The essentials of mismatched décor
- Mismatching chairs is an interior decorating approach that involves pairing chairs in different styles, colours and shapes.
- Mismatched chairs can give a room a unique character and allow you to create décor that reflects your personality.
- Colour rule: a maximum of 2 to 3 colours, alternated around the table.
- Material rule: alternate only 2 types of materials, such as rattan and velvet, or vintage-market and Scandinavian styles.
- A wooden table harmonises the overall look and brings a neutral touch that allows for every combination.
What is mismatched décor?
Mismatched décor involves deliberately mixing styles, colours and materials instead of buying matching sets. Applied to chairs, it means pairing different styles, colours and shapes around the same table. The result: a room with a unique character.
For several years now, this trend of mixing and mismatching has continued to grow: we combine vintage décor sourced second-hand with entirely new pieces, and mix colours and materials. No room or piece of furniture escapes this trend, and it has to be said that this fashion for mismatching allows us to create décor that truly reflects who we are, décor that resembles us and tells our story...
Here are a few tips that may come in handy if you're tired of having décor that looks like your neighbour's! Why not mismatch your furniture and start with something easy? Your chairs, for example: you can vary the colours, shapes and materials to create a wonderfully cosy atmosphere that reflects your personality!
At Maison Pavane, you'll find chairs that will brighten up your interior and bring colour and freshness! An absolutely unrivalled collection of chairs awaits you, in every colour, from the most understated to the most vibrant, and in every material, from the softest to the most rustic...
Are you ready for the experience? As you surely know, the chair has been a wonderful playground for the greatest designers for decades: it's up to you to mix and match modern and antique, new and vintage, rattan and metal, pink and red! Let your finest inspiration shine through by following our guide and our experts' advice!
Why mismatch chairs around a table?
Because mismatched chairs can give a room a unique character. Where a matching set remains neutral, alternating styles, colours and shapes gives the dining room personality and tells a story about the people who live there.
Mismatched chairs are a major trend in interior design. What does mismatching chairs involve? It is an interior decorating approach that consists of pairing chairs in different styles, colours and shapes.
Can you have mismatched chairs with a wooden table?
Yes, and it is even the easiest configuration. With a wooden table, there are no limits to how much fun you can have with mismatched chairs, because the wooden table will harmonise everything and bring a certain neutrality to your interior décor. Two possible directions: understated or bold colour.
With a wooden table, the possibilities are endless! You can keep things understated by choosing neutral colours and alternating black, white and grey, or go for a vibrant look with a mix of colourful chairs (yellow, blue, red, green, purple...).
So, it's up to you to choose the atmosphere you want to create in the room (Scandinavian décor, contemporary style or rather industrial) and therefore the colours and materials of the mismatched chairs you want to place around your table to match your chosen style—and that's it!
How should chairs be arranged around a table?
Placement depends on the shape of the table. Around a rectangular table, place one chair at each end and as many chairs as possible along each side. Around a round table, distribute the chairs so that everyone has enough room, depending on the circumference of the dining table.
For your table to be a place for conviviality and enjoying good meals with family or friends, your chairs need to be placed all around it, whether it is a large table or a smaller one.
- If you have a rectangular table, there should be one chair at each end and as many chairs as possible along each of the longer sides of the table.
- And if you have a round table, place the chairs so that everyone has enough room around the table; it all depends on the circumference of your dining table.
Once you have followed these guidelines for chair placement, you can have fun mismatching your chairs however you like!
How should mismatched chairs be arranged around the table?
The answer is very simple, although it depends on your tastes and the atmosphere of the living room, kitchen or dining room where your table is located. First, consider the room's overall atmosphere, the materials and colours already present, then distribute the chairs while maintaining this balance.
For example, trendy mismatched colourful chairs around the table are an excellent way to highlight the Art Deco atmosphere of your interior. You can start by looking at the overall atmosphere of your room, the materials already present and the colours featured in your décor.
Be sure to maintain a certain balance between materials and colours to preserve a coherent atmosphere in your interior! You can play with contrast just as much as harmony, for example by using different shades of the same colour.
