5 Rules to Pull Off Eclectic Decor Successfully

A well-curated eclectic look demands a fine balance between several elements. Read on to find out how

Vinita Kunnath 29 December 2019

A Houzz India contributor, freelance writer, lover of the internet, travel, funny blogs and all things off-beat, with an eye for good taste and aesthetics. Home, not clothes, maketh a man.....or woman.

A Houzz India contributor, freelance writer, lover of the internet, travel, funny... More

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Designing with an eclectic approach can be a bit of a task – yes, the sky’s the limit and you practically have a free hand to do as you please, but the real challenge is in finding a method in the madness. While throwing rules and conventions out of the window can seem liberating initially, creating the right balance between contrasting colours, styles, textures and even eras, to achieve a tasteful setting needs to be carefully thought out. It is easy enough to be drawn into the vortex of a confusingly riotous mix of elements and end up with a look that could seem a touch tacky. An eclectic decor is one that is most uniquely ‘you’; these loosely interpreted guidelines should help you personalise your space the right way.

Design Box

1. Choose a core colour
Picking one definite main colour serves as a much-needed starting point. It becomes far easier to blend the various elements together when you have a go-to colour; this way you can continue to add new elements to your home. Whether you use a pale green or a muted blue, consistently return to it when decorating, for a cohesive look. The mint green in this image is the core colour which serves to complement and enhance the vibrant colours in the rest of the room.

INC Design Studio

A core palette holds the space together and brings a seamless overall look. Here, the ochre red serves as a unifying factor; it is the great equaliser in a room of mixed styles of decorative objects.

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Aamir and Hameeda Associates

2. Keep a balance
The perfect, non-OTT eclectic style is all about finding balance in scale and symmetry. It’s easy to get overwhelmed, given the freedom of limitless options that eclectic design propagates, but even if the pieces are of different styles and textures, or from different periods, a balance in lines and form is a must to create design harmony (in this image it would be the collection of similarly shaped square-framed photos or the group of round clocks).

P S Design

Set a limit to exactly how many varied elements (photos, cushions, decorative objects) you wish to include to maintain cohesiveness. The collection of framed pictures is balanced by the collection of varied cushons, and the massive sofa pulls together the old-fashioned gramaphone, cluster of pictures, day bed and chair. The rug balances the visual mass of the sofa, both in the same cool colour range.

Tip: Do not give in to the temptation of displaying everything at once. Take turns in rotating your favourite pieces.

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Shamanth Patil Photography

3. Build around focal points
Identifying a focal point when decorating with an eclectic style may be difficult, but necessary, in order to avoid a sense of clutter. Your eye needs a place to rest, given the numerous elements involved in this kind of decor. Your focal point should be the star of your room, such as an accent wall, a daring piece of artwork or accessories, like throws, rugs and decorative objects.

P S Design

Having a focal point keeps the design direction tightly edited. Plus, as a corollary to the previous rule, keeping the extravagant elements limited to accessories (like the gallery of photos in this image) allows you to switch pieces around to find a balance to your liking. Here, the gallery wall is the focal point, whose character you can change by moving frames about, or adding or subtracting pieces.

Get more ideas for eclectic decor from these images

SANJYT SYNGH

4. Be consistent
If you have decided to go with this particular design style, then go the whole hog. Eclectic style in spirit is of a varied nature, but make sure that it is reflected in each room throughout the house, or else your space will look incoherent. While this could be a rule for most decor styles, it stands more strictly for the eclectic style, which, in comparison to others, is one of limitless options in elements and covers a vast array of different types of design.

SANJYT SYNGH

The idea is to create a harmonious flow throughout the home without an abrupt change of style from one room to another, so that each room complements the other. Adding even the smallest doses of your chosen eclectic style throughout your home evokes a sense of visual harmony, thus avoiding a random look.

Tour this eclectic house

Mrigank Sharma Photography

5. Keep walls plain
To achieve the right balance in eclectic decor, it’s best to keep walls simple and straightforward (unless it’s an accent wall). Single-hued or neutral-hued walls create a solid foundation to bring in a mix of patterns, colours and textures via other elements. Adding vibrant accessories to a plain background stands out more and is easier to achieve, than adding plain accessories to a busy backdrop; you’ll have far a wider range to pick from.

Anushka Contractor

However, this doesn’t mean that you have to go with only light, neutral colours – dark colours work equally well. Darker shades add depth and warmth, while light colours make any space appear larger and brighter; but, both serve to highlight the eclectic style, which is characterised by a multitude of fabrics, patterns and art items.

Read more:
What Is Eclectic Decor & Is It for You?
20 Colourful, Eclectic Indian Homes

Tell us:
What is your favourite decor style and how have you achieved it? Do share in the Comments section below.