The eclectic style in interior design. What does this style entail?

Eclecticism—or mixing styles—is the perfect solution for creative people who love big challenges. Don’t like following the same old patterns? Find out how to design an interior in this style.

The eclectic style doesn’t have any specific rules you have to follow. However, there are some guidelines worth keeping in mind. What do you need to know about this approach to interior design? We’ve got some tips!

Eclectic Style Then and Now

The trend of mixing different styles didn’t start yesterday. It’s worth taking a look at how this approach to home design has evolved.

Eclectic Furniture: The Birth of the Style

The eclectic style made its debut in interior design as early as the 19th century, though it differed significantly from the style interior designers use today. In the past, it was based on woodcarvings adorning furniture, inspired by art from various historical periods. The eclectic style of the past emphasized heavy furniture with beautiful decorations, arranged according to a fairly conventional layout. An extendable table in the center of the room, surrounded by eclectic chairs, with a chest of drawers or a sideboard along the walls—this is how the eclectic style looked in a living room until quite recently.

The Eclectic Style in the 21st Century

Contemporary eclecticism is free from rigid constraints, and interiors designed in this way are based on contrasts created by selecting furniture and decorations representing various styles and historical periods. Designing an eclectic interior is like putting together a puzzle, where a cohesive look is created from a mix of different accessories. An important task is choosing the furniture and accessories that will go into the room. Remember that too many of them will make the space look cluttered. Eclectic aesthetics are all about moderation, skillfully combining the old with the new, and making use of various textures, materials, and colors.

How to maintain cohesion in an eclectic interior?

The eclectic style features numerous contrasts, which allow you to achieve a stunning design effect. However, this interior design style requires moderation and finding a common thread among pieces of furniture and objects that—at first glance—seem to have nothing in common.

Choose a base style or a central theme

Combining different styles will be easier if you start your interior design process by defining a main theme or style that will serve as the starting point for your eclectic arrangement. Do you love to travel? Your home can be a great place to display souvenirs from your trips. Do you collect antiques? Make them the centerpiece of your modern interior. Or maybe you want to highlight the decorative appeal of retro furniture and showcase it against a minimalist backdrop? It doesn’t matter what you choose, but it’s important that the main theme isn’t overshadowed by other accessories.

A Color That Brings It All Together

Color schemes can also work well as a central theme. Light colors usually serve as the base, making it easier to avoid a cluttered look. However, a lot depends on the character of the room. While a light color works great in a bedroom, in the living room you can opt for slightly bolder color accents.

Avoid overly strong contrasts

If you want the interior to have a harmonious feel, avoid excessive contrasts. A table that’s too massive surrounded by light chairs isn’t a good solution in this case. Remember that creating combinations based on opposites requires a great deal of finesse, and even a small mistake can negatively affect the look of the entire room.

What guidelines should you follow while decorating?

Although the eclectic style is ideal for those who don’t like to follow strict rules, there are a few tips worth keeping in mind.

Here are the most important tips:

use a variety of materials that seem to clash at first glance. Patterned tiles and exposed brick may turn out to be the best way to create an eclectic kitchen;
Avoid matching sets. Let every pillow on your sofa look different, and replace a traditional throw with a patchwork one;
Don’t be afraid to mix patterns, colors, and textures;
use old furniture or mix and match different modular furniture pieces to create a sense of controlled chaos in your home.

The Eclectic Style in Your Home: Tips and Inspiration

Now that you know the most important guidelines to follow when decorating individual rooms, it’s time for some practical examples. What can eclectic style look like in different rooms?

What styles can you mix in eclectic interiors?

You have plenty of options, as there are no restrictions here. You can pair the Scandinavian style with boho, or you can spice up an industrial interior with accessories typical of the glamour style. Or maybe you’re wondering whether to combine retro and minimalism? If you avoid adding random pieces of furniture and properly emphasize the dominant style, you’ll achieve interesting results with any combination.

An eclectic living room?

An eclectic living room requires the use of different styles. How can you achieve this? Simply place contrasting pieces of lounge furniture next to each other. Let the sofa and armchairs be united by a sense of lightness, yet divided by color and style. Pair warm wood with cool brick; hang an industrial lamp above a classic table. Take advantage of the freedom to arrange your space as you like and create your own contrasts.

An Eclectic Bedroom: Where Can You Find Inspiration?

A room intended primarily as a place for rest and relaxation requires special attention. In this case, the interior design should center around a light color, such as white. So what contrasts can you use here? Place an old nightstand or a retro-style lamp next to a contemporary bed.

Eclecticism in a Modern Kitchen

A kitchen should be a practical and functional space, equipped with the right appliances. Want to go with modern-style furniture? Break up the monotony with an antique lamp or a natural wood table, and be sure to harness the decorative power of fabrics. With them, you can easily change the character of your kitchen interior and add variety.

Eclectic Style—What Does Barański Drzwi Offer?

An eclectic-style interior requires careful selection of all furnishings. When experimenting with combining furniture and accessories, don’t forget how much of an impact doors have on the final design. These are typically door panels with a fairly simple yet versatile design that will complement any interior and its accessories.

If high quality and durability are your top priorities, choose the Prestige B.1 model, which suits both modern and classic interiors. If you want to add a retro touch to an eclectic interior, consider the Retro B.1 model, which features a classic design. Or perhaps you’d like the doors to add a touch of modernity to a classic interior? In that case, the Classic A.2 doors are a great choice—they catch the eye with their milled panel and a frame featuring a very simple, contemporary design.

Eclecticism works perfectly in contemporary interiors. If you exercise creativity and restraint, you can use this approach to create a truly unique home. If you have a good sense of style, combining various design elements into a cohesive whole won’t pose much of a challenge. It’s important that beauty, comfort, and harmony come together here, and that the final result impresses with its cohesiveness.