When it comes to interior design, it's all about the art of the mix. Layering in piecesof different materials, from different erasmakes for a much more interesting and personal point of view than a buy-it-all-in-one-weekend trip to the big box store. (This acquired-over-time approach is also a hallmark of the slow decorating movement, which is a design tactic that has been garnering more interest as of late.)Annie Schlecter for Country LivingA wicker sofa paired with an antique coffee table helps helps warm up a Texas porchHowever, when it comes to our outdoor living spaces, the matching set mindset still tends to reign supreme. Even though we theoretically know better, we're quick to snatch up coordinating furniture in the name of convenience. Martin SolystVintage chairs paired with a wooden table make for a more casual, kick-up-your-feet mixDavid Tsay for Country LivingWicker dining chairs with curved backs help soften the rectangular silhouette of a teak table.Roger DaviesThis California cottage continues the cozy onto the porch thanks to antique furniture and a plate collection on the wall Recently, though, we're seeing more and more designers and homeowners applying the mix-and-maybe-don't-match approach to outdoor settings, and our only thought is: Why haven't we been doing this all along? This is not a case against buying new, but rather a simple encouragement to apply the same thinking you'd bring to interior rooms to outdoor spacesthink more materials, softer silhouettes, and a few peppered-in antiques.Brian WoodcockOn an Alabama porch, weathered antiques reinforce the farmhouse feel. Dana Gallagher for Country LivingA Texas porch by designer Meredith Ellis features a mix of wood and wickerThis mix of materials aligns with a larger indoor and outdoor trend of "high texture decorating," says Daniel McCurry, co-founder of Father Nature Landscapes in Birmingham, Alabama, who adds that that texture was a hot topic at recent high-profile garden shows. "With the significant adoptions of technology in the early 2000s came a minimalist trend, but people are now getting their confidence back to place thoughtful pieces and differing textures, which helps make a space feel warm."Clare Horne, the owner of Nashville-based garden design studio The Grass Girl, is seeing a similar movement away from sterile. "My clients are increasingly moving away from modern, minimalist aesthetics and are instead embracing traditional furniture designs." If your outdoor living space is covered, you obviously have more flexibility here, but even the most exposed-to-the-elements of spaces can still utilize a mix of outdoor-friendly materials as opposed to all teak, all the time. You can still opt for a big box store table, but maybe skip the corresponding seating (if sold separately) in favor of something else entirelypreferably made of a different material or with a softer shape. Or perhaps you opt for a wicker sofa, but round out the seating area with wooden or metal chairs. We also love a good garden stool.Buff Strickland for Country LivingAn antique iron sofa, wooden coffee table, and rattan chairs help this outdoor space feel more like an extension of the collected interiorAs mentioned, antiques will also also go a long way toward helping an outdoor space feel more soulful and thoughtfully designed. While not everything can stand up to the elements, it's worth hitting up local estate sales for more weather-tolerant antique wares (wrought-iron pieces, metal gliders).David A. LandAt a Michigan vacation home, an antique robins egg blue table pairs beautifully with newer woven chairs.The ultimate goal is to infuse your outdoor spaces with as much soul, sentiment, and personality as your interiors. Just as nostalgia gardening prioritizes plantings tied to memory and meaning, this mix-it-up approach to outdoor design ensures your spaces will be a better reflection of you.Outdoor Furniture to Mix and MatchGreen Scalloped Side Table$599 at businessandpleasureco.comCredit: Business and Pleasure Co.VWPEYY Green Woven Outdoor Chairs (Set of Two)Credit: AmazonSERENA & LILY Trestle Outdoor Coffee Table$1,498 at Serena and LilyCredit: Serena and LilyBlue Garden StoolNow 25% Off$279 $209 at ballarddesigns.comCredit: Ballard DesignsOutdoor Settee$1,349 at RejuvenationCredit: RejuvenationCarved Outdoor Dining Table$1,899 at greenrow.comCredit: GreenrowWovendale Rocking Chair$459 at polywood.comCredit: PolywoodDovecove Tiered Round Drink Table$139 at WayfairCredit: WayfairOutdoor Bistro Dining Chair$149 at Pottery BarnCredit: Pottery BarnRonde Teak Outdoor BenchNow 96% Off$799 $33 at RejuvenationCredit: RejuvenationBowie Metal Outdoor Bench$1,699 at Pottery BarnCredit: Outdoor BenchHighland Dunes Woven Armchair$250 at WayfairCredit: WayfairRachel Hardage BarrettRachel Hardage Barrett is the Editor-in-Chief of Country Living. She can't pass up a vintage seascape, drives an '89 Woody Wagoneer (that is, when it'll start), and hopes to buy you a lemonade at a future Country Living Fair.