Whether you’re working with a tight nursery budget or simply love that cozy, pieced-together look, mismatched furniture may be in your design future. So what’s the secret to getting that eclectic, “no-rules” look right? Well… rules actually. Need a few pointers? Put these three simple guidelines for coordinating mismatched furniture to work, and you’ll be mixing and matching like a pro in no time!

1. Create a Cohesive Look:

Unless you want your nursery to look like the sales floor at your local Goodwill, you need to find a way to mold those individual, one-of-a-kind pieces into one big, cohesive family.

When coordinating your collection, try to identify at least one unifying theme. For instance, you might choose to stick to a single style family or color. Employing common textures, such as wood or metal, and choosing pieces of a similar size and shape can also have a unifying effect. As long as you can find some common ground, it should all come together nicely.

2. Embrace Contrast:

Dramatically different is better than not quite the same. If you can’t find pieces that match well, opt for something completely different and find another way to pull the look together.

Have an old, wooden dresser that doesn’t really go with your new crib? Instead of feigning a match, try painting the dresser in a bold accent color pulled directly from your crib bedding. The contrast will create eye-catching drama while the common color palette ensures a well-coordinated result.

3. Don't Clutter Your Space:

There’s a fine line between “eclectic” and cluttered. You want your little one’s nursery to feel cozy and lived-in, not closed-in and claustrophobic, so don’t go nuts with the flea market finds.

Instead of filling the room up with unneeded furniture, opt for just a few, really interesting pieces that blend well. Remember: being eclectic is not about how much random stuff you have; it’s about how well you can tie that seemingly random stuff together.

For more pro-decorating secrets, check out these 11 Tips for Designing Magazine-Quality Kids’ Rooms.