Eclectic interior design is a style that can be as modern or as traditional as you want. It’s a great way to express your personality in your home, and it works for any type of space—from large rooms with high ceilings to small spaces that don’t have much floor space.
Eclectic styling also gives you the freedom to mix different styles and pieces from all over the globe without feeling like you need to stick to one particular theme or color palette. If you’re looking for ways to incorporate eclectic decor into your home, check out the tips section below.
Understanding Eclectic Design
Unlike traditional interior design, eclectic design is a style of interior design that combines elements from many different styles. It’s popular because it offers the best of all worlds, creating an environment that’s both stylish and comfortable. If you’re considering eclectic design for your own home, here are some things to consider:
Eclectic design isn’t just about mixing up styles; it’s also about combining materials and textures. For example, you might use a mix of wood floors with granite countertops or leather couches with wool rugs. The idea is to combine items in unexpected ways, so they don’t look like they came from the same room.
One way to create an eclectic look is by combining modern furniture pieces with traditional ones—such as pairing mid-century modern chairs with an antique table or mixing industrial lamps with brass chandeliers. You could also use contrasting colors within a room or space; this can make elements stand out individually while still working together as part of one unified space (see below). Discover how to evolve your home decor from classic to eclectic with our latest post on Bohemian Style!
A Short History of Eclectic Decor
The term eklektikos, which originated in ancient Greece, means “to choose the best.” It was first used to describe how philosophers hand-picked the best doctrines that combined various beliefs from different schools of thought.
Eclectic design is a combination of different styles and elements. It can be defined as a mélange of disparate elements, which are often from different times or cultures. The style was popular during the Victorian era when people purchased items from places around the world. German art historian and archaeologist Johan Joachim Winckelmann first used the word “eclectic” in describing Annibale Carracci.
During this time, homeowners would collect a variety of furnishings that reflected their travels and interests—including artworks collected on trips abroad, as well as souvenirs acquired during other journeys across Europe or Asia. These eclectic collectors used their homes as showcases for these unique pieces in order to show them off to visitors.
Characteristics of Eclectic Style
Eclectic interior design is a style that mixes and matches different eras. You can use any style you want, as long as it’s a mix of things. There are no rules, just some guidelines—like if you’re going for an eclectic look, pick out pieces that are all different in some way (e.g., one chair might be modern while another is Victorian or Art Deco).
If you have an idea of what kind of furniture or decor pieces you’d like to add to your home, try incorporating them into your existing space—like reupholstering an old chair with fabric from another piece or using wallpaper from one room on the walls in another room.
You can also create an eclectic look just by using different types of materials: wood and metal; glass and marble; leather with plastic; brass with nickel plating; etc.
In summary, here are the characteristics of eclectic style:
- Mixed patterns
- Global influences
- Unexpected décor
- A mix of old and new
- Using a variety of graphic components
- Carefully curated
Tips for Decorating an Eclectic Interior
1. Use the Same Colors in Each Room
Eclectic interior design is also about consistency. If you want to create an eclectic look, use the same colors in each room. This will help tie together your home as one cohesive unit and not just a series of rooms that look like they belong in different houses. In addition to using the same color scheme throughout your house, make sure that your furniture and accessories are coordinated with your walls and floors.
The best way to get started on this project is by choosing a few colors and then working with them throughout every room in the house. You can do this by selecting a color palette with complementary or analogous colors like blue/green/yellow or red/orange/yellow—or choose contrasting colors, such as blue/green or red/orange if you want something bolder!
Just be sure that every room has at least one wall painted in each color from your palette, so there’s some consistency between them all; otherwise, it might feel like too much variety for one space too small.
2. Play with a Variety of Textures
Eclectic interior design is all about playing with different materials, colors and textures. So you should use a variety of textures in the same room or even in different rooms. For example, if you have a wooden floor in your kitchen, try adding some rugs with different patterns and colors to break up the wood. If you want to keep it simple with just one material (like hardwood floors), add some softness by using area rugs instead of carpeting. Some other ideas for textural additions are: adding throw pillows with different patterns on your sofa; placing artwork on walls that has an abstract feel; or hanging up curtains with interesting prints or stripes.
If you’re going for a traditional look—with earthy tones like greens and browns—try incorporating more modern elements by using contemporary furniture pieces that have clean lines instead of ornate ones (for example, chairs with simple legs instead of ornate carving). This will give your room more visual interest without sacrificing elegance! Continue your interior design adventure. See how texture can add depth and interest to your spaces.
3. Blend Styles to Create Unique Spaces
Eclectic interior design is based on the idea of mixing styles. This means you can mix different genres, eras, and even individual pieces of furniture to create a space that reflects your personal style.
For example, why not incorporate classic pieces into your eclectic abode if you have a collection of mid-century modern chairs and art? You could use more traditional furniture in the living room or dining area and then add some modern accents. This will help you create unique spaces that reflect your personality but still maintain an overall style or theme for each room in the house.
4. Find Furniture that Spans Centuries
One of the best ways to make your home feel like an eclectic gallery is to use furniture that spans centuries. Look for pieces from different eras, countries, styles, and materials. For example, if you’re going for a 1960s feel in your living room, add some 1940s chairs and 1940s rugs.
If none of this makes sense to you yet, just think about how when we look at art galleries, we love seeing lots of different types of paintings hung together—even though they were made by different artists during different time periods! It’s super interesting to see how these artists interpret reality differently.
This same concept applies equally well to interior design: when people look around at eclectic interior space, they’re more likely to notice all kinds of interesting details—things like patterned wallpaper or vintage posters on the wall—because there are so many other things happening in the room compared with a more “traditional” decorating style which usually relies less heavily on wallpaper or posters as focal points.
5. Mix New and Old
Mixing new and old is a great way to create an eclectic look. Don’t be afraid to mix styles, materials, and colors when incorporating different elements into your space. You can mix modern and classic furniture or vintage and modern pieces. Mixing new and old is not only fun, but it also adds personality to your home décor.
It’s important to keep in mind that, as with any style of decorating, mixing eras can be risky if not done correctly. When using vintage furniture (and sometimes even antique furniture), it’s important to pay attention to the condition of each piece before deciding where it will go in your home. If the piece isn’t in good shape, you may find yourself having to invest time or money into fixing or restoring it before you can use it—and once restored or repaired, it may not look as good as when originally purchased.
6. Gallery Wall
A gallery wall is a great way to give your living room an eclectic look. It can be as simple as a few photos or as complex as a collage of all different shapes and sizes. The key to creating a customized gallery wall is choosing pieces with multiple elements that tie them together.
For instance, if you choose three black and white photos, consider adding a metallic frame or a piece of art with black and white stripes to complete the look.
There are many ways to create a gallery wall:
- Use one focal point as the centerpiece of your gallery wall, and then fill in with smaller pieces around it. This creates visual interest while still allowing each piece on the wall to shine.
- Use frames in different sizes, colors, and materials to create a cohesive look that doesn’t clash with your other decorating choices. For example, if your couch has wood accents, keep them consistent throughout so everything looks unified.
- Use the same style of frame for all items on your gallery wall so that they blend together visually without looking too matchy-matchy (which can come off as tacky).
7. Go Wild with Plants
Plants are the perfect way to add life and color to any room, but they’re also great for adding texture and depth as well. Whether you prefer a tropical feel or want something more traditional, there are plenty of plants that will fit your home’s style. Just be sure to choose plants that grow well in low light conditions if you live in an apartment or condo!
Conclusion
Eclectic design is not just a time-saving trend; it’s also a great way to create an interesting home. It can be intimidating at first, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll never look back!