Some people enjoy the cohesive look of an elegant traditional home, and others love the clean lines of contemporary furnishings. If you are the creative type, you may be looking for an individualized approach using eclectic decor with an artistic flair. An eclectic look can incorporate traditional overtones, showcase your sophisticated worldliness and present a funky chic or ethnic vibe. Start with a matching bedroom, dining room or living room set, then add eclectic elements to personalize the room.
The key to eclectic decorating is to use a mixture of styles and influences. Strategic use of color and artwork can enhance the look. To avoid chaos with so many diverse elements, it is important to draw on unifying techniques like repetition and underlying themes like scale to tie everything together. Then add some remarkable artwork, furniture pieces like an accent curio, or your personal pieces, like an interesting collection of framed menus from around the world. The result is a striking, very individualized mix.
- Accessorize your Furniture: Create an eclectic look by adding eye-catching artwork and unusual colors. Try mixing it up by changing the upholstery to textured or patterned fabric, and integrate an appealing accessory like an elaborate mirror or clock.
- Add an Accent Piece: The easiest way to create an eclectic look is to add a sensational piece of accent furniture. Accent furniture is designed to attract attention and become a focal point of the room. A curio cabinet showing off a collection, an interesting credenza or an unusual coffee table can produce an instant eclectic look.
- Pay Attention to Balance: If you use a combination of traditional and contemporary pieces, pay close attention to balance in the room. Place tall next to short, and offset a large piece of furniture on one side of the room with a substantial piece on the other. A three to one ration, with three small accessories balanced by one larger piece, works well.
- Use Form for Contrast: Eclectic decor incorporates contrast, but with unifying factors. If you use different dining room chairs around your table, make sure they are all around the same dimensions. One trendy idea is to soften sharp contemporary furniture lines with curved pieces like rounded chairs, tables and accessories.
- Tie it All Together: Unify your eclectic room by blending elements like touches of bold color, possibly in the same hue with a variety of intensities, scattered all around the room. Another way to organize an eclectic room is to incorporate a unifier like a throw pillow to echo patterns or repeating shapes.
