Who says they even have to be dining chairs?

This year has marked the rise of the mix-and-match dining set, and we can't lie – they look pretty spectacular. It can seem like a trend reserved for designers and thrift shoppers, however, and not something we can try in our own homes. While chairs may look seemingly random at first glance, these dining sets still manage to look somehow unified. The key to pulling it off, it turns out, is picking one small common thread to stick to and diversifying all their other qualities. Here's a cheat sheet to help you bring this kitchen design trend into your own home:

Color
This can mean all your dining chairs are the exact same hue, or it can mean they all belong to the same color palette. Regardless, you can incorporate drastically different chairs into the same set if they have color in common.

Era
You can bring together chairs from completely different color families and styles if they come from a similar era, as they will often have similar lines and shapes.  If you're partial to a very modern or vintage look, this can be a great way to bring it to life in an eclectic and unexpected way.

Style
One of the most tried and true ways to mix and match a dining set is to buy the same chair in a variety of colors. This is a great method for beginners because it's fun and interesting but also foolproof.

Pattern
If you favor upholstered chairs, you can create a unified set by selecting one pattern to run with, such as florals or stripes. The patterns don't need to match exactly – they just need to be similar enough that a clear motif is present.

One very cool way to add depth to your dining area is by employing some serious contrast. Think modern, minimalist acrylic chairs placed across the table from a Victorian arm chair. The end result is totally unexpected, but somehow, it just works.