9 Eclectic Style Mistakes to Avoid


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What is eclectic style, and how does it relate to interior design?


Eclecticism is a design theme that combines various decor elements: forms, colours, patterns, and textures. It is a meld of different era styles infused with modern features, a decorative mish-mash of the old and new.

Many homeowners adopt the style, not knowing they are creating an age-old interior design style. How do they do it? Because they have eyes for beautiful things, they buy random pieces and try to put them together stylishly. They unknowingly create an eclectic style with all elements unified through form, colour, textures, patterns, and finishes.
 

An Easy Style to Love But a Tricky One to Design


The eclectic style interiors are lovely but tricky to achieve, especially if you do not have a flair for interior styling.

While most people think it is a jumble of forms, textures, colours, patterns, and a mish-mash of unrelated fixtures and furniture, this is untrue. The theme may blend the old and new, but there are ways to achieve the theme without being way off the mark.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  1. Improper planning. Did you consider the theme from the conceptual stage? Which type of furniture do you plan to buy? During the planning stage, decide on the furniture type and its arrangement first. Do not go shopping without a concrete plan.
  2. Lack of a focal point. Your look must not lack direction and focus. There must be an eye-catching focal point: a fireplace, an elaborate wall art, a fish tank, or a stucco wall finish. Without a focal point, your design will lack direction.
  3. Your interior space is not a showroom. Avoid setting the space up like a showroom. Remember that you have to live there. Comfort is key with eclecticism, so functionality must inform its decor. Think of how you intend to use the interior space first. This way, you will choose items that will help pull everything together harmoniously.
  4. Inconsistency. An abrupt change in the style of the adjoining spaces or rooms makes an eclectic theme appear disconnected. Ensure there is a smooth flow from one zone to another. Each room must complement the other, and the style must be reflected subtly (or elaborately if you wish).
  5. Absence of a unifying colour. This is a common eclectic style mistake. There must be one dominant colour that pulls the whole look together.
  6. Scale imbalance. There must be a balance in symmetry and scale, and the total outcome must look organised. It is true that with eclecticism, there are different styles from different eras. However, there is no reason to sacrifice organisation for diversity.
  7. Believing anything goes. Many may feel that with this style, anything goes. Not so. You must avoid making everything look like a random choice. It will end up looking busy, cluttered, and distracting. Avoid a messy look by ensuring you don’t have too many contrasting styles in one space.
  8. Being too reserved. With eclectic interior decoration, do not be overly conservative because the eclectic style has various decor items: fabrics, textures and patterns. For example, if you have a plain sofa and chairs, eclectic-it-up with accent items like colourful throw pillows, paintings, area rugs, art objects, accent chairs, animal prints, and tapestry.
  9. Wrong paint sampling procedures. Avoid comparing hues and tones as a line-up on the walls because it causes confusion and indecision. Sample the colours you like on individual boards and look at them individually before making a final choice.

You can avoid these common errors and use them to guide your eclectic interior styling. Avoiding these style mistakes will ensure you bring the theme together successfully while achieving a pleasant look. Eclectic interiors, well put together, highlight a bold, unique, and confident taste.

How to Master Eclectic Interior Design (Video)