Are you captivated by the charm of mixing diverse styles, textures, and eras to create a truly unique living space? If your answer is yes, then you’re in the right place! Eclectic interior design is all about celebrating contrasts and creating spaces that reflect your personality and story. This style embraces the art of blending different elements to craft a harmonious and inviting atmosphere in your home.
At Rooms By Sandy, we specialize in transforming your eclectic visions into reality. Our expert interior designers are dedicated to helping you create spaces that are not only stylish but also functional and tailored to your needs. Whether you’re looking to incorporate bold patterns, vintage pieces, or modern furniture, we’ve got you covered.
Ready to embark on your eclectic design journey? Visit Rooms By Sandy and let us help you bring your dream space to life!
“One of my favorite design aesthetics is mixing old with new, handsome with feminine, etc. It takes combining elements with the right balance, color and emphasizing the right item. I would love to work with you on this eclectic style in your home!” – Sandy, Rooms by Sandy
What Is Eclectic Interior Design?
First, what exactly is this style? Eclectic interior design is the art of blending different elements from various styles, eras and cultures to create a living space that feels uniquely personal yet harmonious. The design process involves a structured and personalized approach that integrates project management and client collaboration to merge client visions with professional expertise. It’s about celebrating contrasts — mixing vintage with modern elements, rustic with sleek or bold colors with soft neutrals — to craft the perfect interior design style. It’s about telling a story through each piece, showing off your personality through bold colors and contrasting designs and home decor.
As renowned interior designer Miles Redd puts it, “Eclectic style is about mixing elements from different periods and styles to create something that is uniquely yours.” This approach allows for a deeply personal and creative expression in home design.
Think of eclectic design as a curated gallery where every piece has a purpose and personality, yet they come together to create a cohesive look. This style thrives on creativity, offering endless opportunities to experiment with patterns, textures and materials.
The eclectic style originated at the same time as eclecticism in architecture, which rose to stardom in late 19th-century Europe when architects from France’s Beaux Arts School and Britain’s Victorian masters were pushed to explore their creativity and play with varying design elements. Thus, eclecticism was born, and with it came a whole art movement that encouraged mixing features from various styles, cultures and historical periods to create an entirely new finish.
History of Eclectic Interior Design
Origins and Evolution
The eclectic style originated in late 19th-century Europe, coinciding with eclecticism in architecture. It emerged when architects from France’s Beaux Arts School and Britain’s Victorian masters were encouraged to explore their creativity and blend design elements from various periods. This movement gave birth to eclecticism, promoting the mixing of features from different styles, cultures, and historical periods to create entirely new aesthetics.
Key Influencers and Movements
The eclectic design movement has been shaped by various influencers and artistic movements over time. The combination of Art Deco, Mid-Century Modern, and Bohemian styles has all contributed to the eclectic aesthetic. According to the 1stDibs Designer Trends Survey, 33% of designers cited eclecticism as their guiding principle for 2025, indicating its growing popularity. Additionally, 24% of designers plan to incorporate more Art Deco pieces in 2025, further enriching the eclectic trend.
Do you have trouble narrowing down your design focus because you love a wide range of styles? You’re probably an eclectic interior fan. While you may have been made to believe that your eye for fashion is too crazy, we’re here to tell you that it isn’t! With balance and intention, this look can really work.
However, finding this yin-yang-like consonance isn’t for the faint of heart. If you lean too far to one side, your space can feel messy and disorganized. To avoid this, all you need to do is follow a few simple design rules, and voila: you have a home that screams fun while still being functional.
Want to get the look? Continue reading to learn how.
Key Elements of Eclectic Style
Mixing Furniture Styles
One of the defining characteristics of eclectic design is the skillful combination of furniture from different eras and styles. This might involve pairing a mid-century modern sofa with an antique coffee table or combining industrial-style lighting with plush, traditional armchairs. The key is to find a common thread – be it color, material, or form – that ties these diverse pieces together.
Creating a Gallery Wall
A gallery wall is a perfect expression of eclectic style. It allows you to showcase a diverse collection of art, photographs, and objects in a cohesive manner. Mix different frame styles, sizes, and orientations to create a dynamic and personalized display that reflects your tastes and experiences.
Drawing inspiration from various sources can enhance the gallery wall, making it a unique and personalized statement.
Incorporating Plants and Natural Elements
Adding plants and natural elements is crucial in eclectic design. They bring life, texture, and a sense of calm to spaces that might otherwise feel busy. Consider incorporating a variety of plant types – from large floor plants to small succulents – and natural materials like wood, stone, and woven fibers to add depth and organic appeal to your eclectic space.
Bringing the Design Pieces Together
Having an eclectic space requires balance. You don’t want your home to seem too busy or messy, but you also don’t want to get rid of items that you truly love. Use these tips and best practices to strike perfect harmony in your home:
Balance Eras, Movements and Cultural Influences
Take eclectic pieces from a combination of historical periods that you love, whether it be Art Deco, Gothic or 1990s minimalism, and find ways to put them together in surprising ways. For example, mix mid-century furniture with bohemian rugs or pair industrial lighting with classic Victorian-inspired details. The key is to ensure one element doesn’t overpower the others.
