Eclectic style, once characterised by not being a particular style, but rather borrowing from a variety of styles and combining them, has migrated piece by piece from every historical era into the home inspired by interior design magazines, boutique hotels, gastropubs etc. With this infusion, eclecticism is now largely a recognised style in it's own right. Although having previously been associated with the well traveled and the very wealthy, can just anyone eclect successfully?
Well, yes. Tom Dixon (once Creative Director for Habitat - 'design for the masses') said that if you were to use the very best designs from each decade that they would always work well in the same room. It's not an easy look to get right, but there are certain rules to follow:
Pick your focal point
As the images above illustrate; it's important to pick a focal point. When mixing items - from your Grandmother's Formica kitchen table to the Parker Knoll chair you found in a skip last week along with Ikea 'pass-ables', you are in effect creating layers. By doing so, you're likely to be putting together obviously disparate elements and there is a danger of creating an unsettling environment - chaos is the thing to avoid.
Remember:
- Keep it simple.
- Start with one or two key pieces that you love - you're going to spend a considerable amount of time looking at them.
- Take time to develop the look gradually.
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