Today is Day 3 of a 31 day series on creating and cultivating an eclectic home. For some crazy reason, I have accepted The Nester’s challenge to write on the same theme every day for the month of October. This may end up killing me. Or you. But, I appreciate you reading and welcome your comments.
Today we’re going to talk a little bit about defining your eclectic style. There’s a secret to tying together different styles and not ending up with a room that looks like a hodge podge of whatever you found at a thrift store. That secret? You can’t do it all.
Before you take another step towards creating a more eclectic home, you need to define what eclectic style you have (or want to have). For instance, I consider my style Modern Vintage Industrial. Yes, that’s a style that I totally made up. You can make up your own, too.
Why is this important? Well, if I tried to do Modern Vintage Industrial Kitschy Asian Coastal Urban Loft Cottage, it would be too much. WAY too much. Although eclecticism is all about using what you love, I think it’s best styled when you limit your mix of styles to 3 (and 4 at the very most). You will likely gravitate to a few styles that you really love, so narrowing it down shouldn’t be very difficult.
Here are some beautiful examples that I pulled from Pinterest and labeled by style:
Let us know – what’s your eclectic style mix? Can you narrow it down to just three?
Hmmm, If I had to pick 3, I would HOPE it would look like ‘Rustic, Cottage, Farmhouse’
But something tells me it probably just looks like a chaotic mess 
It’s easier for me to say what’s not included than what is! Definitely not Asian, tribal, Tuscan, or Southwest. But I do have healthy doses of vintage, cottage, modern, and kitschy. I basically abide by the theory that if you absolutely love everything that comes in your house somehow it will all work together.
I am traditional coastal country
I am traveled, Asian, California-Coastal…..I guess!
Paradoxically, I’m modern, traditional, and, uh, broke?
I would say I am farmhouse cottage traditional? Not exactly sure that is it, but it’s my best guess!
I’ve never thought about it…but now I will! Thanks for the guidance on pinpointing 3 so I don’t end up with a Tribal-Urban-Traditional-Modern-Glam-Farmhouse-French-Rustic-Beachy mess.
I love this post! It’s exactly what I needed to put a name to my style. Right now it’s French – Farmhouse – Traditional. Now, is that what my house has it in? Not really, but when the furniture salesperson asks me what I like, I don’t have to stare blankly back at him or her. Also, it’s already helped me search craigslist. I go to the furniture section and search “French” and I love pretty much everything that comes up!
Contemporary retro international?
Parisian flea market, traditional, Austin TX funky
Mid-century Mediterranean garden.
I’m mostly Modern with some Traditional and Farmhouse touches.
Classic Global Cozy… I love this series so far! Thanks!
I would say I’m Vintage, Asian, Modern, Industrial? Although I haven’t done a very good job of mixing it within rooms – it’s mostly one room is Asian, one room is Vintage, etc. But now I’m inspired to mix it up!
It is tough for me to narrow down, but I guess I’d have to say that I’m Elegant, French, Modern, Whimsy.
Farmhouse cottage traditional