Decorating in an eclectic style may not be for everyone. We are still talking about a bold style, which travels on a subtle border with kitsch. If you prefer not to risk and focus on less demanding designs, we understand it. But if you’ve decided to take this risk and want a memorable home, you’ve come to the right place.
To furnish in an eclectic style you need imagination and a bit of healthy madness, but that’s not all. There are a few simple rules to avoid becoming tacky. Read the article to find out what they are and dive into a world of new colors and shapes:
- Eclectic style meaning
- Furnish in an eclectic style with little
- Guidelines of the eclectic style
- The kitchen in an eclectic style
- The eclectic living room
- The bedroom in an eclectic style
Eclectic style meaning In the dictionary
entry ” eclectic ” you will find the following definition:
“ranging in various fields, which is successfully dedicated to different activities; versatile; heterogeneous.”
The definition also lends itself quite well to design. The eclectic style is in fact a mix of colors, shapes and objects belonging to different styles and eras. This means that there is no codified furniture, with characteristics that are always the same and repeatable. Rather, we are talking about a principle that can be applied in a personal way and governed by a few guidelines . This is why it would be more correct to speak of eclectic styles in the plural: each house is a world of its own.
The concept of eclectic furniturewas born in England at the end of the 18th century, but developed in the mid -19th century . Since then it has changed, incorporating the new elements of each era. At the beginning he mixed oriental and European furniture, furniture with a romantic and gothic flavor. Today we can find elements of pop culture, 70s fashion and Japanese furniture. Everything is up to the taste of the individual designer. Furnishing in an eclectic style with little
given its nature, furnishing in an eclectic style is a great way to recycle old furniture and accessories . You can use it as a pretext to use the table inherited from your grandmother, the chest of drawers found at the market and the paintings bought on the internet. In this way it becomes easier to save and furnish with taste.
Despite the undoubted “convenience”, you still have to set limits. Choosing one or more vintage styles allows you to take advantage of used or recovered furniture, bought cheaply. On the other hand, it increases the risk of creating messy and almost grotesque environments. Unfortunately the line between kitsch and eclectic is very thin.
If you only want to use reclaimed furniture for budget reasons, that’s fine. But try to follow the guidelines that we will cover in the next paragraph, even if it means making it harder to find the right furniture. Also, get help from friends and relatives: it will be easier to identify combinations that are a little too “daring”. Eclectic style guidelines Furnish in an eclectic styleit means combining very different colors and materials. Nevertheless, it should never lead to complete chaos: colors, materials and styles must always combine harmoniously . Otherwise, you risk having confused and oppressive environments.
To furnish a home with this style, follow these few tips.
- Choose neutral colors for the walls , such as white or cream. When you use very colorful furniture and accessories, you need a base that highlights them and relaxes the eye. A red wall with green and blue furniture might be a little too much, for example.
- Work out a color scheme . As daring as the combinations may be, they must still be pleasant. You can’t throw random colors into the room under the guise of eclectic style . He therefore uses a bold yet limited palette, which gives cohesion to the different elements. If you don’t know where to start, start with the furniture you already own and help yourself with the color schemes available on the internet.
- Play with textures . It allows you to use a limited number of colors without being boring. For example, brown can be that of leather, wood, paint …
- Insert a focal point , which attracts the eye and around which everything else revolves. It can be a piece of furniture or a painting, depending on the room you want to furnish in an eclectic style .
The kitchen in an eclectic style
As you will have understood, there is no single kitchen in an eclectic style : the solutions are as many as the heads that conceive them. Nonetheless, they all have in common an opulence far from minimal style.
It all starts with a fundamental choice: how impactful the composition of the kitchen
is. On the market you will find brightly colored lacquered kitchens, with bright red or yellow doors. Others are done in less vibrant colors, but are rich in carvings and decorations. Once this is defined, you can decide how to move with the table, chairs and accessories.
If the composition of your kitchen in an eclectic styleand very lively, you can bet on a slightly more rustic table. Tables are available in natural wood, treated with water-based paints and which maintain the beauty of the original grain. Otherwise, you can choose a discreet table and composition, enriched with lively accessories.
As mentioned above, you need a central element to maintain a certain order. In the case of a kitchen, it can be a retro hood or a peninsula equipped with a suspended hood, perhaps decorated with aromatic plants. The eclectic living room
The eclectic living room is perhaps the most typical example of this style, in which the ordinary and the unusual go hand in hand. It is easy for you to already have your core element to use. It can be astone fireplace , a sofa with important lines, a very large or very lively painting. It depends on you. Either way, try to keep a balance between sharp lines and bright décor.
Let’s say you already own a classic sofa, perhaps in leather and with a rather severe air. To use it without making the room too heavy, liven it up with colorful ornamental cushions . You could combine them with a modern armchair, which creates contrast and continuity with the sofa. The brown of the leather could return to the wood of the table and chairs, plain or upholstered.
An additional focal point for the eclectic living room can be the carpet. A carpetvery large and very colorful it goes well with white tables, chairs and sofa. To break the monotony and recall the carpet, you can use cushions and upholstered fabrics of the same colors. It is also an opportunity to combine romantic-style chairs and an ethnic rug. The bedroom in an eclectic style
The bedroom is the most intimate room in the house, perhaps the one that goes best with the eclectic style . In fact, it offers you the possibility to give your personality to the room, making it even more welcoming.
If you want to furnish the bedroom in an eclectic style, the natural focal point and the bed. It can be a canopy bed, with an important personality in itself. You can also use a romantic wrought iron bed, enlivened with ethnic quilts and pillows. Otherwise, you can focus your attention on a very eye-catching hanging chandelier.
