Mix and Match Leather with Fabric Chairs for Maximum Impact

Thinking of mixing and matching a leather chair with a fabric one and wondering if you can do it? Well, there’s no rule that forbids decorating with both leather and fabric chairs in one room, but there are some guidelines on how to do it to create the most impact. Mixing fabric and leather furniture pieces can add textural interest to your room, as long as you keep a few principles in mind.

Proportion Is Key

If you want to use leather and fabric chairs in the same design, proportion is key. If your leather and fabric chairs are about the same size, the combinations will work. An oversized leather chair and a delicate fabric chair won’t play well together. The leather will overpower the delicate fabric piece. Keeping it proportional will make the room look more cohesive.

Style and Shape

Choose chairs that are similar in style and shape. For example, a sleek, ultra-modern leather chair won’t go with an overstuffed fabric one. Choose a more modern fabric piece. Just like an overstuffed leather recliner won’t go well with an austere mid-century modern chair upholstered in a silk blend. In this case, a more traditional fabric piece would work better. If your chairs share the same style, shape, and proportion, mixing leather and fabric upholstery won’t be an issue.

Choose Colors That Complement

The next thing to consider is color. A leather chair in a neutral such as brown, black, or white will work well with almost any color fabric piece. However, if you choose a bold color such as red, bright orange, or green, you’ll need to choose the pattern on your fabric upholstery with care. Make sure it includes traces of the color on your leather chair, so that it is clear they go together.

Create Cohesion with Accessories

Throw pillows, area rugs, and lamps can help you keep a central color scheme. Throw pillows in bright secondary or tertiary colors can smarten up the look and create a cohesive color scheme. No matter what styles, shapes, and sizes you’re working with, never underestimate the power of throw pillows and other decorative pieces. Use them to flawlessly incorporate your seating into a cohesive space. An area rug with a pattern that includes the colors of your furniture pieces can ground and define the space.

Enhance the Space with Walls and Flooring

Choose wall colors and flooring treatments that complement your entire style, not just one or two pieces. If your wall color matches one chair and not the other, the room could be thrown off balance. A neutral color can highlight the entire look, not just one part of it. Throw rugs can also unify your seating area.

Layer Window Treatments for More Texture

Add layered window treatments into the mix. Try contrasting textures and materials, such as bamboo blinds with linen curtains, and a heavier exterior curtain in a contrasting color to play up the many shades and textures of your furniture pieces.

It may seem challenging at first glance, but it is a perfectly respectable design option. In fact, mixing up different upholstery materials is one of the things that makes a room’s design interesting and exciting. The key is to choose lighting, accessories, and floor, wall, and window treatments that create a unified and dynamic look.

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