How can you mix chairs to create a mismatched set?
The key to embracing the mismatched-chair trend is alternating colours and materials around the table to maintain a certain harmony. To create a harmonious look, you simply need to coordinate the mismatched chairs with one another.
| Factor | Maison Pavane rule | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Colour | 2 to 3 colours maximum, alternated | Black, white, grey or a mix of yellow, blue and red |
| Material | 2 types of materials alternated | Rattan and velvet |
| Era | Alternate old and contemporary | Vintage-market chairs and Scandinavian chairs |
Alternate chair colours to create a welcoming table
For chair colours, Maison Pavane recommends choosing a maximum of 2 to 3 colours and alternating them so that your table looks coordinated and vibrant. By choosing mismatched seats and chair designs in colours that blend easily together, you can harmonise and enhance your interior in just a few moments.
Be careful, however, not to mix too many colours around your table, as this could result in a decorating faux pas.
Alternate materials: trendy, modern, Scandinavian, vintage, rattan, velvet or upcycled mismatched chairs
However, colour is not the only element you can play with: you can also vary the material by alternating 2 types of materials so that your table feels welcoming and invites you and your guests to share a lovely moment together. Here are a few ideas for mismatching your chairs around the table:
- You can play with differences in modernity by alternating vintage-market or upcycled chairs with modern or Scandinavian chairs featuring a very contemporary design.
- You can also combine mismatched rattan chairs with velvet chairs.
- As for the rest, listen to your decorating instincts and arrange your interior according to your tastes and preferences.
Can you mix colours on Tolix-style metal chairs?
Yes. At Maison Pavane, the metal Indus seating range is available in multiple colours, allowing you to create a coherent mismatched table setting. The Tolix chair itself, an icon of industrial design, was created in 1927 by Xavier Pauchard.
At Maison Pavane, we don't have Tolix chairs, the famous metal chair created in 1927 by Xavier Pauchard, a true star of décor and industrial design! More than just a chair, it is a genuine design icon! But don't be sad—alternatives to this famous Tolix chair do exist!
At Maison Pavane, we offer a complete range of Indus seating, mid-height and high metal seats that are ultra-resistant and will complement your décor to your delight! And you know what? Our Indus chairs come in multiple colours and are highly resistant, guaranteeing an ultra-trendy mix of mismatched seats and designs that feels like an invitation to gather around your table or kitchen island.
Where to start with mismatched décor?
So have fun and create interior décor that reflects your personality by mismatching your chairs—all you have to do is admire the result! And if you're looking for chairs in different styles to mismatch your table setting, your dining table or kitchen table, visit the Maison Pavane website for your interior décor shopping and to find, perhaps, your next décor favourites.
Don't forget the motto: “Be bold!” Eclectic furniture, mismatched tableware—you can find furniture on online sites, in shops and also at flea markets! Mix new with old, bright and more understated colours, and different materials...
And if you have any ideas to share with us on this subject or even photos to send, don't hesitate—you can tag us on our various social networks, particularly our Instagram account!
FAQ: mismatched chairs answered
What is the maximum number of colours for mismatched chairs?
Maison Pavane recommends a maximum of 2 to 3 colours, alternated around the table. Beyond that, there is a risk of mixing too many colours and creating a decorating faux pas. With colours that blend easily together, the table setting remains coordinated and vibrant.
How many different materials can be mixed?
Two types of materials are sufficient. For example, you can combine mismatched rattan chairs with velvet chairs, or alternate vintage-market and upcycled chairs with modern or Scandinavian chairs featuring a very contemporary design.
Which table should you choose for mismatched chairs?
A wooden table is the easiest option: it harmonises the overall look and brings a certain neutrality to the interior décor. The possibilities remain open, from a range of neutral shades to a mix of colourful chairs.
Where can you find mismatched chairs?
You can find furniture on online sites, in shops and also at flea markets. The Maison Pavane website offers a collection of chairs in every colour, from the most understated to the most vibrant, and in every material, from the softest to the most rustic.
