it up? I get this question all the time and the answer is MIX IT UP! It’s a simple matter of form vs function. You can have a room full of the same set and style and it will make the room very functional, you have all you need in one fell swoop, but the aesthetic just screams inexpensive even though you may have paid a ton for the set. If you add that great armoire or dresser you love from the set and include different pieces like a beautiful fabric covered headboard in that fabulous fabric you’ve been coveting and sparkling chrome side tables it keeps the look fresh and timeless. You make it about how the room feels (warm and cozy, bright and fresh) and less about what furniture pieces you have. In more traditional settings, a modern piece makes it feel new and fresh. On the flip side, mixing a few traditional items in modern decor helps to add warmth. If you have an entire set, trust me it WILL go out of style. That beautiful white washed dining room set you loved in the 90s, in 2015 screams you bought it in the 90s! But if you keep the table, mix in more modern chairs and eclectic buffet and mirror, it now says, wow, this room feels like you want to sit in it all night and have a fabulous dinner with your friends and family. So before you run to buy that fantastic 8 piece living room set, stop and think how do I want to feel when I walk into my house after a long day? Mix it up, in the end it will be worth it!