Surely, you’ve heard of minimalist interior design — a décor style that breaks away from the overly decorative to focus on simplicity through only a few accessories and a neutral color palette. But, sometimes, more is more. By contrast, eclectic interior design is defined as having no rules, often involving mismatched furniture, contrasting textures, bold statement pieces, and plenty of framed wall art. Eclectic design is anti-minimalism. In fact, it is often also referred to as “maximalism.”
While eclectic rooms are supposed to be full of art, color, and life, it can be easy to let your home become messy. To avoid turning your interiors into an eyesore, here are a couple of design principles to keep in mind as you curate your selection of home furniture and accessories.
Furniture: Harmony Through Contrast
To create unity in a busy room, stick to a core color palette when selecting your assortment of furniture. For eclectic interior design, bold and bright colors are favored over neutral hues — after all, the goal is to not be understated. Modern furniture, like bold monochromatic sofas and chairs, are kicking cream-colored couches and brown leather recliners to the curb.
Similarly, ornamental pieces like coffee tables, end tables, and lamps, which are not usually meant to draw your eye, stand out in eclectic interiors via a clever mix of materials. Mixing textures is encouraged in eclectic design, as contrasting woods and metals create intrigue in a space.
The living room is not the only room that gets to have all the fun. To furnish an eclectic bedroom, find a unique headboard and pair it with a contrasting nightstand. In addition, mixing and matching chairs at the dining room table is an easy way to show off your creative style.
Home Décor: Clutter with Purpose
There are hardly any rules when it comes to eclectic design, but rugs and throw pillows are essentially must-haves. Thankfully, these accessories don’t have to match in color, size, or texture. You can even experiment with layering — whether you choose to stack books as a centerpiece on your coffee table or use blankets, pillows, and rugs to create visual interest.
In terms of furnishings, patterns are a hallmark of eclectic interior design. Whether they adorn your walls, decorative pillows, rugs, ottomans, and throw blankets, patterns can add whimsy to a space and help anchor a color palette with a strategic combination of tones.
Since eclectic design invites a certain level of quirk, you may opt for some unique wall art. Gallery walls are perfect for eclectic interiors, as a collection of framed artwork and photographs can amount to a statement piece that draws the eye to more than one area — inviting dwellers and visitors alike to notice details and not just “the big picture.” But most importantly, a gallery wall is a great way to showcase your creativity. A diversity of picture frames (whether they differ in thickness, color, material, and shape) can add even more liveliness to your gallery wall. But to avoid overwhelming your space, make sure to take measurements of each item and map out the arrangement while minding the distance between each piece.
Pro tip: You may even add variety with non-framed art, including banners and hanging sculptures.
If you have a hankering for knickknacks (including figurines, ceramics, and other household ornaments), we suggest picking only a few. We like to abide by the Cantaloupe Rule, which encourages us to decorate surfaces in the home with objects that are no smaller than a cantaloupe melon to promote a less cluttered appearance.
If there is a mantra for creating an eclectic interior, it’s this: “Aim for fullness, but be sure to avoid messiness.”
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