So, what do you imagine your dream home (or room) to be? Minimalism sounds elegant, until you realise how fun maximalism can be. Furniture from the 1950s is all retro-chic, until you realise that it’s too chunky to play around with. Scandinavian design is hard to keep clean. Japandi requires constant decluttering. Biophilic décor makes a mess. Coastal core is a dust trap. OMG. How to choose?
You don’t have to. Interior designers and architects Arzu Jaria, Jinesh Sanghavi and Gauri Khanna tell you how to mix styles when you have too many favs. The trick? Knowing how much is too much, and literally, how to read a room.
Don’t try to catch them all. Most clients approach designers with a folder overflowing with styles lifted from Pinterest, Instagram and Netflix shows. “People see something they like and immediately want to include it, without considering how they’ll feel about it years later, says Jaria. “Remember, it’s your house and not an exhibition space.” So, choose two to three visual styles and mix and match within them. Jaria encourages her clients to sit with a design moodboard for some time, and to look at it over and over. Most people tire of seeing their once-cherished objects within a month.
Blend, don’t clash. Design should feel intentional, not confused. Set one main style for the room – wallpaper, flooring furniture, recommends Jaria. Let the minor influences reflect in light fixtures, handles, mirrors, doorframes. “One style should dominate, while the others act as supporting characters.” Khanna’s hack is to pick one standout piece. “A statement wall, a unique piece of furniture, or an exotic marble installation” that is a departure from the style that serves as a focal point.
Create common ground. “When you use a mix of influences, find a way to connect them,” says Jaria. This is usually through a colour palette, a texture, a motif or shape or a simply the culture it represents. Think of how easy it is to get modern and traditional Indian furniture to work together, than for a heavy European chandeliers to match a Japanese futon. “Layer individuality through fabrics, patterns, and textures.” Scandinavian and Bohemian styles rely on wood, ceramics and plants. Both, individually give off a different vibe. But they have enough in common that you can mix them up.
Pick a zone. Every member of the family wants the house to look a certain way. There are two ways to compromise. “One is to pick an overarching theme that flows through rooms and common spaces, such as corridors and entryways, while the insides of rooms reflect the other themes,” says Khanna. The other way is to treat each room as its own separate design zone. “You can do this by creating different moods for different rooms,” says Sanghavi, co-founder of Mumbai-based Esi Design Studio. “Each space then gets its own identity, materials, and atmosphere.”
Jaria designed a home where each room evoked a specific travel mood. “The living and dining area feels beach-like with whites, pastel blues, and sand-toned furniture, while the adjoining balcony transforms into a forest-like retreat with printed ceilings,” she recalls. “That way, you’re still tapping into multiple influences, but connecting it back to a single theme.”
Leave room for interpretation. What happens if you design your home with a travel theme today, but get obsessed with Art Deco two years later? “Wallpaper, fabrics, and furniture are easier to change than fixed wall treatments,” says Jaria. So, keep permanent elements neutral. If you’re still undecided, Khanna suggests keeping the flooring, large surfaces, and wall panelling basic. “Let your tastes come in through the cushions, upholstery, curtains and accent chairs. These are easier to change over time.”
From HT Brunch, February 14, 2026
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