If you're an eccentric and looking to display your personality within the confines of your own house or apartment, eclectic design is your cup of tea! Though the term has been around for a long time, it's only recently become known as a decorating style. Eclecticism is all about freeing oneself from the hard and tired rules associated with traditional interior design and allowing imagination to run free and have fun with experimentation. It may seem like too far from your comfort zone, too edgy for your living room, but that's exactly what is so appealing about this trend. Below we shared some modern eclectic living room design ideas to help you spice up your lovely home!
1. Choose a color palette
The first thing to do when designing your living room interior is choosing a color palette. Although thanks to the free spirit of eclecticism, your chosen colors won't necessarily affect nor limit the rest of the design, they will significantly contribute.
Since the eclectic design is basically a celebration of contrasts, don't be scared to pull together seemingly unmatchable colors. Let your imagination go a little wild, and toy with colors as you feel, as long as it doesn't feel a tad too overbearing. Also, we suggest you stick with calming neutral hues for walls, so you have plenty of room to play with furniture and add different pops of colors with decorations.
2. Toy with patterns and textures
Besides colors, there are various patterns and textures and materials which scream eclectic and will indubitably keep the eye interested. Look for the patterns which usually oppose one another and place them next to each other and create controlled chaos. The same applies to textures – in order to achieve visual intricacy, pair sleek surfaces with velvet pillows, brick with dark metal, smooth with rough and nubby ones – basically anything with everything. Expressive patterns and mixed textures will help you get your personality out there, create one-of-a-kind vibe and have your guests admire your bold choices and artsy spirit.
3. Statement object
Just like with your clothing style, in order to make it your own, unique and recognizable, you need a statement item. Whatever you choose this to be, it needs to be bold, noticeable and in relation to your personality.
This can be anything, from a hand-made chair, through a piece of art, to custom-built roller blinds – it doesn't really matter what the object is, as long as it possesses certain features which closely describe you or your interests. However, do not go over the top, one or two statement objects are more than enough for your living room, regardless of its size – otherwise, they'll lose their purpose and dismiss the eclectic edge you were initially aiming for.
4. Wall decorations
As mentioned, keeping the wall paint neutral is a good choice, because it allows for some more elaborate wall decorations. There is no better space to include a gallery wall than in an eclectic style living room. Mix and match frames and dimensions for a quirky look and put up your family portraits, your children's artwork, or display your favorite painters in print. Such a gallery can serve as a complex statement piece, which can either be a living testament of your life, or a modest exhibition of your artsy interests.
5. Meet your inner minimalist and maximalist
If you haven't already sensed this from the suggestions above, eclectic is whatever contrast you wish it to be. Minimalist meeting maximalist, edgy clashing with traditional, bohemian next to formal, nostalgic combined with modern – it's about combining two almost mutually exclusive things and making it work. So, a traditional French settee with a bubble-pink floor lamp by its side – why not?
There are no strict rules about the eclectic design, and this is what is so attractive about it. The whole point is to make your home feel homey and your own, and not out of a catalog of an interior designer's head – so make sure you invest your total self into decorating. With the help from the tips above and your creative mind, you'll be the proud founder of an ultimate eclectic living room design.