Eclecticism is a popular design theme with various decor elements, colours, patterns, and textures. It is also a meld of differing era styles and modern trends, a mish-mash of the old and new.
Many homeowners with a feel for interior decorating adopt the eclectic style, unaware they are creating an age-long interior style. Because they have eyes for beautiful decor elements, they buy stuff they love and put them together stylishly, creating an eclectic style with all its elements unified through form, colour, textures, patterns, and finishes.
The eclectic style is easy to love but tricky to achieve if you do not have a flair for interior styling. Most people think it is a jumble of forms, textures, colours, patterns, and a mish-mash of unrelated fixtures and furniture. Not so. Although the theme includes the old and new, most people desirous of the look are way off the mark most of the time.
Common Mistakes That Occur When Creating Eclectic-Style Interiors
An absence of proper planning - Did you consider your theme preference from the inception? Which type of furniture are you planning to buy? While planning an eclectic style interior, the furniture arrangement is one of the most important things to work out, before purchasing anything.Lack of a focal point - Your curated look must not lack direction and focus. There must be an eye-catching feature, anything from a fireplace or wall art to a wall-mounted tribal mask or stucco wall feature.
Your interior space is not a showroom – Since you have to live in, and therefore must feel comfortable in the space, utility and 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.
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 eclecticism must be reflected subtly (or elaborately if you so desire).
Absence of a unifying colour – This is a common eclectic style mistake. There must be one colour that must pull the whole look together. This colour will be the go-to hue that will serve as an equalizer.
A lack of balance in scale - There must be a balance in symmetry and scale and the total look must look organised. It is true that with eclecticism, there are different styles from different eras just as textures vary, however, this is no reason to sacrifice organisation for diversity.
Believing anything goes – Many may feel that with this style, anything goes simply because it is meant to be eclectic. Not so. You must avoid making everything look like a random choice. It will end up looking busy, cluttered, and distracting. Rather, ensure you don’t have too many contrasting styles in one space as it may look messy.
Being too reserved - With eclectic interior decoration, you don’t have to be conservative; the fact is that you can't. Eclectic style is made up of a good number of decor items, fabrics, textures and patterns so, for example, if you have a plain sofa and chairs, 'eclectic-up' with accent items like colourful throw pillows, paintings, area rugs, object d'art, accent chairs, animal prints, and tapestry.
Wrong paint sampling procedures – Another mistake is comparing hues and tones as a line-up on the walls. Avoid sampling colours this way 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 design. 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.
