Breaking interior design rules: 12 real-world examples from our homes

Design rules are meant to be broken, and this article explores how to do it with style and confidence. Drawing from the expertise of seasoned designers, we’ll uncover unconventional approaches that challenge traditional home decor norms. From mixing unexpected styles to creating multiple focal points, these insights will inspire you to reimagine your living spaces in bold and surprising ways.

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  • Mix Unexpected Styles for Soulful Spaces
  • Large Rugs Expand Small Rooms Visually
  • Create Multiple Focal Points for Engagement
  • Pair Contrasting Pieces for Personality
  • Blend Metal Finishes for Curated Look
  • Combine Warm and Cool Tones Intentionally
  • Fuse African and Modern Elements Eclectically
  • Dark Colors Transform Small Spaces Surprisingly
  • Layer Bold Patterns for Global Storytelling
  • Mix Furniture for Collected, Not Purchased
  • Contrast Countertops for Dramatic Centerpieces
  • Break Kitchen Rules with Open Concepts

Mix Unexpected Styles for Soulful Spaces

One design rule I love breaking? “Don’t mix styles.” That one has never sat right with me—it’s like being told you can only wear one color at a time. Some of the most soulful rooms come from mixing unexpected elements that shouldn’t work, but absolutely do.

In my own home, I paired a sleek, mid-century modern console with an ornate antique mirror I found at a dusty estate sale (and wrestled into my trunk like a woman on a mission). Most would’ve kept the mirror in a traditional space, but the contrast made both pieces stand out. It’s like pairing jeans with a silk blouse: balanced, a little bold, and completely effortless once you see it come together.

Why does it work? Because I don’t decorate for a catalog—I decorate for a life. Mixing styles adds layers, and layers tell stories. A space that surprises you in the best way? That’s what makes it feel yours. So yes, I break the rules—and occasionally the tape measure—but the results always feel far more personal than perfect.

Magda Callery, Interior Designer, Style By Magda

Large Rugs Expand Small Rooms Visually

One of the design principles I tend to violate is the requirement that small spaces should have small rugs. Most people think a large rug will overwhelm a compact room, but I see it the opposite way. A large rug not only binds the different elements but also expands the room visually and creates elusive harmony, which is difficult to achieve with smaller rugs.

In my home, for instance, I’ve placed a large antique Persian rug within my modest-sized reading nook. The rug spans almost wall-to-wall and anchors the furniture while also commanding attention to its intricate details. It works for my space because it is intentional and well-balanced with the other elements in the room.

Likewise, effectively breaking this rule is possible if you know how to maintain balance in design. Arrange the furniture so that it sits, either fully or partly, on the rug. Also, picking either a neutral base or a patterned base that goes with the room ensures the rug does not dominate the space. This trick will make even the smallest spaces look well-kept and cozy.

Jason Nazmiyal, Owner & Interior Design Expert, Nazmiyal Antique Rugs

Create Multiple Focal Points for Engagement

One design rule I love to break is the notion that every room must have a single focal point to feel balanced. Instead of relying on one dominant feature, I embrace layered focal points that guide the eye through a space dynamically. In my living room, I ditched the standard TV-over-fireplace setup and created multiple conversation areas, each with a distinct visual anchor. A bold gallery wall catches attention on one side, while an oversized sculptural coffee table draws the gaze elsewhere.

The result? A space that feels fluid, engaging, and multidimensional, encouraging movement rather than passive viewing. Traditional design rules often prioritize order, but breaking them with thoughtful layering allows a space to evolve, adapt, and remain visually compelling. Balance isn’t about one oversized statement—it’s about creating a rhythm of visual interest that keeps a room feeling alive.

Seymen Usta, Interior Designer, Modern Chandelier

Pair Contrasting Pieces for Personality

Who made the rule that everything has to “match?” That’s the one I like to throw out the window. Furnishings that match look like they’re trying too hard—like a three-piece suit at a beach party.

In my own space, I’ve paired a sleek, ultra-modern glass table with vintage velvet-upholstered chairs that look like they’re from the ’70s. On paper? A total break in style. In reality? It sings. The contrast adds personality, like mixing a bass with a violin solo—unexpected, but really cool.

The trick is confidence and cohesion through tones or colors, not copy-paste design elements. When each piece tells its own story but still harmonizes with the energy of the room, that’s when it becomes really good.

Dosiak Tetiana, COO, Chief Design Strategist, PlusObject

Blend Metal Finishes for Curated Look

One design rule I love to break is the idea that you should stick to just one metal finish in a space. In my own home, I mixed matte black hardware with brushed brass light fixtures and a few chrome accents in the kitchen. At first, it felt risky, but the blend adds depth and character, making the space feel curated rather than cookie-cutter. The key is balance – repeating each finish in at least two places helps it feel intentional. It works for me because it reflects a layered, lived-in aesthetic that feels both modern and personal.

Ross Darden, Owner, Darden Building Materials

Combine Warm and Cool Tones Intentionally

One design rule I love to break is “never mix warm and cool tones.” Traditional wisdom says to stick with either warm or cool palettes for harmony—but in my own home, I’ve intentionally blended both, and it’s created a far more dynamic, grounded space.

In my living room, for example, I paired cool-toned gray walls with warm walnut furniture and brass accents. The contrast brings out the richness in each material—the wood feels warmer, the gray more sophisticated. To tie it together, I added neutral textiles (like a beige area rug and off-white curtains) that act as visual buffers.

