Eclectic living: the art of mixing styles without chaos

In this photo: Paolo Gucci for Formitalia – rare Italian two-seater sofa in black leather and burr wood, c. 1991 (€ 1.795) · Pair of Dutch Neoclassical flower still lifes, signed F.M. de Spaen née de Bylandt – 1809 (€ 1.195) · Decorated antique side table with elephant (€ 245) · Vintage hand-woven geometric rug, 1970s–80s (€ 375) · Sculptural hexagonal pouffe in white leatherette (now only € 50)

Eclectic living: the art of mixing styles without chaos

The most beautiful interiors are rarely copied neatly from a single style book. They are made up of finds, memories, contrasts and choices that don’t always seem logical, yet together they work. An old French table with mid-century chairs. An industrial lamp above a brocante worktop. A painting next to a sober cupboard. A weathered mirror in a modern room.

That is eclectic living.

Not simply putting everything together at random, but combining styles, periods and materials in a way that makes a space personal. A good eclectic interior doesn’t feel designed as a set. It feels collected. As if the occupants have found pieces over the years that mean something to them.

And that is exactly what makes it interesting.

What does eclectic living mean?

A room may surprise, but it shouldn’t shout. Your eye should be able to wander, but also have somewhere to land.

Why does a mix often work better than a single style?

An interior made up entirely of one style can quickly become flat. Everything may match, but it lacks tension. A completely mid-century interior can become too retro. Too much brocante can become twee. Too much industrial can become hard and cold. Too much wabi-sabi can become bare or beige.

It is the mix that prevents this.

In this photo: 4 vintage oak café tables / bistro tables – wood & black metal (€ 75 each) · French Neoclassical carved wood chandelier – circa 1950 (€ 295)

Mid-century brings line. Brocante brings softness. Industrial brings sturdiness. Wabi-sabi brings calm. Art brings personality. Antiques bring history. A good interior uses these qualities together, without one style taking over.

That is why eclectic living suits houses with character so well. Old floors, lime-washed walls, wooden beams, rough stone, high ceilings or, on the contrary, small rooms: spaces like these often don’t ask for one perfect set of furniture. They ask for pieces that enter into a conversation with the space.

The base must be calm

Contrast makes an interior exciting

Eclectic living is all about contrast. Without contrast an interior becomes tame. With too much contrast it becomes restless. The art lies in between.

Put a sleek chair with a rough table. A modern lamp next to an old cupboard. A sober wall behind an outspoken painting. An industrial workbench with soft linen curtains. A brocante mirror above a minimalist piece of furniture.

It is precisely because the pieces are different that they strengthen each other.

An old table looks older and richer next to a clean-lined design chair. A mid-century cabinet becomes warmer against a weathered wall. An industrial lamp becomes less harsh above wood or ceramics. A work of art gains more power when the rest of the room isn’t too busy.

That is the beauty of mixing well: one piece brings out the best in another.

Not everything has to be special

Let some things be quiet. Then the special pieces become stronger.

How do you prevent it from becoming messy?

Start with one anchor. That can be a table, a cupboard, a work of art, a rug or a lamp. Something that sets the tone. From that piece you can build further.

Then look at colour. Which tones are already in that anchor piece? Wood colour, black, stone, sand, green, rust, cream? Let one or two of those tones recur in the rest of the room.

Next, look at material. Do you have an old wooden table? Let wood recur somewhere else, but not exactly the same. Do you have black metal legs? Then a black lamp or a dark picture frame can help. Do you have a lot of rough materials? Add something soft: linen, wool, leather, fabric.

And perhaps most importantly: take things away as well. Eclectic living is not about lots of things. It is about well-chosen things.

Art makes it personal

What should you look for when buying eclectically?

Don’t buy something just because it’s “nice”. That is dangerous. Nice things pile up quickly and make an interior busy.

Look for strength instead. Does the piece have a good shape? Beautiful material? An interesting surface? Proportions that are right? Can you combine it with what you already have?

Think practically too. Does the size fit? Is it sturdy? Can you use it? Does it have enough space to work? A large piece of furniture with character needs breathing room. A small object, on the other hand, can become stronger in a calm spot.

And don’t buy everything at once. An eclectic interior may grow. In fact, it often gets better when it isn’t finished in one go.

In this photo: French Art Nouveau bronze bust ‘Carmen’ by Emmanuel Villanis – circa 1900 (€ 895) · French Art Nouveau bronze bust ‘Cendrillon’ by Emmanuel Villanis – circa 1900 (€ 895) · Vintage glass fish sculpture (€ 75)

How would De Huiszwaluw apply eclectic living?

We would start with a calm, natural base. Lime-like walls, wood, stone, linen, soft tones. Then we would choose a few strong pieces from different worlds.

An old French table as the anchor. Mid-century chairs for line. An industrial lamp for sturdiness. A brocante cupboard or mirror for softness. A work of art to make the space personal. Perhaps a ceramic jug, a sober object or a bench with patina.

Now in our collection: eclectic

Previously in our collection

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