It’s important to note that a truly eclectic space must mix 3 or more styles while respecting the 4 interior design elements: balance, rhythm, scale, and proportion. This approach ensures a cohesive look despite the diversity of elements.
Layer Textures, Patterns and Materials Intentionally
A great room is one with cozy touches, like knitted blankets and patterned area rugs. The trick to nailing this is to use a combination of multiple types of materials and patterns. Rather than having just linen elements or only using rattan (even if those are beautiful textiles), create dimension and visual interest by opting for a handful of different textures that are both cohesive and stylish. Try combining a plush velvet couch with a woven jute rug and geometric throw pillows. Let each layer enhance another rather than take away.
Mix different textures and materials for a visually interesting finish.
Incorporate Statement Pieces and Personal Touches
Your room shouldn’t have multiple focal points. Instead, anchor your room with a standout piece, like a bold art print or a vintage cabinet. This builds a solid foundation for other diverse elements to stand on. Then, sprinkle in personal items like travel souvenirs or family heirlooms for a heartfelt finish. By having one place that your eyes are drawn to first, you avoid the claustrophobic feeling of having several pieces fighting for attention. Instead, each piece has its moment to shine by keeping your eyes moving around the room in an orderly fashion.
As interior designer Bunny Williams wisely states, “I like an interior that defies labeling. I don’t really want someone to walk into a room and know that I did it.” This philosophy encapsulates the essence of eclectic design – creating spaces that are unique, personal, and not easily categorized.
Maintain Cohesion With Color
Another way to make an eclectic interior design work is to stick to a consistent color palette to tie everything together through a combination of different hues. Now, this doesn’t mean you can only use one or two colors. In fact, it’s quite the opposite! If you already have a scheme that you’ve picked out, keep that in mind as you rearrange and decorate your living space. If an item doesn’t match within that scheme, it doesn’t make the cut.
If you don’t have a color palette selected, start by looking around your room. What colors appear more often than others? That will be your main hue. Then, pick two or three complementary colors for that shade.
Mix different textures and materials for a visually interesting finish.Color Theory in Eclectic Design
Selecting a Core Palette
When working with eclectic design, it’s crucial to select a core color palette that will serve as the foundation for your space. Start by choosing 2-3 main colors that complement each other and reflect the mood you want to create. These colors will be your anchors, appearing in larger elements like walls, major furniture pieces, or area rugs.
Using Color to Unify Diverse Elements
Once you have your core palette, use it to create a combination that unifies the diverse elements in your eclectic space. This doesn’t mean everything has to match perfectly. Instead, look for ways to repeat your core colors throughout the room in varying shades and intensities. This could be through accent pieces, artwork, or textiles. The goal is to create a visual thread that ties your eclectic elements together, making the space feel cohesive despite its diverse components.
Avoid Clutter
An eclectic style can get messy very quickly if the space is cluttered with too much stuff. To avoid this, always think about functionality as well as style. If something isn’t serving you or the room’s overall finish, don’t include it. Additionally, group similar items to create visual order and avoid overcrowding your home. This can help create negative space, which gives your eyes a rest in a busier room. Break everything up with a few neutral colors or blank spaces to ensure the house doesn’t look overwhelming.
Eclectic interiors work when you use design best practices for a cohesive look.
Common Mistakes to Avoid in Eclectic Design
While eclectic design offers great creative freedom, there are some common pitfalls to avoid:
- Overcrowding: Resist the urge to display every piece you love. Curate your collection carefully to maintain balance and prevent visual chaos.
- Lack of cohesion: Ensure there’s a unifying element, whether it’s color, texture, or theme, to tie diverse pieces together.
- Ignoring scale: Pay attention to the size and proportion of your pieces to create a harmonious overall look.
- Forgetting functionality: While aesthetics are important, don’t sacrifice comfort and practicality in your pursuit of style.
- Neglecting negative space: Allow for some breathing room between elements to prevent the space from feeling overwhelming.
Remember, as David Hicks famously said, “The best rooms have something to say about the people who live in them.” Your eclectic space should reflect your personality and tell your unique story.
Eclectic interiors work when you use design best practices for a cohesive look.How Rooms By Sandy Can Help
No one knows your space like you do. Similarly, no one knows home decor like an interior designer. That’s why it pays to partner with Rooms By Sandy; we know how to make any space look stunning without costing you more than your budget or taking longer than your timeline. Our clients get exactly what they want without the stress of doing it all by themselves. We offer comprehensive design services to ensure every detail is perfect.
Ready to bring your eclectic vision to life? Rooms By Sandy specializes in turning your design dreams into reality. Our professional decorators work closely with you to create spaces that reflect your style and meet your functional needs. Whether it’s figuring out how to incorporate eclectic home decor with modern furniture or fully redecorating your rooms with vintage pieces and bold patterns, we’re up for the task. Each project is managed meticulously to ensure client satisfaction.
