A Clever Decorating Tip That'll Help Bring A Sense Of Harmony To Your Space

When pulling together the vibe of your home, it helps to have rooms cut from the same cloth. Perhaps, literally. That's because one key to constructing a house that seems well-designed and harmonious is creating a through-line from space to space. And you can do that by choosing a specific motif for the entire house. "An overall 'theme' or design aesthetic is essential in decorating your home," Sammy van Blommestein, co-owner of Boxwood Home Staging & Design, said in an exclusive interview with House Digest.

Though you may relish the chance to try out different trends in different rooms, playing around too much with various styles can make a space feel disjointed. "While it might be fun to decorate each room differently, having a cohesive theme actually provides the best results," van Blommestein noted. The trick is to sit down and pick your preferred home aesthetic — whether it's farmhouse, mid-century modern, eclectic, or traditional — and finding a way to incorporate that motif into each room. If you can't decide on just one, you can also combine two — such as eclectic and traditional. Just make sure that the combo is repeated from room to room. Not sure how to do that? Our design expert is here to explain.

When it comes to repeating your theme throughout the house, there are several things you can do. The first is to "pick a consistent color palette" and "repeat materials or textures" from room to room, advises Sammy van Blommestein in an exclusive interview with House Digest. While there are tons of 2026 official paint colors of the year, this step isn't just about choosing a trendy hue or zeroing on fabrics that catch your eye. Instead, study the motif you like and see which colors and textures frequently pop up. For instance, in MCM homes, you constantly see terra cotta, dark, rich woods, stainless steel, and pops of red, orange, and green. But in transitional homes, you usually see textures like natural wood grains, linens, and rattan, as well as hues like cream, blue, and gray. 

Once you have the colors and textures down, van Blommestein advises to curate "furniture and decor that all 'belong together,'" which means finding pieces within the same motif for the entire house. So if you have a traditional living room with a cream linen couch, Oriental rug, and antique coffee table, you want to make sure rooms like your kitchen and dining room have similar pieces, even if you don't have an open concept home. So no bohemian kitchen island stools here!

If you're not sure which theme you like, van Blommestein has noticed a few top trending motifs for 2026 that are consistently well done. One of these top trending themes is warm minimalism, she exclusively told House Digest. It focuses on using minimal furniture and decor items, but they are all carefully layered and high-end. These pieces focus on soft curves and inviting textures. "Pick warm whites, taupes, plaster, linen, wood, and bouclé," she advises.

If you prefer a look with antiques, van Blommestein suggests trying the trending "Modern Heritage" theme. Focusing on both traditional and modern decor, you'll want to select pieces that feel timeless, high-end, and like they could have been amassed over the years — whether passed down from relatives or collected from antique shops. "To achieve this theme," shared the pro, focus on "dark woods, brass and leather, vintage art, antiques, and heirloom pieces." The key, she added, is "making it look tailored but lived in." But no matter what style you select, "Have fun with it!" van Blommestein urged. "Remember design 'rules' are just mostly guidelines and good design breaks the rules but still stays on theme."