Incorporate Eclectic Decor in Your Home

When it comes to design, the word "eclectic" means a mixture of decoration from different textures, time periods, styles, trends, and colors. It's a deeply personal style that uniquely represents the individual who designs the room. However, there's a very thin line between a tastefully eclectic room and one that is messy and chaotic. If you're looking to step away from more traditional decoration, eclectic decor might be for you. Read on to learn how to successfully incorporate beautiful, eclectic decor into your home.

One Key Style

Eclectic rooms look like a giant combination of everything all at once to the untrained eye. However, they're not as random as you might think. Designers build beautiful, eclectic spaces around one specific decorating style. The other styles take on supporting roles in the room. This is how you make sure that things don't look too messy or chaotic. When decorating, you want to frame everything around your focal point.

Texture

A brilliant way to successfully connect different decorating styles is to include textures that are similar to look at. A nice look for an eclectic room would be to have different design elements, like lampshades and window coverings, made from similar fabric. A nice upcycled bamboo would tie an otherwise haphazard room together. Or tie in a beautiful plush rug with a plush accent pillow as well.

Don't Over-Decorate

When you add too much stuff or too many different design ideas, your room can start to look chaotic. A similar color scheme is a great way to bring together otherwise unrelated eclectic elements. And remember: start with the basics and add on slowly so you don't overwhelm the room.

Keep Your Foundation Neutral

Eclectic style tends to bring together many details from a lot of different styles. It's a good idea to allow the backdrop behind these pieces to remain neutral. This is a good idea in general because it allows you to redecorate the room without having to repaint it each time.

But, If You Need That Color...

If you're not into the idea of keeping your foundation completely neutral, pick a neutral foundation and one signature accent color. When you stick with a simplified accent color, you can open yourself up to a ton of other pieces you might not have considered otherwise. But keep in mind our earlier tips when choosing an accent color. Pick a color that works with other pieces you've chosen so that the elements will tie together.

Patterns

Don't be afraid to work with patterns, either. Just make sure that you keep them within the palette, so you don't overwhelm the room. You can create a striking room combining patterns and abstract artwork with different tones and textures--as long as you keep your color palette in mind.

Surprise Yourself

Another great eclectic decorating tip is to set your favorite sentimental things out, but be bold about it. This is the perfect way to throw a ton of your personality into your decoration. You can even include things that are brightly colored that you might have otherwise avoided decorating with when creating your neutral backdrop. These will add pops of color and style to your neutral backdrop.

Continuity

It's so easy to link together refined furnishings, relaxed fabrics, glamorous finishes, and rough elements together when you link them all by color. All you have to do is keep it similar through the entire room. If you have a small room, mirrors in unexpected places, like a mirrored coffee table, are a great way to reflect the colors in your space to its advantage.

Mix Time Periods

But sometimes keeping with one simple color scheme just doesn't work for you. That's perfectly fine because an eclectic decor is all about infusing yourself into a room. If you have decor or memorabilia from different time periods that you would like to display in one, cohesive room, allow them to take the spotlight by dulling down your themes elsewhere.

Display Away

If you love handmade, artsy furnishings, this style is perfect for you. If you have art you want to display, use smaller framed groupings or one large canvas to clearly define your work and recreation areas. You could even consider hanging rows of plain shelves along one wall and spice them up with a variety of different items that just wouldn't go together otherwise.

Put Yourself Into It

Do you have a hobby? Beer making, photography, sewing, knitting, biking, or literally anything else are all hobbies that would make wonderful design elements in eclectic decor. Decorate an old bike wheel with flowers and hang it on a wall, crochet pillow coverings, or hang up a faux menu of the different beers you offer in-house. Whatever your hobby is, there's room for it in your design space.

Think About the Mood

Think about the feeling you want your space to deliver. Are you aiming for formal or casual? Maybe you want something gothic and dramatic or bright and cheery? Whatever you pick, make sure that each of the different design elements you bring in will add to that mood instead of detracting from it.

Think About the Layout

When you're doing so much planning on the colors and textures that bring the look together, it's so easy to forget about the basic layout of your room. But this is one of the most important elements. The layout is what allows your room to feel comfortable and inviting. So before you buy anything for your space, figure out exactly where you want the bigger furniture to go. If you don't have space for some of the elements, leave them out. The last thing you want is for your room to feel overcrowded.

Utility

While you're decorating, remember that you're supposed to actually live in this room. If that sofa you want doesn't look like something you or your family or guests would ever actually sit on, pass on it. Otherwise, what's the point? Baskets, drink trays, card tables, and bookshelves provide that cozy feel you want a room to have while giving you extra bang for your buck.

Decorate with Eclectic Decor

At the end of the day, you want your home to be a good representation of who you are as a person. And as people, we are multi-layered beings with many likes and interests, right? That's why eclectic decor is so perfect for many people. It gives them a chance to express this uniqueness in their home. Follow the few simple tips we gave you in this article and you'll have a beautifully eclectic space in no time.

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