The Eclectic Design Style

The best way to describe eclectic design style is that it's a hodgepodge of various styles and influences. Elegant and modish, this design style isn't necessarily about being messy or low maintenance, instead, it entails creating a home that reflects your unique personality and interests.

Eclecticism is often considered one of the most complex and challenging styles to pull off effectively. If you don't stick to the right formula, your home might end up looking chaotic. However, there are plenty of great examples that can serve as inspiration for your own decorating ideas.

Eclectic Style Architecture

Modern-day eclecticism is a celebration of what it means to be an individual. By combining different ideas, you can create a design that speaks directly to your tastes and personality. This means there are no rules when you're creating an eclectic design style, just guidelines on how to do it successfully. If your choices are unique and true to yourself, any number of them could work together in harmony.

Exterior roof dormers
Open floor plan
High raised ceilings
Most eclectic homes usually have two or more stories
Rustic-meets-modern approach

Eclectic Materials

The materials you choose to furnish your home can greatly influence your home's decor. Use an eclectic design style with a variety of building materials such as stone, concrete, metal, and glass. Combining many different textures will help keep each room interesting while still maintaining a cohesive aesthetic. Moreover, don't be afraid to mix low-cost and high-cost materials in your decorating scheme.

A mixture of compact and hallowed bricks
Metallic beam or wooden floors
Ceramic tiles
Concrete
Glass blocks

Eclectic Colors and Finishes

Colors and finishes don't need to match to work together. Mixing textures like fur, velvet, leather, and metal give your home an eclectic look that catches attention. If you don't want to take such a big risk, select just one finish or color to use as an accent. You can easily create a focal point by using contrasting colors in one small area of your home. For example, you can combine bright green with reds, blues, and grays in a large room.

A mixture of colors and patterns
Varying palette
Stick with a few neutrals
A combination of various textures and finishes

Eclectic Furniture and Decor

Mixing up your furniture is best for designing an eclectic look in any room. Some spaces will naturally lend themselves to a more eclectic style, like a kitchen or home office, but even bedrooms can benefit from a little mix and match. For example, mix modern pieces with old styles to achieve that shabby chic look. Just make sure not to overcrowd your furniture and accessories. Otherwise, you'll end up with clutter instead of an eclectic space.

Antique desks
Large art prints
Vintage items
Furniture or decorations with colors and patterns that complement each other
Several smaller furniture pieces that fit together well to avoid any dominant color or theme.

Eclectic Lighting

There are no hard-and-fast rules when it comes to putting together an eclectic lighting scheme, so trust your eye and try as many varied styles as you want. Use an assortment of antique lamps and pendant lights, but keep in mind that they should complement each other. If you're going for a cohesive look, choose lighting with similar shapes and finishes.