Hello, everyone, and happy 2021! Last time, I wrote to you all with an overview of some of my favorite eclectic designers and sources of inspiration. Now, I’d like to share more about my personal approach to decorating, and I hope it will be useful to some of you considering adopting eclectic style within your own spaces!
With so many design “rules” touted by magazines and experts, it can seem intimidating to put together a space that reflects your personality, suits your functional needs, and looks spectacular all while “staying in the lines,” so to speak. I am a huge proponent of collecting whatever speaks to you, rather than focusing on collecting pieces for the sake of conforming to a set style or aesthetic. In a way, this approach can be quite freeing and can create some beautiful and uniquely curated spaces (see my last post for some wonderful examples). However, eclectic design comes with its own challenges, and a totally unstructured approach runs the risk of turning what would have been a fun and whimsical space into a crowded and disorganized jumble.
If you are looking for tips to harmonize an eclectic space, the three most important concepts I consider, which I have boiled down into what I call “The Three Cs,” are: Color, Context, and Contrast.
- Color: It is easy to blend styles when you stick to a cohesive color scheme and make sure finishes correspond or match.
- Context: When thinking of design styles that seem far apart, think of commonalities that can bridge them. This is particularly useful for antiques. If you have a one-of-a-kind piece and need a pair, consider incorporating pieces of similar scale and structure to complement; or “tie in” a unique piece to the rest of the space by choosing accessories of that same style.
- Contrast: For a real visual punch, find a way to have fun with contrast. This is easiest to demonstrate with pattern-mixing, where you can break up a colorful space with a graphic black-and-white geometric pattern, pair florals with stripes, etc. This principle also works with texture: pair metal chairs with soft materials like fur, or organic materials like jute.
To demonstrate how you can incorporate these principles into your own space, here are three examples, each featuring the Tolix Marais A chair. You’ve doubtlessly seen at least a few of these out in the wild in the last few years, and although they are a staple of industrial-looking breweries everywhere, we can use the ideas of Color, Context, and Contrast to make them work for a variety of styles!
Color
This example uses a unified color scheme to combine the various elements pictured into a moody and elevated dining space. To help fancy up the utilitarian Tolix chair, use a more formal and larger upholstered chair on either end of a rectangular dining table as captains’ chairs and tie in a glam lighting fixture featuring a matte black metallic finish to coordinate. A pop of vibrant red adds a visual zing that keeps the space from being too heavy. I love when artwork and rugs are used to showcase a vibrant accent color or colors! For a dining space, you can even use your plateware to add more layers of eclectic style by mixing up unusual pairs, such as this charger and this dinner plate. (Sources for Tolix Chair (black) | Captains Chairs | Dining Table (Antique Grey) | Chandeliers (for maximum impact, I’d use two with the table in this example) | Art | Rug | Paint Color: Benjamin Moore 2041-10 “Hunter Green”)
Context
Considering the context of a piece, such as its history or culture of origin, can be a good starting point to bridge a gap between different pieces. For example, although the Tolix Marais A chair is often used in rustic and industrial settings today, it was designed in 1930s France as an elegant and modern bistro/cafe chair for the time. We can pull from those roots and lean on the French connection to make the Tolix chair work in a more feminine and understated space, as in this bedroom ensemble.
In this context, we pulled in a bed upholstered with a ticking stripe pattern (a classic seen in French Country and Modern Farmhouse looks). To keep the look more minimal and pared back, a muted color palette of white, black, and blush is complemented by a simple line drawing in the style of Henri Matisse (1869-1954). In this example, I intended for the Tolix chair to be used as a nightstand underneath a sconce–using a piece in a functional way other than originally intended is also a great way to add interest and highlight it. A concrete-textured wallpaper lends a bit of modern edge to the overall look, much like the Tolix chair does with the other subdued furniture selections.(Sources for Tolix Chair (black) | Bed | Sconce | Mirror | Art | Rug (Flax) | Wallpaper)
Contrast
This is where the fun comes in! Part of what I love so much about eclectic styling is the opportunity to come across the grouping of unexpected items in a way that magically works together. To that end, don’t be afraid to introduce contrast as a way of calling attention to a certain area or to make a favorite piece stand out. Contrast can be implemented in color, but also in patterns and materials. Try a little of all of them in the same space!
When it comes to color, for maximum contrast try choosing two complementary colors, which are on the opposite sides of the color wheel from each other. To be a little safer with this, I like to play around with “softer” versions of the color. For example, while blue and orange are complementary, I chose to pair the softer blue of the lamp with a goldenrod yellow wall decor (such as a Juju hat, which also adds texture!) rather than a straight orange. That same goldenrod is hinted at in the colorful abstract wallpaper, which is then itself contrasted by a graphic black and white Breton stripe rug (how’s that for a little contrast-on-contrast?).
For materials, I wanted to contrast the hard, cold metal of the Tolix chair with some soft and organic materials like wood (the desk), and a faux sheepskin throw draped on the chair makes for a softer seat along with a bit of textural warmth (don’t be afraid to highlight contrast by placing contrasting pieces together or close by). Lighting is sometimes described as the “jewelry” of the room, so like a pair of statement earrings, why not hang a fun and eye-catching chandelier with character?
(Sources for Tolix chair (Black, but even a version in gold would look great here!) | Desk (Split Oak)| Chandelier (this style is called a “Sputnik”) | Table Lamp | Juju Hat Decor (also check out AphroChic for some beautiful handmade examples) | Faux Sheepskin | Rug | Wallpaper)
Throughout these examples, you’ll see elements of all three concepts at play within the same space. Although these concepts are a helpful framework to organize your decision-making, don’t underestimate the power of your own taste and intuition! Creative expression should be fun, and it should reflect your own spirit and personality. I hope you allow yourself the space to make bold decisions and experiment until you find what’s right for you! I’d love to see what you come up with in the comments below!
