What Is Eclectic Interior Design & How to Recreate This Style at Home
Fill your space with styles you love.
With plenty of artistic expression and personal style, eclectic decorating reflects all of the types of design that you love. Eclectic interior design finds a way to incorporate pieces from a variety of aesthetics – from classic to contemporary – and seamlessly blends these pieces into one space. Keep reading to learn more about eclectic design and find some simple ways you can bring this style to your home.
What is Eclectic Interior Design?
If your decorating style doesn't fit neatly into one category, eclectic interior design might be the perfect match for you. This design style borrows from a wide range of styles to create a space that feels uniquely tailored to your taste.
Rather than being classified by style guidelines or trends, eclectic interior design is made from a mix of colors, patterns, textures, and silhouettes. Eclectic style can borrow sleek mid-century sofas, boho textiles, vintage-inspired wallpaper, and unexpected art to create a truly unique home. The mix of pieces can carry your design through different times and styles, which allows you to experiment with layers of visual interest and find a playful balance of aesthetics.
Key Characteristics of Eclectic Decorating
While eclectic interior design has no formal rules, there are some key elements that tie this style together. Think of layered textiles, bold silhouettes, and borrowing from a range of styles. To help you perfect this look, we've outlined a few ways to introduce this style into your home.
1. Layer Colors & Patterns
When it comes to eclectic decorating, there are no limits to which colors or patterns you can choose. We love how eclectic style can create layers of patterns that you might not have paired together. An easy way to style different patterns is to choose a mix of clean-lined and organic patterns, such as combining stripes with florals. However, we recommend choosing a color palette first to make sure the space feels intentional rather than cluttered. In the photo above, we love how the pared-down color palette focuses on shades of blue to complement the warm neutral tones.
A key feature of eclectic design is choosing decor pieces thoughtfully. While eclectic style may feel like a "more is more" approach, we recommend picking decor that truly reflects your style. Focus on filling your shelves or styling your coffee table with pieces that you love, such as your favorite books or a sculptural table lamp.
Texture is an excellent way to add visual interest to your eclectic-style space. Try layering textiles with different textures to elevate your bed. Play with a variety of textures, such as a quilt with diamond-shaped stitching or a smooth velvet duvet cover. Finish with a cozy throw blanket draped across the bottom of your bed, or tuck a small throw pillow in front of your bed pillows for added flair.
Bring a layered feel to your space with furniture that feels like it's from a different decade. With eclectic decorating, it's easy to juxtapose traditional designs with more contemporary silhouettes. Start with a piece with more classic features, such as tufted upholstery or carved details. Add another piece of furniture that has modern elements like a sleek metallic finish or a wavy organic shape. This contrast will give your home a curated look that spans different time periods.
If you want to design an eye-catching space, start with a statement piece. This could be a sofa in a bold pattern, an angular coffee table, or a light fixture that is as beautiful as it is functional. Remember, even with eclectic style, it's best to choose one statement piece rather than filling your room with statement pieces, so that you can let the one statement piece shine.
Another way to pull an eclectic space together is to use similar shapes throughout the room. This can help bring a cohesive element to the space even though the silhouettes may be from different styles. With the picture above as an example, we love how the round shades of the sputnik-style chandelier are the same shape as the wall mirror and wall sconce.
Because eclectic style doesn't adhere to specific styles or shapes, you can combine pieces from any design style that you like. Pair a tufted traditional sofa with a streamlined mid-century modern coffee table, or add sleek modern light fixtures to sharpen a soft floral wallpaper. To keep the overall look cohesive, opt for pieces that share similar features. For example, the industrial dining table in the photo above has a similar wood tone as the chairs. Even though the chairs have a more boho feel, the matching wood tabletop adds the feeling of thoughtful coordination.
Art is one of the best ways to infuse eclectic style into your home. Whether you prefer family photographs, paintings, or framed prints, you can display all of your favorite types of wall art together for an eclectic mix. Create a custom gallery wall with pieces of art and experiment with the size and orientation of your frames. Or install a picture ledge to lean a collection of framed art and find endless artistic freedom in arranging and rearranging your collection.
Give your space an eclectic upgrade with a unique piece that feels true to your style. While statement lighting or a stunning sofa work well as focal points, interesting companions like a cozy area rug or an unexpected side table can add a well-curated feel. Look for pieces that stand out from other styles within the space, or opt for a one-of-a-kind design that takes your home to the next level.
In addition to statement pieces, the finishing details are what makes eclectic interior design feel more personal and polished. Look at ordinary elements and elevate them slightly. Choose blinds with a colorful trim that matches another piece in the room for an extra pop of color. Keep a vase of fresh florals or a leafy houseplant on the nightstand for some natural beauty beside your bed.