This mix works because it feels layered and lived-in rather than overly coordinated. We often see clients fall in love with combinations they didn’t expect—and that’s the beauty of design: rules are starting points, not limits.

Yulii Cherevko, CEO & Co-owner, Paintit.ai – AI Interior Design & Virtual Staging

Fuse African and Modern Elements Eclectically

In interior design, there’s a common rule that you should stick to one style or era throughout a space. However, I love to break that rule by mixing traditional African elements with modern, minimalist pieces. This eclectic approach creates a unique, personalized atmosphere that tells a story and sparks conversation. It’s not about following trends, but about creating a space that reflects your journey and experiences.

In my own home, I’ve successfully broken this rule in my living room. I have a sleek, low-profile white sofa paired with vibrant, hand-woven Kente cloth pillows from Ghana. On the wall, a large, contemporary abstract painting hangs next to intricately carved wooden masks from Mali. The juxtaposition of these elements creates a dynamic, visually interesting space that honors both my African heritage and my appreciation for modern design. This mix works because it’s intentional and balanced, with each piece carefully chosen to complement the others. By breaking this rule, I’ve created a unique space that truly feels like home and showcases the beauty of blending cultures and styles.

Nana Quagraine, Founder & CEO, 54kibo

Dark Colors Transform Small Spaces Surprisingly

As someone who’s spent two decades in homebuilding, I’ve learned that sometimes the best design comes from challenging conventional wisdom. The rule I love to break? “Small spaces need light colors to feel bigger.”

In my own container home project, I deliberately chose rich, dark walnut for the ceiling panels in our 320-square-foot model. Traditional design wisdom would say this makes the space feel cramped, but paired with strategic lighting and reflective surfaces, the dark ceiling actually creates a cozy, den-like atmosphere that draws the eye horizontally across the space rather than vertically, making the room feel more expansive.

This approach has been so successful that it’s become one of our most requested features. Clients are consistently surprised by how the darker ceiling transforms the space from feeling like a “small container” to a sophisticated home.

Another example: we recently completed a project where we used floor-to-ceiling black shiplap on an exterior wall. Again, conventional wisdom suggests dark colors should be avoided in small spaces, but this bold choice created a stunning focal point that anchored the entire living area and made the opposite white walls appear to recede, creating the illusion of more space.

The key is understanding that rules in design aren’t universal laws—they’re guidelines that can and should be challenged when you have a clear purpose and vision. In container homes, we’re already breaking the biggest rule of all—that a shipping container can’t be a beautiful, comfortable home.

Robert Wagoner, President & Founder, Custom Container Living

Layer Bold Patterns for Global Storytelling

“Don’t mix patterns” is a design rule I love to break. In my own home, I layer bold Moroccan tiles with handwoven Peruvian textiles and block-printed Indian bedding, and it feels rich and lived-in and tells a global story. At first glance, these patterns shouldn’t work together—but by grounding them in a cohesive color palette and using natural materials, it all ties together. It feels curated, not chaotic. Breaking this rule has allowed me to show the artisanal heritage behind each piece and make the space feel personal and soulful. It’s not about matching—it’s about harmonizing through texture, tone, and intention.

Guillaume Drew, Founder, Or & Zon

Mix Furniture for Collected, Not Purchased

I ignore the rule that furniture pieces must match to feel cohesive. We focus on handcrafted, heirloom-quality pieces with character. That same belief guides how I style my own home. Matching sets can feel staged. I prefer to mix textures, materials, and eras to create a space that feels collected, not purchased in a single trip.

I combined a carved leather sofa with a distressed wood coffee table and a steel console in my living room. None of them are similar, but each one dominates and serves its function. The key is balance. I tied everything together with consistent tones and a neutral rug. The result feels grounded but not predictable. It’s functional and reflects years of travel, sourcing trips, and time spent working closely with vendors.

When you blend rustic elements with contemporary lines, the space tells a story. That approach helps our customers, too. They often shop for standout items, not full sets. I’ve taken that lesson from the showroom into my home. It works because the focus stays on quality, proportion, and feeling, not just conformity.

JaNae Murray, Director of Marketing, Western Passion

Contrast Countertops for Dramatic Centerpieces

The design rule I love to ignore is “stick to one countertop material in a single space.” In my own kitchen, I paired a dramatic leathered Black Cosmic granite island with warm, subtle Caesarstone Quartz perimeter counters. Conventional wisdom says you should keep everything consistent so the room feels cohesive, but the contrast turned the island into a true centerpiece while the softer quartz lets dishes and small appliances sit without visual clutter. Because both surfaces share tiny copper flecks, the combo still feels intentional. Guests always walk in and head straight to the island, and I get a workspace that hides scratches yet looks like functional art. Mixing materials can work anywhere as long as you repeat a color or texture so the pieces feel like relatives rather than strangers.

Greg Fox, Owner, Fox Granite

Break Kitchen Rules with Open Concepts

Kitchen design rules are my favorite to break—when your kitchen ceilings are over 10 feet, you don’t need cabinets to the ceiling! Fill that space with fun wallpaper or architectural details instead.

In contrast to the traditional triangle model, I’m a big fan of open-concept kitchens and love to design spaces that work well with the work I do in the kitchen and how my family uses this space.

Janelle Patton, Owner & Principal Designer, Lark Interiors TX

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