How to Pull Off the Eclectic Design Aesthetic
DESIGN
STORY BY VIRGINIA BESHEARS
“Eclectic design” refers to the practice of mixing elements from different design eras and styles. That’s a bit broad, to say the least. Eclectic rooms are a feast for the eyes, but the style can be hard to pin down and master simply because of how expansive it is.
Good eclectic design is more than just mixing lots of elements. The best eclectic spaces feel surprising and remarkable due to the juxtaposition of eras and styles. They showcase the breadth of the designer’s taste, while still maintaining a sense of unity and coherence.
It also happens to be my personal favorite interior design style! To me, it's the style that most lends itself to bringing personality and charm.
Below are examples of eclectic design in ORC rooms, plus tips and ideas for bringing the eclectic look to your space.
VIA THE PINK PAGODA
What makes eclectic design so appealing?
The magic of eclectic design is juxtaposition. When you place a super modern glass table next to traditional shield-back chairs, the contrast creates visual interest and tension in the best possible way, and the end result feels unexpected, original, and personal.
Also, eclectic spaces tell a story. Unlike rooms where everything came from the same place, eclectic design showcases the breadth of your taste and the hunt behind each piece.
The key is making it look collected over time
This is the most critical element of successful eclectic design. Your space should look like you've been curating it for years, even if you haven't.
Yes, it's convenient being able to order a whole room's worth of decor from one store and have it arrive together. But if you're going for eclectic, that's exactly what you don't want. Matching sets are the enemy of this aesthetic.
If you don't actually have years to build up your collection, a big antique mall is your best friend. You'll get the benefit of dozens of different vendors in one place, which naturally gives you variety in eras, styles, and provenances. Facebook Marketplace and estate sales are also gold mines for this exact reason.
The pieces of furniture we love the most are usually the ones we spent ages hunting for, waiting for just the right one to come along. That patience shows in the final result.
VIA JANA DONOHOE
How to keep things cohesive
So, how do you make sure elements from different styles will look ok together? If one end of the spectrum is “bought everything at the same store,” the other end is “threw random things together,” and we're trying to find the sweet spot.
Think of your design elements like themes in a book that should reoccur throughout. If you pair a modern table with traditional chairs, those two styles need to appear elsewhere in the room to create balance. Maybe you add contemporary artwork above a vintage credenza, or mix modern lighting with traditional textiles. This creates a deliberate pattern rather than a one-off that looks out of place.
Use accessories and smaller elements strategically to support your main furniture pieces. If you have a bold mid-century modern sofa, bring in a few smaller mid-century accessories (a lamp, a planter, some vintage books) to give it visual buddies. A buddy system creates cohesion and harmony while still maintaining that eclectic mix.
Just like you're mixing design eras, mix your wood tones too. Intentional variety reads as curated. Fabric is another excellent medium for adding diversity to your decor styles.
How much contrast is right?
The level of contrast in your eclectic space is entirely up to you. You can go ultra bold and pair a 1970s lucite coffee table with ornate Victorian chairs, or you can be more subtle and mix pieces that are only a generation or two apart.
Pairing elements that are more similar in style or era creates a less striking effect that still feels whimsical and collected. There's no wrong answer here, just different levels of drama. Eclectic spaces can also be as minimal or as maximal as you want.
Where to start
If you love the eclectic look but don't know where to begin, you have options.
You could start with research. Learning about furniture styles (the more specific the better; think art nouveau, federalist, arts and crafts movement) will help you identify what you're actually drawn to and what might pair well together.
Or, you could skip straight to shopping. Find a few statement pieces that can be the foundation of your room, then fill in around them with accessories that create balance and cohesion. Thrift stores are perfect for this stage.
Ultimately, the best accessories will always be the ones that make you happy, because that's what will infuse your space with personality and make it unique.
There really is no one right way to do eclectic design. It all comes down to what you love, what your favorite styles or eras are, and how you want to pair them. The best way to find your own eclectic style is to try different things and see what works for you. Have fun with it!
