As a child we moved around a lot, and honestly, I enjoyed it! Each new house we moved into; my mother always changed up the interior design. I lived in a home that was Spanish inspired, Glam with a lot of ‘mushaino’, Cabin fever with different types of wood and Modern with a homey touch. This woman exposed me to a world full of different design styles. So, it’s no surprise that as an adult, and designing my house, I gravitated towards Eclectic.
I personally gravitate towards-glam eclectic, which uses a more saturated and lively palette to create a more “glamorous” and vibrant feel. Truth be told, an eclectic design approach can be difficult to achieve. The best way to describe my taste is to check out the homes of Alicia Keys, John Legend, and Kendall Jenner; pure orgasmic magic.
Eclectic interiors are super trendy at the moment, and every magazine, TV show and blog have been showing you aspiring eclectic interior design to covet. But what exactly is eclectic style? To the untrained eye, it looks like it is merely a bunch of items that were randomly thrown together and magically worked. But if you have ever tried your hand at creating an eclectic interior, you may have noticed that it is not quite as simple as it looks.
Eclectic design style features a rich mix and match approach. A fusion of elements from different design schools that culminate in an unapologetic maximalist statement. In an eclectic home interior, everything is welcome and celebrated, no matter the time period, the style, or the motif.
How does one achieve this style without having your home looking like an antic store?
Mix and then Mix some more
Mixing prints, patterns, and textures is the foundation of eclectic design. Eclectic decor brings together different shapes, compositions, and design elements that normally wouldn’t complement each other to create an additional dimension or layer of interest.
Pick one go-to colour
A colour palette can help tie the many disparate elements of your room together. Choose a few colours to repeat throughout your design scheme. You can repeat these colours in your area rug, throw pillows, side tables, and floor lamps, especially if they’re from different design schools.
Fuse modern and traditional design elements
Eclectic design marries decor from different time periods. You might see vintage furniture paired with minimalist art of architecture. You might also see a mid-century modern style bathroom complete with French Renaissance accents.
Move your furniture.
The spirit of eclectic style is about more than the pieces you choose — it’s about how you use them. Try using a side table or chair as your nightstand, a nightstand as a side table, table as desk, desk as console and so on. There is no rhyme or reason to this; just put some music on and start moving things around to find out what works … you might surprise yourself.
Consider Negative Spaces
When it comes to an eclectic decorating style, know that your eye needs a place to rest. Keep some spaces on shelves and tables empty. It’s not just about what you display. Sometimes it’s about what you leave out. Edit, Edit, Edit… Paring down and giving the eye some white space to rest on will help make your home feel calm and a pleasure to be in.
Practice Balance
If your eclectic pieces don’t seem to be playing nicely together, take a quick head count and see how many items of each style you have in the room. When there is only one piece in a certain style, it can stick out more than if it had a little company. Make it a goal to find balance in scale and symmetry. Similar lines create design harmony, even if the pieces are different styles, textures, or from different periods.