Eclectic interiors bring about a level of personality and intrigue that you just can’t get when shopping for furniture under one roof. A timeless trend that oozes character, embracing the eclectic trend is a great way to show off your unique pieces, trinkets and collectibles.
- What is eclectic interior style?
The definition of the word eclectic is ‘taking ideas from a wide range of sources.’ When you translate this into interior design, it literally means bringing together different pieces of furniture and accessories sourced from a range of places.
There may be heirlooms passed down between generations, flea market finds from far-flung travels and contemporary pieces from your favourite furniture shop. There is something inherently decorative and personal about the eclectic interior trend, as the way you decorate your space - and what you decorate it with - will be completely unique to you.
However, there’s a fine line between curated and chaos. Crafting an attractive eclectic space is an intentional and methodical process, it’s not a case of throwing any old things together. After all, the word eclectic comes from the Greek word eklektikos which translates to ‘selective.’ Below are some tips and tricks to help you create a design-led eclectic space.
1. Pick one piece to inform the rest of the room
The best way to avoid a chaotic or overwhelming feel is to focus on one piece in each room and draw inspiration from that. For example, you might have found a patterned wallpaper or fabric that you’re obsessed with (and patterns are a fantastic way to create an eclectic feel…) So, start your design process with that fabric or wallpaper, building outwards from the colours, style and design on the paper/fabric.
In the case where your chosen piece is something more specific, like an antique mirror, headboard or armchair, you should focus on bringing other elements to the room that echo that colour, style or design era.
2. Mix vintage with contemporary
While the design era of a certain piece might inform the majority of the room, there’s no reason you can’t mix that era with the contemporary one. For example, if your treasured accent piece is an antique ship-in-a-bottle, this would look great alongside a brand-new Marshall speaker or some industrial bar stools in leather and metal. It’s about distilling your blend of old and new to create something completely unique and personal.
3. Add in your heirlooms
Great news - your Nan’s treasured tea set gets a new lease of life by going on display atop your mid-century bookshelf. That standard lamp that was there when you bought the house can come down from the attic and repurposed with a statement shade in a bold colour. Whether you’ve inherited an accent armchair from the Bauhaus or you’ve collected some charity shop treasures over the years, it’s time to look at them in a different way and asses where they can sit best in an eclectic environment.
4. Make it personal
At Where Saint’s Go, we’re big believers that you should be able to feel your personality the second you walk through your front door. Whether that’s through photographs, mementos or statement patterns and colour - it doesn’t matter. Don’t buy things for the sake of decoration - choose things that resonate with your personality and taste. If you can, opt for things you already have and only buy things to show them off. For example, give your crystal decanter the space it deserves by buying a drinks trolley, bring those family photos front and centre with a new photo frame and drape that colourful patchwork quilt over a statement accent chair.
5. Retain negative space
What is negative space? It’s the ‘plain’ parts between your accent pieces. In order to keep that ‘curated’ feel, you should keep pockets of negative space to break up the colour, patterns and ‘busy-ness’ of an eclectic interior. These negative spaces can be areas of wall and large furniture items such as sofas and beds. An easy way to ensure they remain calm is to keep them neutral and build your eclectic vibe from individual statement pieces that can be moved around.
In summary: the basic principles of eclectic style
To wrap all of the above up into a neat guide of just three points, here are what we would consider to be the ‘golden rules’ of eclectic design:
● Mix visual elements of colour, pattern and texture
● With both modern, vintage and heirloom furniture pieces
● In a way that feels curated, not chaotic - by keeping those negative spaces calm.