We’re big on ethnic design here at Lanna Passa, as you may have noticed, but what’s your style? We know that some people love classic interior designs, while others dig more contemporary styles. Some prefer old vibes, others prefer new. The modern farmhouse style is still adored, and minimalistic interiors are too. But what if all these design trends are ticking your boxes? Let me tell you about eclectic design!
Going eclectic lets you mix and match, creating your own upbeat look from multiple styles. You don’t have to be an expert or professional interior designer to do it by yourself, either. All you need are a few of the right pieces and a proper understanding of the basics, like blending and tones. You can combine different patterns, colors, and textures for a versatile and comfortable living space that’s a little quirky with a lot of style.
Understanding Eclectic Style and Design
The term eclectic was derived from a Greek word, eklektikós, which essentially means selecting what appears to be the best. While using a blend of styles and ideas has been a design practice for many years in all regions and cultures around the world, ‘eclecticism’ as a traditional style became a bit of a thing in the 19th century. Eclectic architecture took hold, probably since everyone was bored of the classic styles like Renaissance and Gothic. So what did they do? They combined them. Simple, really.
Fast forward to today, and eclectic design is as popular as ever. It’s everything you can imagine from the name: quirky, bold, and unconventional. There are no rules. Eclecticism is one of the most diverse and flexible maximalist styles that involves combining items from others, and has even spawned sub-genres like ‘cluttercore’. It is like painting with your furniture or trying to solve a puzzle with your interior design. Don’t panic; that doesn’t mean you’ll be playing life-size Tetris with your furniture, trying to fit everything in. It just means that you don’t have to buy all new items and won’t have to make everything match entirely. The good news is that there is no strict procedure that needs to be followed. You can freely mix and match different colors, patterns, and even textures.
Why Vibrant and Vintage Furniture Works in Eclectic Spaces
What do you picture in your head when someone mentions antique or vintage furniture? Is it energetic and warm? Or, is it dusty, dark brown wood? Antique furniture is known for its individual personality and fine workmanship, sure. Yes, it is often handcrafted using solid wood and contains seriously impressive detailing that modern and mass-produced furniture pieces tend to lack. But, if we’re being honest, it’s also seen as a bit bland and dated. So, how can antique furniture be properly incorporated into a space? Can antique furniture genuinely enhance a space, or will it just bring the vibe down?
You might be surprised, but if you’re dabbling in the eclectic, then modern pieces and antiques work extremely well together when it comes to achieving the look. The organization of the old and the new—mixing heirlooms with the recently created—provides a unique aesthetic, one of liveliness and personality.
Taking it a step further, you could even give antique furniture a new lease on life with a few brush strokes. We all know (or should) that using bright colors helps define accent areas and adds an energy level to an interior. Bright colors give your space more oomph! A nice piece of furniture with a bright color can immediately change the whole vibe and mood in a room. Whether you’re refreshing an antique piece with a few colorful touches or simply surrounding it with bright hues, incorporating vivid colors can make a massive impact. When it comes to the balance between vibrant colors and old furniture, both of them fit perfectly. Everything is integrated by way of contrast, making the space elegant and upbeat at the same time.
Ethnic Artifacts, Exotic Places, and Exquisite Memories
Ethnic pieces add a traditional and cultural touch to your home and can be great reminders of exotic places and cultures you’ve experienced. You can use furniture, textiles, artwork, and more from any part of the world and blend them with your more contemporary, locally sourced decor. Beautiful Moroccan rugs, wooden carvings from Indonesia, or colorful pottery from Mexico can all enhance the overall decoration of your space. In addition, as mentioned previously, you are preserving memories with such pieces. Being surrounded by beautiful mementos makes for a happy home and, at the same time, ensures your home is both welcoming and visually appealing to anyone who comes to visit.
Antique and Vintage Finds for Interior Design
Antique and vintage pieces provide additional touches of personality, history, and a unique look. Items such as mid-century modern armchairs, antique French dressers, and refurbished industrial lamps both look classy and maintain a timeless appeal. Usually, they exhibit high quality and are very long-lasting, which makes them a worthy investment too. Even though some of them may need to undergo a little bit of restoration or some re-upholstery, the result is a unique product that will breathe individuality into your interior.
Where can you find antiques and vintage furniture? Aside from browsing dedicated antique stores in your local area, you can go hunting for antique gems and vintage finds at flea markets, yard sales, or even online using websites like Etsy and eBay. Etsy in particular can be a great resource as it has a solid focus on vintage products, plus we’re forever fans of Etsy since that’s where we got our start.
Creating a Cohesive Blend
To create a cohesive blend, begin with selecting your colors. While there are no rules for eclectic design, sticking to a few color ranges can help things from looking overcrowded. There’s a difference between an eclectic interior and a room that looks like it’s from a documentary about hoarders! Choose colors that provide contrast, as this will help create an appealing atmosphere in the room.
It can help to paint your walls and furniture neutral colors and then create a colorful palette with your other discoveries. Add color to the neutral base with your vintage finds, holiday mementos, plants, artwork etc. Another key to cohesion is the idea of layering, or building up texture layers. Omit and alternate smooth and rough, soft and hard textures. For example, a wooden chair from the early ages in contrast with a velvet cushion or shag carpet makes a lovely combination. There is nothing wrong with going full speed ahead with artistic patterns and crazy textures, but they look best when moderated with plain colors. Just remember that eclectic style is not about cookie-cutter interior design, so really, do what you feel – don’t be afraid to be yourself and express that in your space.
Incorporating Ethnic and Vintage in Different Spaces
If you’re short on time, here’s what we think works well in each space:
- Living Room: This one is easy—get some colorful ethnic rugs in. You can also add a colorful ethnic touch with our handwoven batik throw pillows.
- Bedroom: We love the classic Moroccan bedroom look, with its intimate colors—purple, red, some gold, and lots of carved wood. Layer it with some ottomans and maybe some bamboo bedside table lamps to mix up styles and keep it eclectic.
- Dining Room: Go for a vintage dining table paired with mismatched chairs—bonus points if every chair features a completely different textile or texture! You can add a worldly touch with some ethnic table runners, too.
- Kitchen: Patterned tiles work great in the kitchen, maybe even a mix of patterns. Colorful cookware and vintage-inspired storage solutions are also classics. You want to keep the space functional but lively, somewhere you really enjoy getting a cook on.
- Home Office: Inspire creativity in the home office with touches of wood and incorporate some global accents to mix things up—maybe using artwork or those exotic holiday mementos that make you smile.
Indulge in Eclectic Luxury
So there we have it: the basic principles of eclectic design. Now that you have gained a good understanding of this design trend, it’s time to turn your house into a cozy sanctuary. Design a home that is a mirror image of yourself and your sensual indulgences, whatever they may be. Sit comfortably on a retro club chair in front of fine treasures from around the world, or sit for a nice meal on a vintage wooden table with fluffy pink chairs.
If you’re a fan of vibrant colors, intricate patterns, and the allure of distant cultures, you’re in the right place. Discover the artistry of ethnic hill tribes as we bring their heritage into your home through stunning cushions and pillows as well as general homeware and lighting.
