Is Your Ideal Design Style Actually Artful Eclectic?

Unless you undergo regular purges and total overhaul room makeovers, over time we tend to accumulate furnishings, knickknacks, and art that don't necessarily fit together. If they're all in one room, surprise! You have the general makeup of artful eclectic style: a mishmash of styles combined harmoniously. After years of accumulating furnishings, you might be nailing the "mishmash" part of this design genre, but missing the "harmonious" factor.

Bringing together different time periods, trends, and themes is the core of this style. LA retro eclectic is a top example of this look, as it combines three design decades into one bold aesthetic. Luckily, there are myriad ways to interpret artful eclectic style. Sentimental family pieces can mingle with budget space-filler furniture we pick up as we gradually outfit a new home. Thrift store or flea market finds rub shoulders beautifully with splurges we fell in love with. Making it look like you assembled these disparate styles on purpose is what makes up artful eclectic style.

The first images that come to mind when you think of eclectic decor might be quirky accessories, bright pops of color, and vintage goods. Don't let the word "eclectic" throw you; it's not a synonym for maximalist or even bizarre. Simply put, eclectic design is a joining of differing styles that complement each other when they're combined. Decorating your interior with a mixture of styles can be as subtle as combining elements from a few eras in one color scheme, or it can be an explosion of patterns and strikingly contrasting furniture pieces.

The interior experts at The Havenly share on their TikTok that "unexpected pairings" play a big role in artful eclectic design. Juxtaposing a clunky '70s armoire with a Victorian settee might seem like it will clash horribly, but a unifying color could make sense of the combo. Contrasting materials can be a fun part of artful eclectic design, as well. Walls and tabletops teeming with art can unify a room where no two pieces of furniture are made from the same material.

The best part about artful eclectic style is that it's utterly personalizable, easily making it the perfect design style for your space. Antiques expert and artful eclectic enthusiast Karen Parr-Moody of Gaslamp Antiques advises that you should look for what your items have in common. "Over time, as you gather your art and furniture, you will see commonalities within your combinations. Then you will find ways to blend everything," she said in a blog post. However, with the right arrangement, furnishings with truly nothing in common can still look purposeful and pleasant. Before getting out your credit card, look at what you already have. If you have matching sets in your bedroom or living room, try breaking up the continuity with a little rearranging. Glance at your wall hangings, objets d'art, throw pillows, and rugs: how can a new combination of these accessories revive your space?

Thrift stores, antique malls, and flea markets are goldmines if you're aspiring toward artful eclectic style. Chains like Anthropologie and World Market are reliable sources of furniture and accessories that are complementary without being matchy-matchy. If you want to add a dash of this style to your space without sacrificing lots of time or money, check out Amazon. This YCHMIR Decorative Vintage Mirror, for example, could contrast beautifully with a modern piece like this Modway Viva Round White Marble Side Table. You can even order up the makings of a fine art gallery wall with this 97 Decor Famous Artist Pictures made up of 10 images that are cohesive, but still very different from each other.