The Louis XV chair is just the chair you need for guests in your office. It's one you don't use as often, so it should take up less space visually.

Style Secret: Methodical MismatchingEclecticism wears its lack of pedigree proudly and draws its energy from contrast. The trick is to find enough common ground to make a space gel. The dining area shown here weaves together a narrow palette and subtle shine, from the table to the frames to the chandelier. No two chairs match, but all of them have strong silhouettes and roughly the same proportions. Road-test it: The best way to master the medley: Dive in. Choose a few must-haves to anchor the space, then experiment with rugs, artwork, lighting, accents and other elements. Play light against dark, honed against glossy, rustic against elegant — but look for opportunities to create parallels. And be firm about editing; you can’t stuff every piece you love into a single room. When you find the right balance, you’ll feel it instinctively. But if you have doubts, try this trick: Snap a photo of your space, wait awhile, then study it. What shouts at you? Winnow out any discordant elements and try again.

This is eclectic modern at its best. It includes midcentury modern icons like the Ghost Chair paired with traditional furniture, an eclectic display of art and dollops of color against stark white. Beautiful.

Ultimately, that's what this is all about: taking control of your home instead of being subordinate to your possessions. For some, when we talk about minimalism, it conjures up images of stark interiors, the idea of not having enough or of things being taken away. To me minimalism is having what you love, but not a bit more than you can maintain. How that looks in your home may differ from how it looks in mine. It comes down to creating the home you long for. Life, like art, is all about removing and editing to make room for what you truly want and need.Next: Not My Precious Books! Pain-Free Ways to Declutter Your LibraryPrevious: 7 Tips to Get With a New Minimalist Mentality

Mismatched pictures that still work harmoniously, fun chandelier, more traditional table, don't like that chair.

wall collage, mix of traditional & modern

Methodical mismatching & repetition