Furniture Sets: Tips For Blending The Old With The New

Furniture is frequently sold in “sets”, which are usually specific to the room in which the set will be used. For example, a “bedroom set” may usually include a bed, side tables, a wardrobe, and sometimes a vanity.

These sets are incredibly popular, especially given that the complete set is usually less expensive than buying the pieces contained in the set individually. However, furniture sets do have their downsides, the most significant of which is the uniformity of the collection – as one would expect, each piece is the same color and designed in the same style.

How is uniformity a downside?

The uniformity of furniture sets for a specific room in your home is not problematic in and of itself and of itself – at least, not initially. Consistency tends to become a problem later on; for example, if one piece of the set is damaged and needs replacing, finding an exact match can be next to impossible and replacing the entire set every time a single part is damaged is prohibitively expensive.

If you can’t find an exact match and don’t want to replace the whole set, the only alternative is to buy a single replacement piece – which will, inevitably, stand out from the rest of the pieces in the room.

So furniture sets should be avoided?

Not quite. Sets are useful; they allow you to furnish a room quickly, and save a little money, at the same time. However, when a piece within that set needs to be replaced, you will need to go the extra mile in order to blend the old with the new – and we’ve provided a few tips for that very circumstance below.

• Avoid looking for a close match. Unless you can find an exact match, it’s usually best for your new piece of furniture to be very different from the existing set. Close-but-not-quite matches are somewhat disorientating to the overall style of a room.

• Be distinctive. Given that a new piece is always going to somewhat stand out from the rest of the set, opt for a distinctive, unusual style. By choosing a unique piece, it will look as if that piece stands out as a deliberate style choice.

• Blend the piece using throws and cushions. If you have chosen a new piece that is distinctive, you can ‘include’ it in the room using accessories such as throw pillows and cushions – choose a similar texture or color to the existing pieces to help create a cohesive look.

• Consider adding a second non-set piece. Even if it’s just a small end or coffee table, adding a second piece of furniture that is also not part of the set can, as with avoiding “close matches”, help to create a sense of intention to the choices within the room – if one piece stands out, it could be an error, but two makes it look like a deliberate choice.

In conclusion

Furniture sets are incredibly useful but can be troublesome if a single piece within the set needs replacing in the future. However, by following the tips above, you should be able to blend a new piece with an existing collection with relative ease – good luck!