What Makes an Eclectic Room?

Why limit yourself to one style? More often now, people are describing their personal design preference as "eclectic", meaning they like to use a mixture of elements from different design styles. Personally, I find myself leaning toward traditional design at times, and contemporary at others -- but then I also love the elements of Arts and Crafts, Tuscan and so on. But that doesn't mean an eclectic home has to be a hodge-podge of different styles, themes and schemes.

So, then what makes an eclectic room?

Eclecticism is about combining pieces from different design eras that have commonalities, whether in color, texture, shape or any other similarity. To keep the decor true to the eclectic style, the range of pieces should be no less than two eras apart -- this will give the overall look a greater contrast.

Colors in an eclectic room

While the color palette can be anything you choose, it is best to ground it with a lot of neutrals. Use them as a backdrop to help tie all the elements together. White, cream, taupe, gray, black and brown are all good neutral colors for an eclectic home. Add a little color with red, gold or even a small amount of something bolder to add variation to the decor.

Ideas for mixing furniture

Since the eclectic style is more about mixing than matching, it's acceptable to combine modern with traditional furniture. Just keep in mind that while all of your chosen pieces should have some contrast, they should also have something in common. They should all relate to one another in some way: color, texture, pattern, scale, finish or shape.

How to use fabrics in an eclectic room

There can be a multitude of fabrics in the room with different patterns, colors and textures. Use a neutral scheme as your starting point, and expand with a fresh color or pattern in different areas of the room. Remember to add texture and variation with tassels, fringe and don't be afraid to mix rough textiles with more elegant fabrics.

The finishes and accessories

Combine refined surfaces with casual, worn pieces. Again, you can mix and match common elements with contrasting ones. For example, a lamp with a bronze base might be similar in style to another light fixture in the room, although the finishes vary, while a nearby mirror has a similar bronze finish. Add unexpected elements to an eclectic room -- odd, one-of-a-kind items that you might have picked up while traveling or at a thrift store.

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