Everywhere you look the atmosphere is eclectic as images abound of interiors that beautifully combine furniture from different eras with a variety of fabrics, colours and textures.
It is a look that exudes a carefree and boldly Bohemian attitude, but or those of us who are a little less confident about their design skills, the word eclectic can be one of trepidation.
Here, at the Galway Advertiser, we have come up with some tips for those who wish to explore eclectic style, without fearing the end result will be an unstructured mish-mash
Like a meticulously coordinated outfit, when you have a room with just one variety of furniture the atmosphere will feel much more formal, he perfectly put together room appearing too poised, too polished.
When every design matches it becomes less inviting to just make yourself at home and by adding in touches of difference to your interiors, you are basically loosening up your scheme and letting it, and everyone in it, become a bit more relaxed.
Those eager to mix styles up while still erring on the side of caution, are advised to choose furniture in different but obviously complementary styles.
You can create a deliberate contrast by putting crisp finishes next to softer ones, while adding accessories, such as an industrial style coffee table and brass floor lamp, introduces another different character of furniture.
The key to making sure your design stays balanced is by ensuring there is at least one other piece in the room that has the same sort of tone.
However, adding two different styles of furniture and accessories is not quite enough to count as eclectic, but as soon as you add three, there will be enough variation to ensure your scheme no longer looks overly composed.
For those initially experiencing the world of the eclectic, three styles of furniture is a safe way to play with contrast without fearing your home will seem muddled.
Combining contrasting items with a few pieces that are a similar style, will lend your room consistency and a degree of composure that is reassuring and familiar.
The design confident can of course continue to add additional styles but if the results feel too varied, remember for those new to the eclectic look, three is the magic number.
