Eclectic Design: Being True to Yourself
There was a time when my decorating style could have been described as hodgepodge. My furniture and decor was a mixture of hand-me-down pieces and roadside rescues and I wasn’t inclined to be especially pleased with them. My home decor had no definitive style and I certainly didn’t know what my own style was—or even what I wanted it to be. All I knew was that I thought I didn’t have the budget to create the style I wanted and, to be perfectly honest, I was too much influenced by the current trends to go in the direction I truly wanted which was a mix of old and new—an eclectic gathering of pieces that spoke to my heart. I cringe as I recall throwing a blanket over a well-loved and worn out chair when company came over or hiding a chip in my grandma’s favorite teapot by turning it around so no one would see its “flaw". New decor was all the rage and I did not have the confidence to buck the trends and follow my heart when it came to decorating. I am pleased to proclaim that I have since moved beyond all that peer pressure and have exchanged my hodgepodge decor for a purposeful eclectic decorating style. Now, I even go so far as to proudly display my 1940’s Depression glass bowl that sits on my Farmhouse coffee table in plain sight of everyone who stops by for a visit. I’ve even been known to let a visitor hold my grandma’s old teapot as I point out the chippy goodness and tell the story of how that very piece traveled from Germany with her in 1937 all the way to Chicago and finally ended up here in my kitchen in upstate NY. Now, not all of my well-loved pieces are family hand-me-downs. Many are curated over years of thrifting, garage sale-ing, and antiquing. And each piece has a place where it perfectly fits into my eclectic decor and, more importantly, brings a smile to my face.
(Photo right is a peek at my eclectic decor: A beautiful olive green mid-century mod relish tray cozies up to a pair of warm, walnut French-style candlesticks. The Victorian-style candle stand has no problem mixing with the Farmhouse woven heart wall pocket. atop the mantle are bits of vintage brass and modern pottery planters and, rather than competing, they create a warm, symbiotic decor that is both eclectic yet cohesive. )
For me, I love French Country decor for its muted colors and loads of texture while still delivering on charm, sophistication and comfort. A French Country living room just screams to be photographed for a magazine cover and yet I would have no qualms about curling up on the sofa in such a room with a chunky granny-square afghan and sipping hot cinnamon tea from a vintage pottery mug while watching another episode of The Great British Bake Off. While I am drawn to this overall style in decor, my home would certainly not be accused of being French Country. It’s more an eclectic mixture of Farmhouse, French Country, Shabby Chic and Traditional with a splash of Mid-Century Modern. And I like it. I now take my design advice from renowned Interior Designer Bunny Williams who said in a 1999 interview with elle decor magazine, “I think a look [design of a space] comes alive when there’s a spontaneous mix of different periods, raw materials, and high quality design. If something’s really beautiful, I’ll buy it and find a home for it.” I’m in.
It’s good to be free to decorate however you wish, whether that style is traditional, mid-century mod, shabby chic, minimalist, or a little bit of everything. The important thing is to allow yourself the freedom to decorate and create a space that makes you happy when you walk in the room.
This post is my small way of supporting all of those, who like me, who can’t (or don’t want to) define their decorating style by the latest trend. Do what you love and love what you have. Mix and match decor styles in ways that make you happy. Do you absolutely love that funky orange 1950s vinyl chair you inherited from Uncle Stan and the faux fur floor pillows you just found on a brand name store’s website? Go for it! Mix and match what speaks to you. We have a tendency to take care of the things that matter to us. In doing so, we find ourselves giving those things attention and finding places in our homes for them that bring value to our life. That is a very large part of pulling together a room and styling it in a way that just looks right and flows. Do you find yourself drawn to modern industrial and yet, while scrolling through Pinterest where an ornate Victorian lamp grabs your attention? Instead of talking yourself out of it and saying it doesn’t fit your decor, consider finding a place for it. You may be surprised at how flexible your style really is.
Whether its your home, office, or just a small space you call your own, don’t succumb to the pressure to follow a decorating trend—or worse yet, be like I once was and have a hodge-podge collection of meaningless stuff. Blaze your own decorating trail and don’t be afraid to mix old with new to create your own decor style. I think you will love how it feels.
