What is Eclecticism?
Originating from philosophy, eclecticism embodies the combination of different philosophies, ways of thinking, and disciplines. The Roman politician, lawyer, and philosopher Cicero was the most famous eclectic.
In art and architecture, eclecticism has been around for a long time. It refers, for example, to artworks or buildings in which various styles have been incorporated. An example of this is the St. Ètienne du Mont, built in the 17th century, with stylistic elements from Gothic, Classic, and Mannerism.
And what does eclecticism have to do with your furnishings?
As a furnishing trend, eclecticism - as in the historical interpretation - reflects a mix of different styles.As a style of furnishing, eclecticism can be seen, for example, in an old Persian rug, a modern grey sofa, a side table or cabinet in vintage style, and a black metal console. All elements combined in one living room. It's all about contrasts, interesting mixes, and the overall concept of the room.
With the lavish expression that an eclectic room takes on, this style of furnishing has a lot in common with Maximalism - and is suitable for people who have little use for minimalist and modern styles of furnishing.
However, not everyone is successful in implementing eclecticism skillfully. The wrong or too many details, an inappropriate mix of styles, or too many colors, and the living room quickly appears kitschy or overloaded.Therefore, we are revealing the best tips for implementing eclecticism as a decorating style.
Eclecticism: What you should consider when mixing different styles and designs
An eclectic living room is not just thrown together - even if it looks like it. The different styles and elements are placed with careful thought. Otherwise, the mix of different patterns and styles can quickly become chaotic.
At the same time, an eclectic decor means a lot of freedom: Do you like antique furniture? Eclecticism allows you to combine these with modern elements. So get grandma's old wooden secretary from the basement and say yes to the retro dresser from the flea market.
Here are some questions you should ask yourself before redesigning your living spaces:
- Which interior design styles do I want to combine?
- What colors do I want to use?
- Which patterns do I like best?
And the most important question: How do you combine your personal style mix into a coherent overall picture?
You can:
- Mix elements of different cultures
- Combine furniture from different eras
- Set accents with special, unusual and selected items
Here are our tips for implementing the eclectic interior design style:
- Colors should harmonize.Somehow. Eclectic rooms can be very colorful, yet the colors still harmonize. Choose a solid color concept and stick to it. A few elements may break out of this color concept.
- Create a calm base. Wall color and floor color should remain relatively neutral. White, gray or natural tones are suitable as a base. You can spice up walls and floors with pictures, wall decorations and rugs - and not too few of them.
- Choose three main styles. Boho, industrial style, Japandi, Hygge, vintage or baroque? Choose two to three interior styles and combine them. The cozy Hygge decor with metal furniture in industrial style? Opulent baroque-style decor with modern, straight-line furniture? Contrasts are not only allowed in eclecticism, they are desired.
- Opt for recurring patterns or accent colors. For example, the checkered pattern of the carpet can be repeated in a picture on the wall. Or on the patterned bedspread. The color of the sofa is reflected on the wall. This way, you create contrast points, but still visually connect the style mix. This thoughtful selection distinguishes eclecticism from a randomly assembled style mix.
- Say goodbye to the unnecessary. At least items that do not serve aesthetics should disappear from view. Instead, a colorful variety of decorative items comes to the surface.
- Design the center of the room in an unusual way. For example, through an unusual piece of furniture that visually stands out from the other furniture and the rest of the decor.Choose this focal point carefully - because you design all other elements around this accent point.
- A gallery wall for the brave. "More is more" is totally your motto? Then you can really let off steam with a gallery wall in your eclectic room. Choose special pictures with special picture frames and interrupt the gallery with elements such as a metal mirror, a climbing plant or a small wall shelf.
Combining metal furniture with different styles - here's how
Eclecticism can be combined with metal furniture and industrial-style furniture. Both the combination with cozy interior styles such as Japandi and Hygge, as well as with retro, vintage or classic elements is possible.
For example, combine metal chairs with a country-style wooden table, or place a metal coffee table in a cozy environment of fluffy and soft textiles. You can decorate a metal shelf with a baroque-style candle holder or a grand gold picture frame.
Do you want to combine your eclectic decor with metal furniture? At
