To Match or Not to Match? A Great Room Lesson in Design Balance

A sophisticated great room featuring two matching fireplaces adorned with black and gold botanical wallpaper, creating a sense of balance and symmetry. The walls are painted a rich charcoal, and each fireplace mantel is styled with candles, mirrors, and sconces. The room includes a mix of cream and camel-toned seating, layered rugs, and a round wood coffee table. Decorative accents feature mixed metal finishes, books, and plants, creating a warm and curated atmosphere.

In the design world, knowing when to match, and when not to, is the secret that transforms a space from simply styled to artfully curated. Too matchy and the room can feel cookie cutter whereas the opposite can feel unbalanced and lacking a clear design intention.

Take John & Catherine’s Great Room makeover, featured in our latest Tuck In Issue, as an example. We chose to match the wallpaper on both fireplaces. Why? To create cohesion and balance across a large, open-concept room. This unifying visual thread anchors the space and draws the eye around the room with intention.

Can you spot all the areas we chose matching sets and where we paired complimentary but not matching pieces?

Lighting

A close-up of a black fireplace mantel set against dramatic black and gold wallpaper featuring a regal lion and vine motif. Above the mantel is an arched antiqued mirror reflecting a chandelier and window. The mantel is styled with brass candlesticks, a decorative plate on a stand, and a sculptural vase with white dried florals. Flanking the mirror are two modern wall sconces with white shades, adding symmetry and ambient light to the richly layered vignette.

In John & Catherine's Great Room, we opted for matching sconces in addition to the matching Cole & Son Boscobel Wallpaper on the Fireplaces. While the sconces match, they are intentionally different, yet complimentary, to the existing ceiling fixtures. We chose Bowery Sconces with soft fabric shades, antique brass and black metal. Both installed on dimmers for soft, diffused light.

A decorative ceiling light fixture featuring a scalloped drum design with intricate filigree metalwork in a warm gold finish. The chandelier hangs from a short chain and casts a soft, ambient glow, complementing the classic crown moulding and dark, patterned wallpaper of the room.

A modern wall sconce featuring a tapered white fabric shade atop a slender black metal rod with brass accents. The fixture is mounted on a rectangular brass and black backplate, combining classic and contemporary elements in a sleek, vertical design.

Bowery Wall Sconce

A richly detailed wallpaper design by Cole & Son featuring two heraldic lions facing each other amidst an intricate pattern of golden oak leaves and acorns on a dark charcoal background. The antique-style motif evokes a sense of regal tradition and historical grandeur.

Boscobel Oak Wallpaper

Two battery-operated taper candles with warm glowing LED “flames,” set in sculptural gold holders. One holder features a stylized deer head with antlers, while the other has a textured, organic shape. The candles stand on a dark reflective surface against a warm mustard-toned background.

Reallite Battery Operated Candle

Can you spot the other matching light fixture? Look closely! To match the bowery wall sconces, we chose a floor lamp from the same collection, the Bowery Floor Lamp. This subtle match may not be immediately obvious but it does help the space to feel unified and harmonious.

A warm, inviting greatroom featuring a rich traditional area rug with red and gold tones, a grey sectional sofa, a pair of cream armchairs, and a tan leather accent chair. The space includes a marble coffee table, dark built-in bookshelves with a rolling ladder, a black fireplace, and a quilted wall hanging. Layered lighting and classic mouldings enhance the architectural charm.

Accent Tables

In a large space such as this one it's easy to feel like the room "gave birth to accent tables" as Judith likes to say! To avoid this, it's important to choose accents that coordinate, sometimes matching and sometimes compliment. In John & Catherine's Great Room, there is a combination of wooden, stone, circular, and square tables. While no two are a matching set, they each pair well due to their materials and design style.

A modern walnut side table with a sculptural, geometric base featuring intersecting planes and a curved accent detail. The table sits on a warm wood floor beside a tan chair, with a dark fireplace and glowing fire in the blurred background, creating a cozy and sophisticated atmosphere.

Ethnicraft Geometric Side Table

A top-down view of a round serving dish with six star-shaped glass compartments, each trimmed in gold and filled with assorted snacks like pistachios and licorice allsorts. The dish sits on a white marble coffee table with grey veining, adjacent to a richly patterned red and navy vintage-style rug.

EQ3 Custom Square Coffee Table with White Marble Top

A round walnut coffee table with a lower shelf and slender black metal legs, styled with a woven vase of dark florals, a wine bottle, and glasses on top. The bottom shelf holds a small stack of books, including one titled Trans Canada Trail. The table sits on a richly patterned red vintage rug, surrounded by cream upholstered seating and dark built-in shelving.

EQ3 Sage Coffee Table Round, Walnut

Sofas & Accent Chairs

How do you furnish a large, or even small room, without it feeling cookie-cutter? Our advice is stick with one primary style for your furniture to create a cohesive look. In John & Catherine’s Great Room, for example, we chose mostly modern and contemporary pieces for the sectional, sofa, and chairs. Because the home itself is historic, the updated furniture keeps the space from leaning too traditional, striking the perfect balance between old and new.

On one side, the customizable EQ3 Oskar Sectional, configured in an L-shape, maximizes seating while keeping the space feeling open and uncluttered. On the opposite end, a Gus* Modern sofa paired with matching armchairs introduces an alternate seating arrangement. Together, the clean lines and low profiles of each piece create a cohesive and effortlessly modern look.

Stylish living room featuring a dark grey sectional sofa with layered neutral and navy pillows, a tan leather armchair, and a vintage-inspired red area rug on warm hardwood floors. A marble-top coffee table sits at the center, flanked by two sculptural wood side tables—one topped with wine and glasses, the other with a trailing plant. A dramatic black fireplace with gold-accented wallpaper and mirror sconces anchors the left wall, while a large mirror and floor lamp reflect light from tall windows dressed in soft drapes. The space exudes a cozy, elegant ambiance with a mix of traditional and contemporary elements.

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Bowery Wall Sconce

Customizable EQ3 Oskar Sectional

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Ethnicraft Graphic Dresser

Want to learn more how you can transform your space? Gain valuable information, tips, and advice through booking an in-home or virtual consult. During your consult, you'll receive expert advice on how to create beautiful spaces in your own home! Learn more here.